Prior powers Rocklin past Atwater in D2 playoffs

Even while Rocklin trailed entering the middle innings, there was little panic from junior ace Payton Prior. The third-seeded Thunder had been in these moments before and more often than not, Prior had been the reason they came out on top. The Long Beach State commit has built a reputation for delivering in the postseason, helping lead Rocklin (20-5) to back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section championship appearances while compiling a 7-0 career record across 10 section and NorCal regional playoff appearances. So when the Thunder found themselves down 2-1 to No. 14 Atwater entering the fifth inning, Prior's focus never wavered. Her job was simple: Keep the deficit there and trust Rocklin's lineup to eventually break through. "My catcher, Maddie (Williams) really helped me stay strong out there. She was hyping up the dugout and made that awesome diving catch play, so I think she helped everyone get the momentum back," said Prior. "I just had to refocus and know there was still a lot of game left. I had to trust my team to back me up after a couple missed spots." The bats eventually did what was expected. Freshman Renee Dragseth belted a two-RBI double in the fifth inning to give Rocklin the lead, and a four-run sixth inning added extra cushion as the Thunder rallied for a 7-2 victory in the first round of the Division II playoffs. Prior threw a complete game, striking out 13 and walking three while allowing two runs on six hits. She said she leaned on her postseason experience and trust in her team to pull through jams throughout the game. "My team has always backed me up and made me feel better in those tight situations. I think having that experience since I was a freshman has really helped me stay calm," said Prior. "As uncomfortable as those tight situations are, I think they're really helpful for growth overall." Rocklin coach Scott Luciano said he had complete trust in Prior, noting she has been molded by high-pressure situations since her freshman year when she helped lead the Thunder to a section title win over Tracy. "The calm that Payton has had since she was a freshman is kind of unbelievable. Whether it's a win or a lesson, she stays the same," said Luciano. "There really hasn't been a jam that she hasn't been able to get out of. Bases loaded, nobody out, she just finds a way, and it's not surprising because of how hard she works. She's always in the gym, always practicing and always trying to do what's best for the team." Luciano added that he never doubted the Thunder's offense would eventually break through, pointing to several hard-hit balls early in the game that were turned into outs by Atwater's defense. "Mostly I just kept telling them to stick with what they've done all year. We've been a little bit of a late-go team this season, but I knew they had it in them," said Luciano. "They're such a good hitting team. Sometimes they just get a little out of rhythm and start chasing the wrong pitches, but it's not really a mechanics thing." When Dragseth ripped the go-ahead double to swing the momentum back in Rocklin's favor, Luciano felt the Thunder's offense finally starting to break through. "That double off the wall by Renee to start the rally was huge. You could tell everybody fed off her energy from there," said Luciano. "They usually pull themselves together without us having to say much. We've got leaders all over the team at different grade levels, and they're a really tight-knit group." Offensively, Rocklin finished with 12 hits, led by Addie Titlow's 3-for-4 performance with two RBIs and two runs scored. Dragseth went 2-for-3 with a go-ahead two-run double, while Cat Alston and Brooklyn Lonteen each added two hits in the victory. Atwater was led by Madi Hiler and Kylie Medina, who each collected two hits, while Jazell Olivas drove in a run with a double. Rocklin will be at home Friday for the quarterfinals against No. 6 Merced (20-3). "I'd say this was probably a wake-up call for us. We're definitely going to hit it hard at practice because we know we have tougher opponents coming up," said Prior. "I think we have everything there. Our defense is great and our camaraderie is great."