VIRGINIA—Looking at the box score between the Rock Ridge and Cloquet softball teams, one big difference stood out when comparing the two squads.
Both teams grabbed nine hits in the seven-inning game, but the difference came down to runners left on base. The Wolverines left just four while the Lumberjacks stranded 10.
That difference showed in the amount of runs scored as well, with Rock Ridge getting the 7-2 edge over Cloquet, winning an all-important section matchup.
Every inning the Lumberjacks came up to bat, they managed to get a runner on. But that didn’t shake the Wolverines. Seeing her team make the plays on defense while also getting clean outs from pitcher Taylor Morley, Rock Ridge head coach Paula Dundas said it was a sign of maturity from her squad that they only let two runs in the entire contest.
“It’s not realistic to think you can shut everybody down every inning,” Dundas said. “They’re going to get hits. They’re going to get baserunners. You just have to trust that your defense is going to make plays behind you. And your defense has to trust that you can make a mistake and that others are going to pick you up. That’s the maturity of this team.
“One mistake would have snowballed against us in past years. Now, these girls know they can recover from that.”
Dundas says recovering from the little mistakes is a product of good practice.
“We practice these pressure situations all the time. We put pressure on them at practice so they’re constantly having to make plays that are harder than they would be in an actual game. When it comes up in a game, they know they have time and they know they can make the play. That’s how we know we can play well when the other team gets runners on.”
Having to play with runners on started early for the Wolverines. After getting the first out in the top of the first, Cloquet’s Carly Johnson reached on an infield single. After Emma Lamppa made an outstanding running catch in right field for the second out, Johnson was able to steal her way to second looking to score.
That didn’t faze the pitcher Morley or the rest of the Wolverines as the sophomore delivered a strikeout to end the inning, bringing her team to the plate.
The energy was already flowing for Rock Ridge as leadoff hitter Chance Colbert started things off with a blast to right field to reach first. She stole her way to second and then came to third when Mattelyn Seppi grounded out on a fielder’s choice.
With Lamppa up to bat, a shot to left-center field scored Colbert, giving Rock Ridge first blood. They weren’t done scoring yet. Alex Flannigan bunted Lamppa over and the runner took third and eventually made it home on a throwing error from the Lumberjacks, 2-0 Wolverines.
Getting the 2-0 lead off the jump, Dundas said seeing her team answer before Cloquet managed to score was what she was looking for.
“Taylor came out in the first and she threw lights out. Yes, they get the runner on but nothing came of it. We come back and answer right away. Chance gets on base, moves over, moves over and scores. That’s huge. We had some girls get hits tonight in clutch situations. We kept putting up more and more runs and that added pressure to [Cloquet] and kept the pressure off of us. That’s huge for us in any game.”
After a scoreless second inning from both sides, Cloquet got on the board in the top of the third. Aydann Pollard singled to center to start the inning and moved over to second when Johnson knocked a single to left. The run came in to score with Blythe Proulx singling to left, making it a 2-1 game.
That’s all the Lumberjacks got for a while and as soon as things got close for Rock Ridge, they came up to the plate with a mission to score.
In the bottom of the third, Seppi started things off with a one-out double to right-center field. After Lamppa was intentionally walked by Cloquet and their pitcher Allie Jones, the pair of runners moved over after Flannigan was forced out at first.
With two outs to their name, the Wolverine got the big hit they were looking for when Anna Westby ripped a double up the middle that came in hot enough to sneak behind the Cloquet center fielder. Both runners scored to make it a 4-1 game.
Rock Ridge added another run in the inning after a passed ball allowed Westby to move all the way home from second base.
The Wolverines allowed just a single in the fourth inning while Morley picked up another three strikeouts to solidify the 5-1 lead.
Rock Ridge grew their lead again in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lamppa took a walk to lead off the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Flannigan. No one from Cloquet covered third on Flannigan’s bunt, letting Lamppa safely make it all the way to third. Just like she did a few innings ago, Westby came up big for the Wolverines, this time singling to right to bring in another run.
With plenty of Rock Ridge runners taking the extra bag during the game, Dundas said being aggressive on the base paths is something her squad has been harping on.
“Every year you look at what you have and know there’s some things you need to work on. Right now, our fundamentals are solid. You still work at them because they’re your building blocks but that allows us to work on those next-level things.
“The girls are taught not to think just one base ahead, start thinking two bases ahead. Trust your gut. If your gut tells you can go another base, then you got another base and learn from that.”
The Wolverines added one final run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ayla Lokken reached on a one-out walk and then moved to second on the steal. Colbert grounded out on a fielder’s choice, letting the runner move to third and she came in to score when Seppi etched a single up the middle.
Cloquet managed to tack on one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as Morley closed out the contest and the Wolverines picked up the 7-2 win.
While it wasn’t a perfect game from her squad, the biggest thing Dundas saw was that her team bounced back from any of the few mistakes they made.
“These girls understand the importance of section games like this. Every game is important but now is the time for us to learn and make mistakes because we want to be doing it now instead of in the playoffs. I think we’re showing that, yeah, we made some mistakes tonight but we can recover from that.”
After the game, Rock Ridge’s three seniors in Flannigan, Lamppa and Marissa Anderson were honored for their contributions to the program while their younger teammates spoke their praises. Dundas said this year’s trio of seniors stack up with some of the best she’s had.
“We’re so blessed with great kids. These three seniors in particular, they show up, they’re great leaders and they will do anything you ask of them.
“The hardest part about coaching is you have to say goodbye to everybody but this year, these three are going to be particularly hard to say goodbye to. I’ve known Flanny since she was in the seventh grade and I’ve known Marissa earlier than that. They’re just really great kids. Getting to know Emma, we’re really lucky she joined us this year. We’re very fortunate and she’s been a huge contributor on our team.”
Rock Ridge (11-2) traveled to GNK on Thursday and travel to Hill-Murray Saturday for a doubleheader.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Duluth East 4,
Rock Ridge 3
DULUTH—The Rock Ridge boys’ tennis team suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday, falling 4-3 on the road to Duluth East.
The Wolverines found just one win in singles and two in doubles as the Greyhounds took the second meeting of the year with Rock Ridge. The Wolverines won the previous meeting 5-2 back on April 6.
Gage Benz was a winner at fourth singles, defeating Hans Humphreys 6-2, 6-1. In doubles, Dawson Ruedebusch and Aidan Sandnas picked up the win at the No. 2 spot over Wesley Furin and Will Olek 6-2, 6-2. Finally at third singles, Rory Cope-Robinson and Tyler Callister defeated Weston Strege and Cullen Burns 6-2, 7-6(4).
Rock Ridge returns to their home courts Friday when they host Duluth Marshall starting at 4 p.m.
Duluth East 4, Rock Ridge 3
Singles: No. 1 Karl Kimber, DE, def. Payton Marks 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; No. 2 Thomas Gunderson, DE, def. Kasey Lamppa 6-0, 6-1No. 3 Ewen Moe, DE, def. Will Peterson 7-6, 6-1; No. 4 Gage Benz, def. Hans Humphreys 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles: No. 1 Colin McShane/Ben Heffernan, DE, def. Peyton Bialke/Grady Dimberio 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-2; No. 2 Dawson Ruedebusch/Aiden Sandnas vs. Wesley Furin/Will Olek 6-2, 6-2; No. 3 Rory Cope-Robinson/Tyler Callister vs. Weston Strege/Cullen Burns 6-2, 7-6(4).
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Rainy River 9-9
Mesabi Range 3-4,
VIRGINIA—The Minnesota North-Mesabi Range softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader Wednesday against Rainy River, 9-3 and 9-4.
In the opening game, Hailey Greenly took the loss in the pitcher’s circle for the Norse, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits and two walks. She struck out three.
At the plate, Greenly was 2-4 with a home run, a double, an RBI and a run scored. Janie Potts was 1-3 with a run scored. Elizabeth Hey added a hit.
In the second game, Greenly took the second loss, giving up nine runs (four earned) on 12 hits and two walks. She struck out four.
At the plate, Joey Westby was 1-4 with a home run. Potts was 2-4. Hey and Katie Peck added a hit apiece.
Mesabi Range (8-6) travels to Northland Saturday for a doubleheader and then closes out the regular season Sunday when they host the Pioneers for another doubleheader.
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