GREENWOOD – After expending emotional energy during a historic night, and absorbing a rough loss to a rival at the same time, Bedford North Lawrence responded with renewed energy and execution during the annual Russ Milligan Classic at Center Grove on Saturday.
The No.8 Trojans rallied in the sixth inning to clip the Stars 8-7 in the opening game, before BNL bounced back to blast Columbus North 17-5 in the second contest. The Stars (7-9-1) exploded for a season high in runs to take home a split in the doubleheader, less than 24 hours after taking a 16-4 loss to Floyd Central.
“It was a good day,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “We really played well. We challenged them to be ready to go.“
Center Grove 8, BNL 7 – In the first game, the Trojans (10-4) recovered from a 7-5 deficit with a three-run comeback in the sixth. Brynn Meyer stroked a RBI double and Riley Janda cracked a two-run double against BNL starter Ava Ratliff for the go-ahead runs.
The Stars erased a 3-0 lead with a five-run fourth to take control. Haleigh Canada started the burst with an infield single, Anna Williams dropped a bunt and reached on an error, and Danielle Stegeman clubbed a RBI double. Williams scored on a wild pitch, and Tori Nikirk ripped a two-run homer into the wind in center for a 4-3 advantage. BNL added another run when Ratliff was intentionally walked, Kendall Graves doubled, and Aliza Jewell followed with a run-scoring ground out.
Center Grove pulled even with two runs in the fourth, but BNL responded with two in the sixth. Nikirk started it with a bunt single, went to second on a wild pitch, took third on ground out and scored on Graves’ bunt. BNL’s final run came when Jewell walked and raced home when Macee Nichiolson’s fly ball was misplayed.
NIkirk and Stegeman both had two hits. Hannah Haberstroh had three hits and Janda drove in five runs for the Trojans.
“The kids battled a team that’s ranked in the top 10,” Gilbert said. “Really happy with the effort. I’m never one of those guys who’s excited about a moral victory, but I’m really happy with the effort and the way we attacked it.“
BNL 17, Columbus North 5 – The Stars cranked out 18 hits, including eight for extra bases, while bopping the Bull Dogs.
Nikirk had three hits and scored four runs, Ratliff went 5-for-6 with two doubles and seven RBIs, Nicholson had three hits, and Anna Williams drove in three runs. Graves, freshman Taylor Pruett (with her first varsity hit) and Nicholson had doubles, while Jewell, Canada and Sarah Williams all bashed triples during the offensive assault. Jewell earned the win in the circle before Nicholson pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
“The kids stepped up and were ready to go, never let off the throttle,” Gilbert said. “Tori had a great day. She hit the ball hard, her outs were hit hard. The ball just jumped off her bat, that was exciting to see and hear.”
Ratliff, fresh from setting the state career home run record on Friday night, passed Sarah Stone for the school mark in career RBIs. Over the past nine games, she has raised her batting average 200 points, and she’s had 16 hits in her last 22 official trips to the plate.
“She hit two balls that, honestly, I was scared for the third baseman,” Gilbert said. “She stung the ball, she’s back to being Ava again.”
In the final game of the Classic, Center Grove hammered North 19-1.
BNL will host Mitchell for the annual county rivalry clash on Monday, then face a rematch with Columbus North on Tuesday.
