The Swamp Foxes seemed a little jittery at times, but played like veterans at others as they upset the Fort Dorchester softball team Wednesday.
Ashley Ridge, a first-year AA team made up of only underclassmen, earned a 6-2 victory over Fort Dorchester, a team that has made the AAAA state playoffs in each of the past seven seasons. The win came in the home and season opener for Ashley Ridge.
“We’re just getting started so I don’t know if this was the typical performance this team will have, but I’m hoping it will become typical,” Ashley Ridge coach Lindsey Blackmon said. “I’m hoping they will continue to have the same mentality they demonstrated tonight. Early on I saw we would be ok when it comes to the physical aspects of the game, but I knew we needed to work on the mental aspects. They came together tonight and showed they can handle that part of the game as well.”
 Prior to the game, the Patriots had handed Ashley Ridge a 5-2 loss in a preseason scrimmage, but that didn’t stop the Swamp Foxes from having a strong start Wednesday. Ashley Ridge jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Kelby Rourk walked and was then driven in on a Jessi Paonita single.
However, Ashley Ridge’s lack of varsity experience started to show in the top of the third. Fort Dorchester’s Brandi Gibson reached on a single and advanced to third on an Ashley Ridge fielding error. Savannah Koke then reached on another error and Gibson came home on the play to tie the game.
Megan Strickland followed by connecting for a single that plated Koke for a 2-1 Fort lead. The next batter, Taylor Johnson, received a free base when she was hit by a pitch.
Just when it looked like the Patriots were going to take control of the game, Ashley Ridge second baseman Vida Fuiterruz fielded a grounder, tagged Johnson on her way to second and threw to first for a double play that got the Foxes to the bottom of the inning.
The Pats held the lead until the bottom of the fifth, when the Foxes scored five runs on five hits. Kaitlyn Anderson drove in Guyton; Ally Dye drove in Jessi Paonita; Anderson scored on a past ball; and Rourk drove in Dye and Beccah Paonita.
“After the scrimmage, I knew we had a chance if we just played to our strengths and their weaknesses,” Blackmon said. “We had hits throughout the lineup and everyone executed tonight.”
Ashley Ridge pitcher Paige Deschaine had a fabulous night. She went the distance, striking out 13 batters while walking only one. She surrendered only four hits and the two runs.
Rourk, the Swamp Fox leadoff hitter, was 3-for-4 at bat with a walk. She drove in two runs and scored one. Jessi Paonita was also 3-for-4. She drove in a run and scored a run.
Brandi Gibson was 1-for-3 at bat for the Fort with a run scored. She reached base during all three of her turns at bat. Ashley Rodgers was 1-for-2.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.