The Ridgefield softball team proved why they’re ranked third in the state in the 2A classification by the WIAA in a game against Hockinson that was cut short with a 15-run mercy rule in the third inning.
The Spudders beat the up and coming Hawks, 16-1, on Wednesday, April 19, at home.
“One through nine, we have a pretty good lineup,” Ridgefield Head Coach Kelsey Anchors said.
Hockinson features a young team, with only one senior and three juniors on the roster.
Hawks freshman Lily Ritton threw 2.1 innings with one strikeout and seven walks, while giving up 11 hits and 16 earned runs. Ritton also had the lone run for the team in the first inning.
Leading off for Hockinson, Ritton singled on a ground ball to right field. Nicole Webster, batting second, dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt that advanced Ritton to second base. Ritton then advanced to third base after Reaghan Free grounded out for the second out of the inning, while Annabelle Merris for the Hawks was able to draw the lone walk for Hockinson.
Ridgefield’s third baseman threw an error that allowed Ritton to score.
Charley Varney recorded the second hit for the Hawks with a line drive to right field.
While the Hawks had the initial lead, Ridgefield then took over.
The Spudders had 11 hits in the game, scoring 16 runs. The girls were patient at the plate and drew seven walks. Madeline Smith led the Spudders with four runs batted in. In the bottom of the first inning, Smith launched a line drive home run over center field that scored three.
Ridgefield’s pitcher Elizabeth Peery went 3 for 3 with an RBI and scored three runs. In the circle, Peery had 36 pitches, 26 of which were strikes. She allowed two hits and one earned run, struck out three and only walked one batter.
“Madeline Smith with that home run kind of broke it open for us with those runs and with (Peery) on the mound, she kept us defensively solid in that game,” Anchors said.
Ridgefield scored eight runs in the first inning, three runs in the second, and five runs in the third.
Ridgefield improved to 9-1 on the season and maintained a perfect record in league play following the game. They were scheduled to play Hudson’s Bay on Friday, April 21 and then R.A. Long on Monday, April 24.
Up next, the Spudders will face Mark Morris on the road on Wednesday, April 26 and will play at home against Columbia River on Friday, April 28.
“We just take it game to game,” Anchors said, later adding, “There’s always things we can work on going into the next game.”
Hockinson fell to 2-5 on the season following the game against Ridgefield. They were scheduled to play Fort Vancouver on Friday, April 21.
Up next, they’ll take on Hudson’s Bay on Wednesday, April 26 and will then face R.A. Long in Longview on Friday, April 28.
