Jenkins a trooper, but Ridley takes bow
RIDLEY TWP. — Ridley pitcher Leigh Ann Jenkins walked with a noticeable limp at times in Monday’s District One Class AAAA tournament opener.
The sophomore has been “battling through’ a strained quadriceps. She’s gotten used to playing through pain.
Earlier in the season, Jenkins stung her hand pretty good in practice, but rubbed some dirt on it and strapped on a protective brace. She continued to pitch and win games.
In Monday afternoon’s 3-0 loss to No. 18 Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkins didn’t make excuses for herself. She threw the ball well, but 15th-seeded Ridley couldn’t push across runs against Hatters hurler Lexi Campbell.
“She’s a trooper,’ Ridley coach Chris Bush said of Jenkins, who pitched every inning of every Ridley game. “We played Coatesville the other day (regular-season finale) and she could barely walk. She’s fought everything all year long. She (was hurt) in a pregame warmup, but she’s stuck with it and never stopped playing. I’ve tried to tell her, ‘˜Don’t try to beat anything out,’ like when she’s running down the line. She couldn’t fight her competitive nature. She just wants to play and gives it all that she has.’
Jenkins had five strikeouts through three innings, but the Hatters (13-8) finally figured her out in the fourth. They plated two runs in the frame thanks to RBI singles by Kyleigh Dinneen and Dee Mayer.
Meanwhile, the Green Raiders (13-7) left nine runners on base, so it’s not as if they didn’t have chances to strike for a crooked number. Campbell notched just three strikeouts and allowed six hits, all singles.
“We tried taking the ball the other way,’ said Jenkins, who singled in three at-bats, “but it just wasn’t working out.’
Hatboro moves on to the second round Wednesday to face second-seeded Perkiomen Valley, which had a first-round bye.
Mayer had a fine afternoon at the top of Hatboro’s lineup. The speedy shortstop collected three hits and two RBIs. The big blow was a first-pitch-hacking solo home run that Mayer drilled to dead center, giving the Hatters a 3-0 cushion in the top of the seventh.
“After four times at bat, and watching other people hit against her, I knew it was going to be first pitch inside for a strike. I was ready for it, saw the pitch was there and went after it,’ Mayer said.
The Hatters had nine hits, Mayer’s being the only one that traveled for extra bases, against Jenkins.
“We had all the confidence in the world,’ Mayer said. “We were ready to go in and show people what we are really like. We didn’t really care what anybody else thinks, we knew we had what it takes to win this.’
Ridley kicked up a fuss in the first inning. Mel Malseed bunted for a hit and Alissa Higgins singled with two outs, but Campbell wiggled out of the jam when she got Taylor Eubanks to pop up to second base.
Campbell settled in and retired 12 in a row before Heather Bogardus rapped a single to center in the bottom of the seventh. Jenkins followed with a single to left, and the Green Raiders had two runners on with one out. Campbell struck out Libby Alfieri, then Ridley catcher Jade Laughlin hit a tailing line drive to the outfield, but the ball was caught on the run by Dinneen for the final out.
While their bats couldn’t scratch out a run, the Raiders shined on defense. Higgins turned a double play at second base and Larissa Locke made a pair of spectacular diving catches from the hot corner.
“I’m proud of the accounting we made for ourselves. We got pretty good pitching, great defense from Larissa,’ Bush said. “But Hatboro is a great team. They play in a great conference (Suburban One) and play super quality competition all the time.
“I’m proud of the way we kept up with them. Defensively, we did a heck of a job, especially watching Larissa Locke play at third all year. It’s really been a pleasure.’
In another District One Class AAAA first-round contest:
Downingtown West 6, Interboro 5: Following a 30-minute weather delay, the 22nd-seeded Bucs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against the 11th-seeded Whippets. But the host team quickly responded with a four-spot in the bottom half of the frame and grabbed the lead to stay with two runs in the fourth.
Sophomore catcher Amber Seamen went 3-for-4 with a double, Becca Reifer finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Annette Helmandollar singled and knocked in a pair of runs for the Bucs (13-8).
In the Catholic League semifinals:
Archbishop Ryan 7, Cardinal O’Hara 6: Ryan scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth after the visiting Lions had taken a 6-4 lead two innings prior. Kaela Kane was 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Gabby Levy, Taylor Connor and Mary Kate Fenning all had a single and an RBI.
