Lakewood senior Reggie Splane drives a pitch Saturday morning at Ray Baker Field at Lakewood High School. The senior catcher went 3-for-3 from the plate with a two-run home run in the Tigers’ 4-3 victory against Class 5A Jeffco League rival Ralston Valley. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — Lakewood senior Reggie Splane picked a good time to get out of her self-proclaimed hitting slump.
Splane was just a triple away from hitting for the cycle going 3-for-3 from the plate with a pair of RBIs. The senior catcher helped lead the Tigers to an important 4-3 home victory in the Class 5A Jeffco League at Ray Baker Field against Ralston Valley.
“It’s huge,” Splane said of Lakewood’s first conference win. “It’s a big confidence boost for the whole team.”
Ralston Valley sophomore catcher Alexa Samuels, right, braces herself for a collision at home plate with Lakewood senior Shelby Belloni (7). Samuels tagged Belloni out at the plate, but the Mustangs suffered their first conference loss of the season losing 4-3 to the Tigers. (Dennis Pleuss)
Splane gave the Tigers (7-7, 1-2 in league) an early 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. She popped up a bunt earlier in her first at-bat in an attempt to move senior Shelby Belloni into scoring possession, but Ralston Valley (9-5, 2-1) dropped the foul ball.
“I had to move the runner because I messed up the first time,” Splane said of her third home run of the season. “I got the second opportunity and I had to make it work.”
Splane doubled in the third and singled during the Tigers’ two-run fourth inning. However, she didn’t get a chance to go for the cycle. Splane was due to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, but Ralston Valley’s late rally fell short and the Tigers didn’t need to bat in the bottom half of the inning.
“Everything started clicking today,” Lakewood coach Jennifer Coulson said. “Going 0-2 to start league we were playing almost afraid to lose. Today we came out and we weren’t afraid. We took care of what we needed to.”
Coulson started freshman pitcher Lyda Wiggins. Wiggins gave up five hits, but only got touched up for one run. Ralston Valley junior Maddy Smith had an RBI single in the second inning to cut Lakewood’s lead to 2-1.
“Lakewood’s pitchers did a great job,” Ralston Valley coach Wendy Davies said. “They didn’t allow us to do anything. They did a great job with placement.”
Ralston Valley junior Rylie Strong throws a pitch to the plate Saturday morning against Lakewood. Strong had nine strikeout in six innings pitched, but took the loss on the hill. (Dennis Pleuss)
Sophomore Rayne Rodgers took the circle for the Tigers in the fourth inning. Rodgers only made one mistake, giving up a two-run home run to sophomore Alexa Samuels with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. The seventh home run of the season for Samuels trimmed Lakewood’s lead to 4-3, but Rodgers forced Ralston Valley junior Sydney Svejcar to fly out to centerfield two batters later to end the game.
“I’m so impressed with them (Wiggins and Rodgers),” Splane said. “You can’t see their age. They are so experienced. They come in and just do their job.”
Lakewood’s win over Ralston Valley leaves only Dakota Ridge, ranked No. 1 in this week’s 5A softball CHSAANow.com poll, with an unblemished 5A Jeffco conference record.
“When we get into league we tend to start beating each other up,” Coulson said. “We are just clawing on trying to get where we want to be. Everyone wants to be in districts.”
The 5A Jeffco League receives two automatic postseason berths this year. There will be 14 at-large bids handed out to complete the 32-team district field.
Lakewood begins a string of three straight league road games Tuesday afternoon at Columbine. Ralston Valley will try to get back on the winning track at Chatfield on Tuesday.
“It was just all in all was not a good game for us,” Davies admitted. “It was a rough day.”
Lakewood freshman Lyda Wiggins winds up to deliver a pitch to the plate Saturday morning against Ralston Valley. (Dennis Pleuss)