Falcons’ Clark shuts down Ringgold

Brownsville pitcher Ava Clark retired the first 16 Rams’ batters she faced in the Falcons’ 9-1 win.

The Ringgold softball team already has three games under their belt to start the spring.

Every game, the young Rams are getting better on the diamond.

That improvement continued in their non-section clash at Brownsville, but unfortunately the Rams had no answer for flame-thrower Ava Clark in a 9-1 setback Wednesday afternoon.

“We are a young-minded team and could not adjust to their pitcher,” Ringgold coach Kaitlin Kenney said. “She was throwing a lot of heat and she was in the zone. We could not time up her pitches or put consistent swings against her today. We have to learn from those earlier mistakes and bad swings.”

Clark went the distance and flirted with a perfect game as she retired the first 16 batters she faced for the Falcons (20). Overall, Clark, who committed to D2 West Liberty University, fanned 13 batters over seven innings and only allowed a run on three hits with no walks on 81 pitches.

“When Ava gets going on the mound and we can play strong defense behind her, that’s our winning formula this season,” Brownsville coach Jane Bock said. “We are always working on our defense and our bunt coverage. With Ava’s speed, a lot of teams may try to test our defense. Today, they were up to the challenge and we did not give Ringgold any extra outs.”

Megan Powell suffered the loss for the Rams (0-3) in the circle, going five innings and allowing seven runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and two walks on 94 pitches.

“She was consistent for us today,” Kenney said. “We have a handful of players not playing in their normal positions. It takes a lot of adjustments and a lot of flexibility to do that. Our depth is being tested. Megan is coming off a knee injury, but she has shown a lot of strength.”

After Clark retired the visitors with three straight strikeouts in the top of the first, the Falcons grabbed a run in the bottom half of the inning with Alexa Pellick scoring on an RBI groundout by Lena Rechichar.

Brownsville increased its lead to 3-0 in the second when Mia O’Hern blasted an RBI double and then scored on a wild pitch. The home squad could have added more in the frame with two runners on base and one out, but Powell caught a linedrive bunt and doubled off the runner at third.

Both teams were held scoreless over the next two innings before the Falcons tacked on four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Rechichar and Lyla Gill collected RBI singles, while O’Hern garnered a two-run single.

The Rams showed some life on offense in the top of the sixth and ended Clark’s perfect game bid. With one out, Bella Burwell slapped a perfect bunt down the thirdbase line and raced to first for a hit. Two batters later, Burwell advanced to third after a hard-hit ball to right from Addy Allen.

Ringgold looked to be in business with two runners on base, but Clark kept her composure and got out of the jam with a ground out to second.

Annie Pelissero relieved Powell in the circle in the bottom of the sixth and was tagged for two unearned runs as Ringgold committed two of their three errors in the frame. Rechichar and Clark added RBI ground outs to extend Brownsville’s advantage to 9-0.

The Falcons pounded out 12 hits in the victory. That type of production at the plate will be key for Brownsville in Section 4-2A play when they battle the likes of Bentworth and Frazier.

“We have to work on everything and continue to be productive at the plate in the section,” Bock said. “There are a lot of quality teams in our section and a lot of high-level pitchers. Our team is not afraid to show off our speed and play some small ball. We ran the bases aggressively today and I thought we did a good job of getting productive outs that helped us get some runs. We have to find ways to score runs.”

The Rams avoided the shut- out in the top of the seventh when Cheyenne Lamont came up to the plate with one out and tattooed a solo home run to dead center field.

“She was due for a big hit like that,” Kenney said. “In our prior games, she has had some good at-bats. Earlier in the game, she smacked a line drive, but the centerfielder caught it on the run. That home run is a huge confidence booster for her, especially since she is only a freshman. She has quick hands and is just an intelligent batter.”

Ringgold will continue non-section play at home against Mt. Pleasant Friday.

“We have to work on the little things and figure out those situational plays,” Kenney said. “If we can do that consistently, then that will give us a better chance to win these games. We have to know what to do on the field, be confident in those decisions and communicate with everyone on the field.”