Big hits propel Ridgewood baseball past River View
WEST LAFAYETTE – After a disappointing offensive showing Monday against Zanesville, Ridgewood baseball coach Chad Lahna was hoping to see some quick improvements.
The Generals took a step in that direction Tuesday, plating nine runs in the first four innings en route to a 9-3 victory over cross-county rival River View.
"I was happy with our hitting because we had some nice at-bats where our guys used the entire field," Lahna said. "We did a better job of taking the ball where it was pitched, and I think that helped us hit it better."
Ridgewood (2-0) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead after a Dillan Shepler double off the left field wall plated two runs and he later scored on an error.
River View (0-1) responded with a run off an RBI double by Adam Croup to cut it to 3-1, but the Black Bears gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.
Then it was all Generals in the next two innings.
A Kelly Barthalow RBI double highlighted a 3-run third inning; then Gage Young blasted a 2-run home run to left field in the fourth to round out the Ridgewood scoring.
A Jorn Hocter triple in the fifth plated Croup and a walked-in run in the seventh finished out the Black Bears' scoring.
Seth Walters went 62/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts to earn the win.
Josh Bigrigg was credited with the loss after surrendering nine runs on eight hits with two walks, two hit batters and two strikeouts in four innings of work.
River View coach Jesse Smoulder felt his team did some good things but that Ridgewood was just too strong in the end.
"They made plays and got hits at critical times that wound up being the difference in the game," he said. "But we can take away a lot of positives from this game and keep working hard to get better."
Smoulder reiterated that he likes the makeup of this team.
"We have a good mix of solid young players and experienced older players who are ready to win," he said. "The kids are anxious to keep improving and are ready to play again Wednesday against New Philadelphia."
Lahna was happy to get the win but knows they have to improve to make a run at an Inter-Valley Conference Championship.
"We still made some mistakes in this game and what worries me a little bit is that it was the older guys," he said. "But we got a day to practice before our next game Thursday, and we will keep working to get better."
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