By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – With two lightning-bolts swings, Kendall Graves destroyed the popular theory of intentionally walking Bedford North Lawrence star Ava Ratliff to avoid major damage.
Jennings County coach Bobby Willis obviously got the circulating memo: Don’t pitch to Ratliff. Her first two times at the plate, he flashed four fingers to the umpires, sending the feared slugger to first base without a swing. Both times, in her pivotal place in the batting order behind the state’s best basher, Graves touched all four bases.
Graves blasted two home runs in the first inning, including a mammoth grand slam off the left-field foul pole during her second appearance, during a volcanic 10-run eruption in the frame as the Stars smoked the Panthers 17-1 in a mercy-rule blowout on Thursday evening. Graves drove in eight total runs as BNL coach Brad Gilbert recorded his 400th career victory.
JC’s strategy followed Columbus North’s decision to purposely pass Ratliff three straight times on Wednesday night. When Tori Nikirk led off the first with a sharp single, Ratliff was motioned to first. On the third pitch to Graves, she scorched a line drive that carried over the fence in center for a fast 3-0 lead.
That explosion sent a shockwave through a dugout that had been glum about its lack of hitting in the two previous outings. Aliza Jewell singled to center, Macee Nicholson doubled to left, and Haleigh Canada dropped a bunt single to load the bases. Anna Williams was hit by a pitch, Maddy Figg grounded into a fielder’s choice as Nicholson slid home, and Nikirk grounded into fielder’s choice as Canada was thrown out at the plate for the second out.
So with the bases still loaded, Willis elected to walk Ratliff again, forcing in a run for a 6-0 lead. Putting that ultimate sign of respect into perspective, it’s happened only eight times in Major League Baseball history, most notably when Arizona manager Buck Showalter chose that approach against Barry Bonds during his historic homer barrage in 1998.
Once again, Graves made the Panthers pay. She launched a towering drive down the line that banged off the pole for a grand slam and a 10-0 advantage. Boom. That theory has holes.
“That’s what we have to do behind her,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “We did a great job of that. Kendall just raked them in, that’s a pretty good night. I was really fired up for that. That’s what we needed, just so people know we have people behind her. That’s nothing against Bobby, I get it, I would never say anything to a coach about their strategy.”
Graves had been scuffling, with only three hits in 15 at-bats over the last five games.
“I had been in a slump, so I went up there with my mind open, got the job done,” she said. “It felt really good. I didn’t expect it to go over.”
And the second one? She paused briefly to admire it, unsure if it would stay fair. After a hard hand slap from Gilbert as she rounded third, she was mobbed at the plate by teammates.
“I was thinking it was my time,” Graves said. “It was good. I was watching it. I thought it was going foul.”
The last four innings were anticlimactic after that power surge. BNL scored six more in the third inning as Graves drew a bases-loaded walk before Jewell, Nicholson, Sara Williams and Anna Williams drove in runs. Nikirk accounted for the final run with a solo blast to left in the fourth.
The Stars, who had managed only five total hits during the last two games, bashed out 15 hits against the Panthers (9-9 overall, 3-2 in the Hoosier Hills Conference). Nikirk had three hits and scored four times, while Graves had more RBIs in one inning than her last 10 games combined.
“It was nice to see us hit,” Gilbert said. “They weren’t happy with the three hits last night. We knew, in conference games, you can’t have three hits and win.”
Lost in the offensive outburst was the pitching performance by Jewell, who allowed only four hits. She struck out two but issued only one walk.
“It was a good team win,” Gilbert said.
Following the game, Gilbert was awarded a commemorative game ball and plaque for the coaching milestone.
“It means I’ve coached a while,” he said. “I’m proud of it, but it’s as much on my coaches and players. It just means we’ve had great kids that want to win, that work hard. We’ve had great players and great teams, we’ve had a lot of fun winning some games. I’m just fortunate to have a great staff and the kids want to win.”
BNL (12-9-1 overall, 4-1 in the HHC) also remained alive in the conference race. Floyd Central still leads the league at 4-0, meaning the Stars will have to rely on help to possibly claim a share of the title. It’s been a long road back to respectability after struggling to a 2-6 start this season.
“It’s been an uphill climb,” Gilbert said. “I’m excited where we are. We’re going to chug along and try to get better.”
The Stars will visit Bloomington North on Friday.
