Determined Kenton Ridge ends memorable run for Granville softball

FAIRBORN ― Timing is everything, especially in a showdown for a state tournament berth. And Friday evening at Wright State, the time was right for Springfield Kenton Ridge.

After losing in the Division II regional finals the past two seasons, to Greenville last year on the same field and to Jonathan Alder at Mason in 2022, the state's third-ranked team had second-ranked Granville in its sights. And with the Blue Aces still feeling the effects from Wednesday's emotional 1-0, 10-inning win against Indian Lake, the Cougars pounced.

Kenton Ridge (28-4) took advantage of three uncharacteristic errors by Granville, scoring four unearned runs, and earned its first trip to Akron since 2013 with a 6-2 victory.

It ended the Blue Aces' (28-4) pursuit of their first regional title since 2015's state championship season.

"We knew they were a really good team coming in, and that they would hit the ball hard, and they did today," coach Brooke Warehime said. "We gave them a couple of extra opportunities, and you can't do that at this level. I don't think the moment was too big for us. They had lost the last couple years in this game, they were hungry, and they wanted to get their breakthrough. Today, they were the better team, and they did. Credit to them."

Observed four-year starter and third baseman Emily Travis: "A lot of us were tired in practice yesterday. We struggled, I'm not going to lie, because we were emotionally and physically drained. But I still think we could have won. Our game was kind of off today, but at least we lost to a very good team."

Kyanne Tyson, who pitched a five-hitter, struck out four and walked none, retired the first nine Blue Aces, while her team was staking her to a 3-0 lead. Granville's Ally Ernsberger, meanwhile, threw 140 pitches Wednesday and 134 more on Friday, and walks led to the game's first two runs, combined with an error, Brenna Fyffe's two-out RBI single and a double by Cara Cammon.

"Ernie was tired. She admitted that she was," Warehime said. "I think Wednesday took a little bit out of us because we exerted so much energy and emotion."

Still, Granville tried to fight back. Down 3-0 in the fourth, Sophia Patena lined a single to left and Megan Lodge doubled to left center. But the Blue Aces could only get one run home, on Ernsberger's one-out grounder. After Fyffe's second run-scoring hit made it 4-1, Avary King doubled leading off the fifth but was left stranded.

The Cougars delivered the knockout blow with two more in the sixth, aided by two Granville errors, and number nine hitter Dakotah Timmons came through with a two-out, two-run single. Ernsberger had a leadoff double in the seventh and King singled in pinch runner Leah Gottfried, but it was too little, too late.

Ernsberger allowed seven hits and walked three, but gave up just two earned runs while striking out nine.

Warehime said not many believed the Blue Aces could get to where they did, after three consecutive district semifinal losses.

"We knew we were really talented," he said. "If we combined pitching and defense with all of the bats we had, it could take us a long way. And it did."

Licking County League-Buckeye Division powerhouse Watkins Memorial advanced to its fourth consecutive Division I state tournament Friday. Granville played the second-ranked Warriors tough during the regular season, losing 2-0 on April 18 and 4-3 on April 29.

"Those were key tests for us," Warehime said. "The girls started to believe that if we could play with them, we could play with anyone."

Said Travis: "I really think it was the first one, when we lost 2-0, it kind of clicked that we could do something special and wanted to take this team as far as we could."

Warehime noted that of the six seniors, four were four-year starters.

"We had a little hashtag, LOL, for Leave Our Legacy," he said. "They've done a lot of special things, and set the bar at where the program should be. I feel like I've graduated six daughters, even though just (Taylor) actually is."

Assistant Megan Kuether, who has been coaching the seniors for the last four years, put things in perspective when addressing the team afterward.

"Underclassmen, remember how this (the loss) feels," she said. "It's going to sting for a little while. But also remember how special it was to be a part of something like this, and how hard you'll have to work to get us back here. Not that many get to experience something like this."

dweidig@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Determined Kenton Ridge ends memorable run for Granville softball