By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Together, they took their final bows, exiting the field prior to the final out. Five seniors, bidding farewell with hugs and a happy ending. That’s the way Senior Night is supposed to conclude, with a victory and memories.
Bedford North Lawrence honored its quintet in the proper fashion, posting a 6-1 triumph over Seymour in the regular-season finale on Thursday night. Aliza Jewell pitched five superb innings, Ava Ratliff crushed another home run, and all five upperclassmen made major contributions to the cause as the Stars celebrated in style before turning their attention to the postseason.
From the moment they caught the ceremonial first pitches from their fathers, until the departure amidst multiple hugs from their teammates on the turf, the focus was on BNL seniors Maddy Figg, Britta Warren, Haleigh Canada, Anna Williams and Jewell. That attention and emotion can cause some issues, but the Stars handled everything with grace.
“We all felt the pressure before,” Figg said. “Britta’s dad (Robbie) talked to us before the game about there will always be pressure, but it was more important to just have the best time of our lives.” Winning made that possible.
“We’re like sisters,” Jewell said. “We’ve played so long together.”
While Jewell was at center stage in the circle, each one had their moment. Canada had a single and two RBIs, Williams had a run-scoring single and made three tough catches of line drives in the outfield, Figg reached base twice, and Warren went back to the fence to track down a dangerous drive in center field.
“It’s exciting for them, it was more exciting that every one of them contributed, they all did something,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “Put the ball in play, get some hits, score some runs. Sometimes that doesn’t happen.”
The Stars (17-10-1) took control early, scoring twice in the first to calm any nerves. Ratliff sizzled a single, Kendall Graves reached on a fielder’s choice, and Jewell ripped a single off the leg of Seymour pitcher Macie Rawls to drive in the first run. Williams followed with a two-out RBI single.
BNL added three more in the third. Graves and Jewell singled, and Sara Williams reached on an error. Canada cracked a single to chase home two more.
Ratliff accounted for the final run as she cranked a homer to center (extending her state career record with her 57th overall and her 14th of the season) in the sixth.
Jewell went five innings in the circle, allowing a run in the fourth, before Ratliff finished off the final six outs. The Owls managed only three hits.
“Aliza pitched really well, she looked really good,” Gilbert said. “She was in control.”
Ratliff and Jewell had two hits each. BNL topped the Owls (5-16) for the second time in a seven-day span, although this contest was quickly arranged when Martinsville (the original final foe) had to reschedule a conference game.
“Since we beat them once, we came in confident,” Williams said. “But it’s hard to beat a team twice. That first inning set the tone for us, to not be worried.”
BNL will now shift its gaze to the sectional and a first-round battle with Floyd Central.
“We have a couple of nights to get ready, and we have to be ready to go,” Gilbert said.
The Stars will meet the Highlanders in the opening game at New Albany on Monday.
