Gophers rally past Ada boys

By Cort Reynolds

 

RIDGEWAY - The host Ridgemont baseball team pushed across 10 runs in the fourth inning to post a 12-4 comeback win over county rival Ada on a windy, cold Friday evening.

 

The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 1-2 overall. The Gophers improved to 2-3 with the victory.

 

Ada jumped ahead 4-0 in the top of the first frame. Junior Austin Amburgey capped the big opening inning with a two-run double.

 

Bulldog sophomore Phillip Coulson started the game with a single and eventually scored, as did senior Colten Shaffer.

 

Senior shortstop Aaron Everhart walked and scored on a hit by sophomore starting pitcher Landon Blankenship. Amburgey then made it 4-0 with his two-base hit.

 

Ridgemont junior pitcher Cole McKinley relieved with one out and shut out Ada the rest of the game on just one hit.

 

The Gophers answered with single runs in the home first and second innings to edge within 4-2. Junior southpaw Matt Middlebrook relieved Blankenship and pitched into the fateful fourth, allowing seven earned runs while striking out five.

 

Ridgemont exploded for 10 runs in the fourth to put the game, shortened to five innings, out of reach. Bulldog pitching issued 12 walks and hit five Gopher batters as the hosts scored a dozen runs despite just two hits.

 

Todd Hollinger and Corwin Shreve collected the Gopher hits. Hollinger drove in two runs and Shreve added a stolen base.

 

Ridgemont left seven runners on base while Ada stranded five.

 

123 4 5 R H E

Ada 400 0 0 4 4 0

Rmnt 110 10x 12 2 1

WP-McKinley LP-Middlebrook (0-1)

2B-Amburgey (A)

 

The Bulldogs (0-1 NWC) visit backyard traditional rival Allen East (4-1, 0-1 NWC) Monday at 5 p.m. The Mustangs fell to Delphos Jefferson 7-5 in their league opener.