Sports : Family feud: Hill and her cousins defeat former coach\'s daughters at State

Vinton native Liz Hill is leading the Lansing Kee softball team back to State.

When Vinton-Shellsburg varsity softball coach Bari Parrott went to the first-round game of the Class 1A State Softball Tournament, he found himself cheering for both teams.

One one side – Belle Plaine – were Parrott's daughters, Lily and Grace. On the other, one of his former star players – Liz Hill. Hill, a 2008 V-S graduate, played Vikettes before going to Mount Mercy, where she set a new career home run record. She is now the head coach of the Lansing Kee team, and is leading her team to State for the second time in the past three years.

On Monday, Lansing Kee defeated Belle Plaine, 11-4.

“I would have loved to see my daughters' team win, but I am very happy for Liz,” says Parrott. “They have a very good team.”

Very good, indeed.

Kee High of Lansing is rated second in Class 1A. Most of the Kee-Hawks' losses came to larger schools. The team is now 37-6 entering the semi-finals. They play at 5 p.m. today, facing Martensdale-St. Marys at 5 p.m on the Buena Vista University Field in Storm Lake.

Two of Hill's cousins, sophomore Kendra Cooper and junior Courtney Cooper, are star pitchers for the Kee-Hawks. Another Cooper cousin, Ellie, a senior, is among the team’s leaders on offense.

The team made it to the State Championship in 2014, but lost to Akron-Westfield. Last year, they lost in the Sub-State game, 2-1.