By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The pesky gnats, mosquitoes and other airborne insects of ill repute were out in full force, making effective repellent the most valuable commodity at the ballpark. Bedford North Lawrence had the most functional deterrent against the annoying attackers on the diamond – a pitcher who threw strikes and a defense that swarmed to ground balls.
Ava Ratliff, known for her power at the plate, was the hammer in the circle as the Stars conquered Columbus North 4-2 on Wednesday night. Ratliff, of course, did club a home run, but it was her twirling and hurling that propelled BNL (11-9-1) to a second win over the Bull Dogs (7-8) in the last 11 days.
Coaxing ground balls with her pitch accuracy, Ratliff went the distance, recording 12 ground-ball outs (including a snappy double play) and striking out only two. BNL didn’t make every play, because an error led to one run and another created last-inning angst, but the left side of the infield (Haleigh Canada at third and Kendall Graves at shortstop) made multiple outstanding plays. North managed only six hits.
Not bad for a nationally renowned catcher who sets records with her bat.
“We’ll take that,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “She pitched well. That’s our goal, to get her more innings before the end of the year.”
Ratliff (2-1) made her third start, and this was her best. She nibbled at the inside corner (like those darn gnats) with a screwball (learned when she took pitching lessons as a pre-teen) and got the ground balls by keeping the Dogs off balance with a curveball on the outer half. Like riding a bicycle, she has not forgotten how.
“Honestly, I remember all my pitches,” she said. “I was working my screwball, which is usually my No.1 pitch. I was trying my curveball, and they were out in front of it.”
Of course, Ratliff also remembers how to hit pitches. First one she saw in the first inning, she blasted over the fence in left (her state-leading 11th of the season and state-record 54th of her career). Columbus North coach T.J. Jarvis learned his lesson after that, walking her intentionally the next three times. That was not a popular decision for the fans on the hillside in deep center, but it was prudent.
“Sadly,’ Ratliff said with a shrug, getting the stonewall treatment many have expected since she started ripping homers at her remarkable pace.
North pulled even in the second on Avery Shehan’s one-out double off the fence in right and Ali Wooten’s sharp RBI single to left. BNL’s response was a three-run frame in the third.
The rally started quietly when Danielle Stegeman was hit by a pitch. Tori Nikirk rocketed a double off the fence in left-center, and Ratliff was walked to load the bases. The Stars then scored the three runs without a hit as Graves was hit by a pitch, Aliza Jewell walked and Macee Nicholson walked to force in the runs.
“There’s something to be said for being patient,” Gilbert said. “We knew this would be different than the last time we saw them (a 17-5 BNL win in the Center Grove tournament).”
The Bull Dogs got a run in the sixth on walk, a single and a BNL error. They also threatened in the seventh with two out as Morgan Jarvis singled, Kelsey Lovelace reached on an error and both runners moved up into scoring position before Ratliff got Payton Morris on a ground out (quite fittingly) to end it.
BNL had only three hits, with Nikirk collecting two. Ratliff made that work, with assistance from the gloves behind her.
“Haleigh and Kendall played well, our outfielders went and got the ball,” Gilbert said. “I was really happy with the plays they made.
“We need to keep building. Tomorrow (against Jennings County) is a big one, we want to win the conference, and there’s a chance if someone knocks off Floyd Central. So we need to keep winning our games, and I guarantee Jennings will be ready.”
Gilbert could also reach a personal milestone (his 400th career coaching win) when the Stars face the Panthers on Thursday.
