Walnut Ridge and Rivercrest are an even 4-4 against one another since March of 2017, but likely not for long. The Walnut Ridge Bobcats will be playing in front of their home fans against the Rivercrest Colts at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Rivercrest will be up against a hot Walnut Ridge team: the squad just extended their winning streak to three. Walnut Ridge walked away with a 10-6 win over Hoxie on Tuesday.
Ashtyn Bradley
| 03/18/25 vs Hoxie | 11 |
| 03/13/25 @ Newport | 10 |
| 03/11/25 @ Harrisburg | 14 |
| 03/06/25 @ Gosnell | 8 |
| 03/03/25 @ Highland | 8 |
Ashtyn Bradley spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and two unearned) runs on four hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Chloe Newberry, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That home run was her first of the season. Lyla Woods was another key player, scoring a run and stealing Two bases. while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Rivercrest came into Tuesday's contest having lost seven straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They were the clear victor by a 16-1 margin over Manila on Tuesday. The Colts' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Katelyn Ostendorf was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed three innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. That's the fewest hits she has allowed since back in April of 2024. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Rivercrest got a massive performance out of Emme Weldon, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Another player making a difference was Addison Johnson, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Rivercrest kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in April of 2024.
Walnut Ridge's victory bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Rivercrest, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-4.
Rivercrest's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Walnut Ridge has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.2 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Rivercrest, though, as they've been averaging only 3.8 strikeouts. Will Walnut Ridge keep running through batters, or will Rivercrest buck the trend? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
