Jill Spratt was so excited she hardly could believe it.

“We’re state champions, and I catch the ball for the last out, and it’s my freshman year,” Spratt gushed. “I didn’t even think we’d make it to the state tournament.”

Just goes to show you riches can indeed be wrought from rags.

In the first four years Ottawa High fielded a varsity softball team, the Cyclones never won more than eight games. But in the fifth year, Ottawa won its last 11 in a row and captured an improbable Class 4A state championship Saturday in Mulvane.

Pitcher Megan Ramsey was the clear-cut difference-maker in the three-game sweep of Rose Hill, Chapman and, finally, powerful Kansas City Piper. Ramsey was just one of three freshmen who started for the state champs, though.

Shortstop Bailey Warren and Spratt also are freshmen … or were. The school year officially is over.

While Ramsey garnered most of the headlines — and rightfully so — Spratt was the Cyclones’ most productive hitter in the 4-0 semifinal win over Chapman and the 4-3 stunner over Piper. In the two games, Spratt had three singles, walked twice and scored three runs.

Not bad for a player who was on the junior varsity until mid-season.

“She was the leading hitter on the JV,” coach Renee Malburg said, “and I needed another hitter. We were struggling at the plate so I brought her up.”

As solid as Spratt was at the plate, however, she will be remembered more for her game-ending catch.

K.C. Piper had the tying run on second base and the winning run on first with two outs when the Pirates’ Amanda Woolley stroked a low liner toward Spratt at second.

“I was running toward first and it surprised me,” Spratt said.

Nevertheless, Spratt was able to reach down and spear the liner with her glove just before it hit the ground.

The Cyclones erupted. Piper’s players were shocked. It was only their second defeat in 26 games. And they had lost to a team that was 8-5 at one point.

“Going into the season, I knew we’d be better,” said Malburg, who won the title in her fourth year as coach, “but with the competition we played I just hoped we’d be able to break .500.”

Of the Cyclones’ five defeats, four were to Class 5A schools. Only Piper among 4A schools had beaten them and that was early — an 11-0 pasting in the first week of the season.

Most of the Ottawa players thought K.C. Piper was overconfident based on that early shellacking. Piper coach Christy Cole denied it.

“I don’t think so,” Cole said. “They used a different pitcher, so I don’t think that had anything to do with it.”

Malburg had used Liz Burks, her No. 2 pitcher, on the hill in that first meeting, saving ace Ramsey for a potential rematch at the state tournament because, Malburg said, “I knew that was the only time we would see Piper again.”

Burks, the regular center fielder, bowed out with three hits, including a pair of doubles, in the championship game.

“(Piper) probably thought it would be easy,” Burks said, “but I think we were more focused and wanted revenge.”

Burks was one of five seniors. The others were catcher Jennifer Warren, designated player Megan Matile and twins Julie Heck (third base) and Jenny Heck (first base).

Warren might have been the Cyclones’ most unsung player. A four-year starter behind the plate and the cleanup hitter, Warren also was a steadying influence on pitcher Ramsey.

“It really hurt us last season when Jennifer had to miss the last half of last season to undergo radiation treatments,” Malburg said.

Warren, who was diagnosed with cancer while in the seventh grade, had a relapse last season, but was cleared to play this spring and was behind the plate in every game.

Even with Ramsey returning next year, Ottawa could have a tough time repeating as state champs without those five seniors and with the cat out of the bag.

“We caught some teams off guard this year,” Malburg said. “Next year people are going to know what’s coming at them.”