5A softball: River Ridge gets a little payback against Newsome

LITHIA — River Ridge's Lakyn Shull has had an interesting perspective during the Royal Knights' past two postseason meetings with Newsome. As an eighth-grader, Shull was the team manager before donning a River Ridge uniform as a freshman. But both years ended the same — with Newsome knocking the Royal Knights out of the playoffs.

"They've had our number," Shull said.

Not this year.

Shull scattered six hits and fanned four as River Ridge (21-7) returned the favor for the previous two seasons, defeating Newsome 2-1 Tuesday night in the 5A region quarterfinals.

"We got some big hits when we needed them," River Ridge coach Ernie Beck said. "And Lakyn really found her groove."

Shull didn't overpower the Wolves (23-6) but she worked down in the zone, walked just one batter and got some solid defense behind her. "I was nervous at first," she said. "I get nervous before most games but especially in big games."

Shull gave up a one-out triple in the first inning and a two-out double in the second, but stranded both runners and didn't allow an extra-base hit from that point on. The righty also seemed to get stronger as the game wore on.

"Yes, she's gotten a lot stronger from last year," Beck said. "She's learning how to build up her pitches rather than just go out and let it all hang out in the first."

The only run Newsome scored was unearned when a two-out error allowed Laura Lovell to give the Wolves a 1-0 third-inning lead. But the Knights answered as Shull's RBI fielder's choice tied it and Ashley Garland's run-scoring single gave River Ridge the lead.