Keystone vs. Black River softball: Wildcats’ bats get going in 11-7 victory

By Travis Nelson | tnelson@morningjournal.com

PUBLISHED: April 10, 2024 at 7:56 p.m. | UPDATED: April 10, 2024 at 7:57 p.m.

After dropping its first conference game in eight years this past weekend, Keystone is back to its winning ways.

The Wildcats’ bats have come alive after a slow start with 26 runs over the past two games. Following a 15-0 win over Oberlin, the offense stayed hot with an 11-7 LC8 road win over Black River on April 10.

Keystone put up 12 hits and six batters drove in runs. The team’s confidence was shaken a bit following the loss to Firelands, but back-to-back games like that can do wonders to build it back up.

“That was the message to the girls at the end of the game,” Keystone coach Gina Gibson said. “It is nice to see them playing relaxed and playing locked in. I think they just need that reminder on the difference in the game that it can make for them.”

With that being said, Keystone needed all of its offense to earn the win. Black River came ready to play hitting the ball 11 times. The game was tied at 4-4 through three innings, but the Wildcats dug in and delivered at the plate.

Black River pitcher Jordan Bradford is as talented as they come, but Keystone’s hitters were ready for the challenge. Kaylie Scott delivered a leadoff bloop single in the top of the fourth and Jordan Owca did the rest.

Owca is one of the best at reaching first on a bunt or infield hit with her speed. This time, however, the junior showed her power. Her line drive beat the right fielder and it was off to the races. Owca made it all the way home and gave Keystone a 6-4 lead. Madison Scott added a run later in the inning to increase it to three.

Owca finished with three RBI to lead the Wildcats, followed by two each from Scott and Bristol Foster.

“It felt great,” Owca said. “I wasn’t really on my best hitting performance lately and that was just a really great confidence booster for me. I’m really excited about the future games because I feel like all of the girls, not just me, have had a confidence boost.”

The Pirates got one run back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single from Bradford. The fifth inning was their best chance to get back in it trailing by two with the bases loaded.

With two outs, Ariel Payton singled to load the bases, but the runner was kept at third. Keystone pitcher Brooklyn Modock hung in there despite Black River’s good hitting day and delivered when the team needed her most. On the next at-bat, Modock forced Remington Dieter into a groundout to get out of the jam.

“I think it’s clear as I think back through the game that this was a team win,” Gibson said. “Everyone of them contributed in a different way and everyone helped build that momentum as the game went on. Even the dugout was super loud and fierce and made sure that the energy never dipped. I think it builds the excitement out there on the field and reminds our girls how much they want it.”

The big fourth inning put Keystone in good position, but the sixth inning put the game away for good. Another RBI on a grounder from Scott extended the lead, and back-to-back RBI hits from Foster and Anna Wright were the daggers. Foster connected on a deep blast for an RBI triple. Black River scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t get any closer.

“I’m going to follow what (Owca) said, I think this is going to be a great confidence booster. I think we’re definitely going to be a team to watch out for now,” Foster said. “I feel like this is what we needed and I feel like we’re just going to come back 10 times fiercer.”