Bottom’s up for Shadow Ridge

Instead of posting a lineup on her dugout wall, Shadow Ridge softball coach Cynthia Winter puts up a batting circle.

The message sent is that no one hitter is more or less important than another, that everyone can contribute.

Proof positive came Friday.

Nos. 8 and 9 hitters Amanda Aker and Casey Velarde combined to go 5-for-6 with four runs and two RBIs with each driving in a run in the fifth inning as the No. 1-ranked Mustangs defeated visiting No. 2 Centennial 8-5 in a battle for first place in the Northwest League.

"The honest truth is I expect it from every one of them," Winter said. "When we have everyone contributing, we're awfully tough to beat."

Aker's two-out RBI double scored Britney Cato to give Shadow Ridge (18-10, 9-1) a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning. After a wild pitch, Velarde's infield hit to shortstop brought home Aker.

"I was just trying to put the bat on the ball," said Velarde, who was 3-for-3 with a triple. "Everybody is working hard out here. It's the whole team. We couldn't do it if it were just one or two people."

The support from the bottom part of the order couldn't have come at a better time for the Mustangs, who committed six errors, including two in the seventh inning that allowed the Bulldogs (19-6, 8-2) to bring the potential tying run to the plate. Shadow Ridge pitcher Mandy Harmon got a groundout to first and a popout to short to end the game.

"We talked about moving people around in our order, but we've got really good balance," said Winter, whose team had nine hits and drew four walks.

Centennial rallied from 3-1 and 4-3t deficits, tying the score on Katie Lee's RBI double in the fifth inning, but the Bulldogs went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

Lee was 3-for-4, and teammate Kylie Bartlett went 2-for-4 with a solo home run.

Ashley Eldridge went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for the Mustangs, who beat Centennial 12-0 on March 27.

With four league games left, Shadow Ridge has a one-game lead over Centennial and Cimarron-Memorial.

"This was huge for so many reasons," Winter said. "For us to control our own destiny in the league is a huge accomplishment."

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.