Photo by Pam Scism
The power supply for the Cedar Ridge softball team has started on high voltage to begin the 2020 season.
If there was any sign the Red Wolves will contend for its third consecutive Big 8 Conference Championship, it came Tuesday night in Hillsborough.
In its conference opener, the Red Wolves pounded out 15 hits against Northwood in a 20-0 victory. It was Cedar Ridge’s first mercy rule win of the season.
Cedar Ridge sophomore third baseman Takia Nichols hit her fourth homer of the season with a three-run blast to left field in the first inning, bringing in Anaya Carter and Emma Roby. It started a 10-run inning.
Olivia Aitkin, who singled after Nichols’ home run, scored on a wild pitch. After Reagan Ruhl walked, ShiLi Quade singled to third base. With Cailyn Thornton at bat, Aitkin scored on a passed ball. Thornton reached on a grounder that found its way to left field and scored Ruhl to make it 5-0.
Quade scored on a passed ball with Carter at the plate. Carter eventually singled to center to score Thornton. Ava Lowry knocked in Carter with a bloop to center field. Aitkin earned her second hit of the inning with a grounder that popped over second base, who was intentionally walked.
Nichols has homers in each of Cedar Ridge’s three games this season. She had two in the season opener against Cardinal Gibbons. It’s also led to Nichols being intentionally walked more often. After she smashed a two-run homer off the scoreboard in the second inning against West Johnston on Friday, Nichols was intentionally walked four times.
After the leadoff homer against the Chargers, she was walked twice.
Cedar Ridge added ten more runs in the 3rd inning. After Nichols was walked, she scored off a double by Aitkin to centerfield. Aitkin scored off a grounder to center by Rhul, who finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Aitkin went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Carter, a freshman, finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and two runs scored. Quade, who hit an inside-the-park grand slam against West Johnston, finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Thornton went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lowry went 2-for-3 with a triple and 3 RBIs.
Away from the impressive offensive numbers was Cedar Ridge’s starting pitcher. Junior Alexandria Matthews earned her first victory at the varsity level, throwing five shutout innings. She scattered only three hits and four walks, striking out two.
It was the first game this year that Aitkin didn’t pitch. Instead, Aitkin played right field.
In its first three games, Cedar Ridge has 52 runs off 45 hits. That total could grow on Thursday when the Red Wolves travel to Chapel Hill for a doubleheader. Each game is slated to be five innings.
Cedar Ridge has now won ten straight Big 8 Conference games. The Red Wolves will host Orange on Tuesday.
Last season, Cedar Ridge and Orange tied for the Big 8 Championship after they split the season series. Each team ran the table agains the rest of the Big 8. Cedar Ridge won a special tiebreaker in Hillsborough 8-3 to receive the top seed from the conference going into the 3A State Tournament.