The winner of this Battle of Union softball game earned control of its own destiny for the 33rd District’s top seed standing alone at 2-0 with four games left in district seed play.
The Ryle Raiders (5-3) put themselves in that position exploding for a five-run fourth inning on their way to a 13-3 six-inning run-ruling of the Cooper Jaguars (10-4). Ryle is 2-0 in district seed play having won both games on the road this week. The next three district seed games for the Raiders take place on their home turf.
“Every district game is a tough game. Cooper is a very good team,” said Jarret Goddard, Ryle head coach. “Our girls dialed in at the plate, which was awesome to see. Getting that early lead is important for us. It was good they had a few innings where they were able to put up some runs.”
Junior pitcher Maddie Goddard (5-3) pitched a complete game, striking out six and walking none. They committed two errors leading to two unearned Cooper runs. But they did not allow a big inning.
“I have faith in my defense making plays and it feels really good that they came out ready to play,” Maddie Goddard said. “It’s really important to change things up because they know what’s going to come. We did that so it felt good.”
Maddie Goddard also dazzled at the plate going 2 for 3 with a two-run home run in the third inning for her second of the season and four runs batted in. She was one of three players with multi-hit games as Ryle batted .440 (11 for 25) overall. Senior third baseman Payton Godfrey went 2 for 4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.
Two seniors in first baseman Grace Tranbargar and left fielder Aaliyah Kaseke came into the game and made impacts at the plate. Tranbarger went 2 for 2 with one RBI, one run scored and hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning that led to a run. Kaseke went 1 for 1 with two RBI, scored once and drew one walk.
“I think it’s just important to show up prepared and you never know when you’re going to get thrown in,” Tranbarger said. “It’s helpful to get in a routine to keep us going and not have to go inside and figure stuff out in the gym.”
The Raiders had contributions all over the lineup. Senior second baseman Lerin Moreland belted a solo shot for her first home run of the season in the fourth scoring twice and sophomore right fielder Laci DeLauder scored three runs. Senior shortstop Avery Parsons drove in two.
Cooper made three errors and the Raiders scored five unearned runs off them. Senior Kendall Blau (7-3) pitched into the fifth striking out three and walking five. Eighth grader Trista Thorn and freshman Lily Spraker finished the game.
“We’ve had a good number of games against (Blau) so the girls know pretty much what to expect,” Coach Goddard said. “Her change-up was very good. Even the ones she missed were really close. That pitch has been something we’ve been working on. I believe Maddie’s home run was on a change up. We were able to sit back on some of them, watch and drive them.”
The Jaguars batted .240 (6 for 24) overall. Blau reached base all three times with two singles and drawing a hit by pitch. Senior infielder Ashley Chaney had a double for Cooper’s lone extra-base hit.
“We came out not very hungry,” said Rusty Scott, Cooper head coach. “We were kind of satisfied and complacent. Ryle came out and played a lot harder than we did. When you have such a good team in Ryle and they outplay you, you’re going to end up in games like this.”
Ryle took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Parsons reached on an error, took second when Maddie Goddard drew a hit by pitch, third on a wild pitch then scored on another wild pitch.
Cooper took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Blau singled and sophomore pinch runner Grace Cline scored when Chaney doubled. Chaney then stole third and scored on a Ryle throwing error.
But Maddie Goddard put Ryle up for good in the top of the third at 3-2 with her home run after Godfrey doubled with two out. Moreland led off the fourth with her solo shot before DeLauder doubled and moved to third with Tranbarger hit a sacrifice fly to right before Kaseke singled her to make it 5-2 Raiders.
With two out, freshman center fielder Brooklyn Roland reached on an error moving Kaseke to second. Godfrey doubled in Roland before Maddie Goddard singled in Roland and Godfrey to make it 8-2 Raiders.
Ryle added two in the top of the fifth to go up 10-2. DeLauder walked and took second when Tranbarger singled. Kaseke then walked to load the bases and DeLauder scored when Parsons drew a bases-loaded walk. Roland then singled in Tranbarger.
Cooper scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth when freshman left fielder Sadie James reached on an error and took second when junior shortstop Ava Scott singled. The two moved up when freshman Ainsley Scroggie grounded. Senior second baseman Emily Schmeltz then grounded out scoring James to make it 10-3 Ryle.
But the Raiders scored three times in the top of the sixth to force the run-ruling. Sophomore catcher Laney Schuster reached on an error and junior Zoe Coop ran for her. Moreland and DeLauder drew walks to load the bases. Tranbarger singled in Coop before Kaseke hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Moreland. Parsons then singled in DeLauder to make the final score.
Ryle travels to Newport (0-9) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Cooper plays host to Beechwood (5-5) at 5 p.m.
Softball
Boone County 12, Conner 2
The Rebels (5-8) won their first 33rd District seed game in two years scoring nine runs in the bottom of the fifth then sealing the six-inning run-ruling with two in the bottom of the sixth. Boone County is tied with Cooper at 1-1 in district seed play and Conner (6-7) is 0-2.
Boone County batted .419 (13 for 31) overall. The Rebels scored three unearned runs off four Conner errors.
Sophomore Annabeth Lewis went 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored and sophomore pitcher Dani Wright went 2 for 4 with a triple and scored twice for the Rebels. Junior first baseman Skylar Price went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored. Eighth grade left fielder Alivia Miller went 2 for 4 with two RBI and scored once with senior catcher Kailey Richardson going 2 for 4 with one RBI. Senior second baseman Harper Kinman had a double and eighth grade shortstop Alivia Scott had a triple and two RBI.
“Our record’s not real pretty right now. But a few of our games should have been wins,” said Andy Petridis, Boone County head coach. “We played a bunch of young ones and (had) a bunch of errors giving a bunch of runs to other times kind of snake-biting ourselves. Our upperclassmen had good days. We had a couple young ones step up and get key hits. The big thing is our pitching and defense kept us in the game. Then a little bit of small ball helped us out a bit.”
Wright pitched a complete game striking out 10, walking five and allowing just two hits and one earned run. The Rebels made just two errors behind her.
“I feel it definitely matters when I throw a first-pitch strike,” Wright said. “I know I did that several times. My team also backed me up as well. Then we did fantastic on offense.”
Junior Mollie Sharp (4-7) took the loss for the Cougars pitching into the fifth. Freshman catcher Averie Lightner had a double scoring once and driving in one.
Boone County plays host to Campbell County (7-3) on Friday at 5 p.m. Conner travels to Tates Creek (9-6) for a 6 p.m. game.
Other Softball Scores
Dixie Heights 20, Lloyd Memorial 3 (4 innings)
Gallatin 18, Bellevue 0 (3 innings)
Bracken County 12, Newport Central Catholic 1 (5 innings)
Walton-Verona 13, Dayton 5
Henry County 4, Highlands 2
Notre Dame 11, Beechwood 1 (6 innings)
Simon Kenton 4, Pendleton County 2
Baseball
Conner 2, Simon Kenton 0 (10 innings)
The Cougars (13-2) outlasted the Pioneers (9-4) scoring twice in the top of the 10th when junior Aaron Wichmann singled in senior Jeffery Vest and junior Owen Louden to start the Doc Morris Invitational.
Simon Kenton outhit Conner, 7-6. But the Pioneers had three errors to none for the Cougars and Conner scored an unearned run off them.
Senior Brayden Stidham went 2 for 5 with a double to lead Conner. Senior Zander Allen (2-1) pitched nine innings to pick up the win striking out five and senior Cody Henson retired the side in the 10th to earn the save striking out two.
Junior outfielder Bailey Rump went 2 for 4 with two doubles and senior designated hitter Dakota Brown went 2 for 4 with one double. Junior first baseman Logan Cones also went 2 for 4.
Junior Anthony Procaccino pitched nine innings for the Pioneers striking out six and walking one. Rump pitched the 10th striking out one.
Both teams play again Friday at Saturday in the Doc Morris Invitational. Conner plays Highlands (6-6) at 5:30 p.m. and Simon Kenton plays host to Paintsville (11-3) at 7:30 p.m.
Other Baseball Scores
Lloyd Memorial 8, Bellevue 0
Campbell County 10, Holy Cross 0
Scott 8, Newport Central Catholic 7
Holmes 13, Villa Madonna 9
Bethel-Tate (Ohio) 19, Ludlow 12
Covington Catholic 5, St. Henry 1
Calvary Christian 9, Dayton 3
Pendleton County 4, Bishop Brossart 1