TYLER — Playing on a cold, windy night had a definite impact on area softball and baseball teams, and it was quite evident that was the case in a game between the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights and the Adrian-Ellsworth Dragons. The cold weather silenced the bats for both teams, as the Dragons only managed two baserunners and RTR only had three hits. But RTR was able to string together enough runs between walks, errors and hit batters to come away with an 11-0, five-inning victory. 

“The girls came out and stayed pretty focused today. I thought we did a really nice job at the plate, and we had a lot of baserunners that gave us the opportunity to produce some runs,” RTR head coach Darren Baartman said. “We tightened up our defense, scored some runs and we will take the win.”

RTR pitcher Kya Alderson only allowed one hit on the day with two runners reaching on errors. She also struck out nine batters.

Adrian-Ellsworth put a runner on when Shandra Cuperus reached on an error, but two strikeouts ended any threat. RTR was able to score three runs in the bottom of the first, with Kya Alderson drawing a one-out walk, followed by an RBI single by Laken Baartman. 

Baartman then stole second and third, and scored on a passed ball during a walk to Daryssa Cruz, with Cruz reaching second base. Gabi Borresen drove in Cruz with a single, and RTR had an early 3-0 lead.

 The Dragons and the Knights both went down scoreless in the second inning. The third inning saw Harley Blom single for what would turn out to be the only hit of the game for Adrian-Ellsworth. 

Summer Hoiland reached on an error, and the Dragons had their first scoring opportunity. But Alderson struck out the side to end the threat. RTR batted around in their half of the third inning. Daryssa Cruz started the inning by getting hit by a pitch. 

A walk to Olivia Lange, and an error on a Gabi Borresen sacrifice scored two runs, and after a sacrifice by Brezlyn Buchert, Lily Klumper was hit by a pitch. Briella Buchert sacrificed her to second. Madi Burns then lifted a fly ball to center field that was dropped, allowing Klumper to score, and RTR now had a 7-0 lead.

Adrian-Ellsworth went down in order in the fourth, and RTR was able to tack on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Olivia Lange was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Gabi Borresen sacrificed her to second. After Brezlyn Buchert was hit by a pitch, Briella Buchert drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Madi Burns coaxed a walk to drive in a run, then Kya Alderson broke the game open with a bases-clearing double. The score was now 11-0 in favor of the Knights.

 The Dragons went down in order in their half of the fifth, and the Ten-Run Rule ended the game. Eighth-grader Brekkyn Dreesen registered two strikeouts in her three-plus innings of pitching, allowing only two hits. She was relieved by Mersaydes Marten, who only allowed one hit in her outing. Walks and hit batsman cost the Dragons dearly, as nearly all the runs came in on only three RTR hits.

“With better weather conditions, the game may have turned out a little better for us. We needed to adjust to the wind and cold, and make the plays,” Adrian-Ellsworth head coach Lindsey Block said. “We need to know where the runners are at, and not have errors. I wish it was warmer, and we may have made it a better game. So we will work on that to get ready for the next game.”