Starting off their 2026 softball schedule with an eight-game winning streak, the Timberwolves of River Ridge looked to be the team to beat in the Six Rivers conference this season.
With a two-run rally in the top of the seventh inning, Potosi/Cassville handed the Timberwolves their first loss of the season in a tightly contested 4-3 battle.
After six innings of play, the T-Wolves held a 3-2 advantage over their guests, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning and two big ones in the fifth.
It was P/C getting on the board first when junior pitcher Alayna Kerkhoff ripped a two-out double in the top of the first inning. She was replaced at second base by courtesy runner Autumn Bogedin, who scored on a River Ridge fielding error.
The T-Wolves wasted little time coming up with an answer, where in the bottom of the first got a lead-off single from senior center fielder Josey Drone, followed by an RBI double by junior catcher Abby Doyle.
P/C then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning, where Kerkhoff reached base on a one-out single and was again replaced by courtesy runner Autumn Bogedin.
The freshman runner advanced to second on an error and to third on a passed ball, before scoring on an RBI single hit by junior Kylee Droessler.
P/C’s lead lasted until the bottom of the fifth inning, where Drone led off the inning by drawing a walk, and was sacrificed over to second on a bunt and moved over to third on a ground out.
Pitcher Erin Adrian then came up with a two-out single to score Drone, and after moving to second on a passed ball, scored on a hard liner hit back to the pitcher by junior right fielder Keele Redman.
River Ridge’s lead held up going into the seventh inning, where the T-Wolves were eventually just one out away from keeping their perfect record intact.
With runners at first and second with two outs, P/C’s Lillie Cooley stepped up to the plate, where she was 0-for-3 for the contest.
With a 2-1 count, Cooley ripped a two-run double to left field, scoring two, giving her team a 4-3 lead that held up for the victory.
River Ridge was led at the plate by Drone, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
