Apollo-Ridge softball bounces back after 1st section loss

By: Michael Love
Friday, April 18, 2025 | 5:02 PM

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When the Apollo-Ridge softball players came to practice Tuesday, coach Ashtin Kirkwood said she saw a team in good spirits despite a loss to South Allegheny the day before.

The first meeting between the Section 2-2A leaders went to the Gladiators, who rallied from a two-run deficit with a big fifth-inning uprising to take a 6-2 victory.

“They bounced right back,” Kirkwood said. “They had a fun practice. We did an Easter egg hunt, something fun to keep the spirits up. But the girls came in ready to work hard. The girls have had a lot of fun all season and have picked up some nice wins. There’s so much left for them to achieve, and they realize that.”

Apollo-Ridge (8-2, 3-1) dropped its season opener to Class 4A Freeport, 7-4, but came back and reeled off eight straight wins starting with a 6-4 triumph over Class 5A Kiski Area.

The Vikings offense then rattled off seven straight games scoring at least 11 runs while the pitching combination of junior Jocelyn Snyder and freshman Mikaila Ditty and the defense combined to surrender just eight runs over that span.

The Vikings were to face Springdale on Thursday, but the scheduled doubleheader was postponed.

Apollo-Ridge now turns its attention to a home stretch with section rematches against Shady Side Academy on Monday, Northgate on Wednesday and Brentwood on Friday.

“We talked to them at practice (Tuesday) about what they need to do to be ready for the next time we see South Allegheny,” Kirkwood said. “We’re definitely going to take each game one at a time and keep our focus where it needs to be so we’re in a good position mentally and physically for that rematch.

“We know that Shady Side, Northgate and Brentwood will be ready for us after the first time we played them.”

Kirkwood said a big part of the credit for the team’s success, including the impressive run outputs, goes to the senior trio of Cassidy Ryan, Olivia Saxion and Madison Butler, three of the four at the top of the Apollo-Ridge lineup.

Saxion and Butler had singles in Monday’s loss to South Allegheny.

“The girls came in with big goals for their final season, and they are always taking the lead for what needs to be done in practice and games,” Kirkwood said.

Ryan said the team success comes from, in part, how much the players are bonded together and work to support and lift up each other regardless of any game situation.

“We were right there with South Allegheny, and we played well,” Ryan said.

Apollo-Ridge visits South Allegheny on April 28 in a game that could decide the section title.

“The key thing is working to keep everyone healthy and mentally strong,” Saxion said. “I was proud of our team for the way we kept playing and battling through the entire game (against South Allegheny). Our energy was up the whole time. That is the kind of thing that has helped us be successful. For us to win, we need everyone pushing through all seven innings of a game.”

Apollo-Ridge collected eight hits against South Allegheny. Snyder, freshman Kourtney Levesque and junior Julie Bertino added singles, and Ditty made some noise in a breakout first varsity season for the pitcher/first baseman.

She staked her team to a 2-0 lead in Monday’s loss by crushing a pair of offerings from Gladiators starter Ava Brown over the fence in center and left field in the first and third innings, respectively. Both were pick-me-ups of sorts after Brown had recorded a pair of strikeouts to start both frames.

The home runs were her second and third of the season.

“I heard a lot of good stories coming in, and I had seen her play a little bit with her travel ball team last summer,” Kirkwood said. “Her potential, she hasn’t reached it yet. We can’t wait to see what she can do the rest of the season.”

Snyder started the South Allegheny game in the circle and worked into the fifth inning. She gave up three earned runs, three hits and two walks while striking out eight before leaving the game because of back soreness.

“She’s been dealing with that since at least last year,” Kirkwood said. “She tries to push through it the best that she can. If she needs to come out, we take her out. We absolutely don’t want to risk anything. No matter if she is on the field or supporting her teammates from the dugout, she always is that great leader for us.

“She is always stepping up and making sure the younger girls are involved with a positive attitude. She’s been such a big part of what this team wants to accomplish.”

Ditty came on and allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks with a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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