Softball: Ravenwood battles defending state champs on senior night

BRENTWOOD – After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, the Ravenwood High School softball team couldn't stop the defending state champion Green Hill offense at home Friday. 

The Hawks picked up a 7-1 victory on the road to improve to 3-0-1 against Williamson County competition.  

“There is no surprise that they are the best team in the state,” Ravenwood coach Allison Brown said after her team moved to 13-10 overall. “Our goal tonight was to compete pitch-by-pitch and inning-by-inning. My team did exactly that. 

“We are young with a couple of veterans mixed in. Overall, I am pleased with how we played, minus the score.” 

Ravenwood senior pitcher Linley Pittman tossed six innings and held the Hawks scoreless for three innings. She had nine strikeouts on the night and scattered five hits with five earned.  

“Linley pitched a heck of a game, and they have a stacked lineup,” Brown said. “She did an awesome job mixing things up and getting ground balls and fly balls.” 

The Raptors only run of the contest gave them a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Pittman tallied a leadoff triple and scored during the at-bat of freshman Winter Melendez. A wild throw back to the Green Hill pitcher trickled off the glove to give Pittman the opportunity to break for home. 

“It was a good starting point for our team, but we did not continue to build on it,” Brown said. 

Melendez went 2-for-3 for the Raptors. 

The Hawks tied the game in the top of the fourth with a leadoff solo home run by sophomore Avery Stockwell. Green Hill then broke the game open in the top of the sixth with six runs in the frame. 

The scoring spree started with an RBI-single by senior Maddie McIntyre and a bases-clearing double from senior Lillie Buckley. Stockwell plated two on a double in the inning as well to drive in the final two runs for the 7-1 lead that stuck.  

PK Barnes pitched two innings and Savannah Wilson managed five for the Hawks. The pair combined for three Ks and allowed six hits. 

Ravenwood's Ella Jurosky, Cameron Taylor, Hailey Donato, Linley Pittman and Jessica Gray were recognized for Senior Night at the contest. Coach Brown and the Raptor social media shared information and photos of the girls throughout the day.  

Ravenwood will face Summit Monday and Page Tuesday in a District 10-4A battles. 

“We have faced everyone once now, so the second time through, we will be a little more prepared and a little more experienced,” Brown said. “It has taken a little while for our freshmen to step in and understand their roles. They have adjusted well. 

“Our team has gelled really well, and we are going to go out there and compete the best we can.”