Softball: Cougars still rising after win over rival Ross

Maddy Foster of Ross beats the throw to Edgewood shortstop Sara Schiavone during Friday’s game in Trenton. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

Maddy Foster of Ross beats the throw to Edgewood shortstop Sara Schiavone during Friday’s game in Trenton. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

The Edgewood High School softball team is starting to click, but coach Wayne Asher said the Cougars still are only at about 70 percent where they need to be.

That assessment came after Edgewood jumped out to a seven-run lead over Ross and had to work out of a sixth-inning jam to preserve an 8-4 win at home Friday.

Edgewood (5-3 overall, 3-1 in the Southwest Ohio Conference) has won four of its last five games, with the lone loss being in extra innings against Harrison.

“Their pitcher is a good pitcher, so to jump on her like that, it felt good. But then we relaxed a little where we needed to keep it going,” Asher said. “We had a few errors and laid back a little, but we need to know good teams like Ross are going to come at us. Props to Ross, they didn’t quit. They kept coming at us and made it a game.”

Edgewood’s Madison Asher connects for a home run during Friday’s game against visiting Ross. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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After Ross (5-6, 3-3) stranded a runner on third in the top of the first, Edgewood took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the frame on freshman Jenna Evans’ two-run single with two outs. Madison Asher followed with a double that skipped over the left-field wall, but Rams pitcher Kenzie Meyer coaxed a strikeout to end the damage there.

Ross got one run back the next inning on an error that allowed Hannah Vangen to reach base and brought Meyer’s courtesy runner, Faith Ohmer, home from first. However, the Cougars answered right back with single runs over each of the next three frames, including a homer from Asher, before a three-run fifth inning. Edgewood was helped by a couple errors, a walk and RBI singles from Sara Schiavone and Sam Davis, who went 4-for-4 with two runs and got the win on the mound.

“Evans getting two RBIs and Madison hitting the double, those were big momentum builders for us,” coach Asher said. “We were able to see more pitches and get through more of the lineup, and the more you see the pitcher, the better you are.”

Ross had stranded five runners in scoring position through the first five innings before the offense finally found a rhythm. Maddy Foster drove in three runs on a two-out triple after Meyer singled and Vangen and Lauryn Emenaker reached base on a fielder’s choice and error, respectively.

Edgewood third baseman Rebekah Schiavone chases a bunt as Adrienne Gleason of Ross runs safely to first during their game in Trenton on Friday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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A ground out ended the rally there, but the Rams still had some life with Ally Ivey leading off the seventh with a double following a 1-2-3 inning for Meyer. Ivey made it to third, but the next three batters failed to reach base.

“I feel like we just didn’t come out prepared to play today, and then by the time we were finally hitting the ball, it was already too late,” Ross coach Anna Winters said. “They had scored too many runs, and we just couldn’t make up the deficit. They played hard and kept positive attitudes. I just felt like if we would have had that (sixth) inning earlier in the game, it could have been a totally different ballgame.”

The Rams will travel to Northwest on Monday. Edgewood hosts McAuley at 10 a.m. and Badin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Ross 010-003-0—4-8-4

Edgewood 211-130-x—4-8-4

WP — Sam Davis (5-2); LP — Kenzie Meyer (4-6); HR — E: Madison Asher. Records: R 5-6, 3-3 SWOC; E 5-3, 3-1 SWOC

Ross third baseman Emily Poling secures an Edgewood popup during Friday’s game in Trenton. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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Ross coach Anna Winters talks with her team during Friday’s game at Edgewood. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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Ross pitcher Kenzie Meyer puts in some work at Edgewood on Friday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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Edgewood third baseman Rebekah Schiavone fields a bunt and throws to first for the out on Hannah Vangen of Ross during Friday’s game in Trenton. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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Edgewood’s Sam Davis delivers a pitch to a Ross batter Friday in Trenton. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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Ross pitcher Kenzie Meyer makes to throw to first base to get Edgewood’s Rileigh Todd during their game in Trenton on Friday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

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