SKIATOOK – Monday’s 5A-3 district game between the Grove Ridgerunners and the Skiatook Bulldogs turned into a pitcher’s duel, and in the end, it was Skiatook starter Jake Bersche who blinked first, as the Ridgerunners (20-10 overall, 9-2 in District 5A-3) scored three times in the top of the seventh for a 3-0 win.
Junior pitcher Ty Phillips pitched a complete-game shutout, limiting Skiatook (9-17, 5-8) to four hits and three walks while striking out three, needing 94 pitches to pick up his second win of the season.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, had two runners on base in the first, third and fifth innings and had the bases loaded in the second, but were unable to score.
Grove finally broke through in the seventh when Erick Ryan led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. An error on Kaden Livermore’s sacrifice bunt put two runners on, and Benny Steffenson put the Ridgerunners on the scoreboard, driving in Ryan with a single to left field.
After a groundout and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, Kody Stephenson lined a single into right field for two more runs and a 3-0 lead.
After getting out of trouble repeatedly for most of the game, Phillips retired the final seven batters in order to preserve Grove’s ninth win in their last 11 contests.
The two teams will meet again at 4:30 p.m. at the Grove Sports Complex. A win by the Ridgerunners will clinch second place in District 5A-3 and a home regional in the playoffs. The game will also be the final home contest of the season, and the Ridgerunners will honor their seniors with Senior Night ceremonies.
