GRAY, Tenn. – West Ridge High School is still in just its third year of existence, and the school’s softball program continues to seek its first regional appearance.
If the Wolves are going to reach the region stage this season, they have some work to do. West Ridge dropped its opening game in the District 1-AAAA tournament on Friday, by a 5-2 margin to Science Hill at Daniel Boone.
The Hilltoppers (20-8) advance to play Dobyns-Bennett, the second seed for the tournament, on Monday at 5 p.m. at Boone. West Ridge (23-16) awaits the loser of Monday’s game, in a matchup to be played Tuesday at 7 p.m.
West Ridge certainly had its chances in this one. The Wolves outhit the ’Toppers 10-7 but stranded 12 runners on base.
“I'm not happy that we didn't score but I'm very happy that we were going to the plate and swinging the bat,” Wolves coach Bill Wagner said. “This time of year, compared to the first part of the year, the way that we’re working our at bats is totally different. The attitude: I'm going to try and make something happen, where before they didn’t have that. I'm happy with the progress.”
People are also reading…
Science Hill did all its damage in the third inning. The ’Toppers put two runners on with no outs when Chloe Conner got hit by a pitch and Beth Pridemore drew a four-pitch walk. Maddie Diamond capitalized, bashing a fly ball that had the height and distance to clear the left-center fence for a three-run home run. That led to a pitching change but Science Hill kept pouring it on, plating two more runs in the third on a single by No. 9 hitter Annabelle Eaves.
“You've got to have the right hit at the right time,” Science Hill coach Megan Harmon said. “Annabelle came through for us big. Maddie's hit was big for us. But the people in front of them being on base was the story. All together, a really big win for us.”
West Ridge pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fourth but otherwise, Science Hill did a good job working its way out of any potential jams. Isabel Meeks went the distance in the circle for the ’Toppers, striking out five and issuing just one walk.
“We know Isabel’s going to give it her all,” Diamond said. “So I think everybody, especially through the season, we worked through trusting each other and knowing that if a ball is hit, somebody is going to make a play on it. So I think this team has so much trust in each other that we know we're going to make the plays that need to be made.”
Defensively, it was a clean game; Science Hill committed one error but West Ridge did not have any.
Diamond had two hits, the only Science Hill batter with a multi-hit performance. Kam Clark, Caydence Spears, and Nina Horne had two hits apiece for West Ridge.
When the Wolves return to the field on Tuesday, they will do so with their season on the line. Wagner, once again, emphasized the importance of process:
“We're working on little bitty things now, very detailed things in our swings. That will come around to produce. We've got to be patient and trust our process.”
West Ridge 000 200 0 – 2 10 0
Science Hill 005 000 x – 5 7 1
Henley, Browder (2), Henley (3), Browder (3) and Pogue; Meeks and Wilgus. W - Meeks. L - Henley. HR - Diamond (SH) 3rd, 2 on.