BAINBRIDGE — The Kenston softball team continued its strong play in the Western Reserve Conference on Monday, defeating North softball 5-3 behind another dominant performance from junior pitcher Quinn Robertson.
Robertson carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with a complete-game victory, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out 11 and walking seven.
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“Today wasn’t even like a great day for her,” said Kenston head coach Anne Dubovec-Kowitz. “She had to work all game, and she still has a no-hitter. I’m a little spoiled having her, and she is bringing so much consistency, and the whole defense made plays behind her.
“Quinn induces such soft contact, which is so nice. She knows how to spin that ball and works through it, so it’s really nice to have her for sure.”
Kenston jumped out early in the first inning. Madi Gambatesa walked to open the game, advanced to third on consecutive passed balls, and later scored after drawing a throw home to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead.
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Kherington Swader followed with a lined RBI double to push the advantage to 2-0.
North answered in the second when Gianna Pintar drew a bases-loaded walk, but Robertson escaped further trouble by stranding the bases loaded.
The Bombers added three more runs in the third inning to create separation. Piper Robertson scored on a Mira Jarzemback bunt RBI single before a two-base error extended the lead to 3-1. Liv Gowdy later drove in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Kendall Robertson added a sacrifice fly for a 5-1 advantage.
North mounted a late push in the seventh. Violet Dichazy delivered an RBI single, and Holly Mosnik added a run-scoring groundout to trim the deficit to 5-3 before Kenston closed out the victory.
The win marked Kenston’s fourth WRC victory of the season and continued the program’s recent rise within the conference. It also secured the Bombers’ second consecutive 10-win season under Dubovec-Kowitz.
“It’s just nice seeing them grow up,” Dubovec-Kowitz said. “We have our junior class and our senior class that have the experience now, and it’s they being able to pull in those younger kids as well.
“South was a huge win for us. I mean, they’re killing the ball, and Quinn shuts them out. They’re scoring double-digits all the time, so having her obviously helps that. We’ve also just been hitting the ball a lot better this year. And I think that’s the experience, and just being able to compete with these teams.”
Dichazy took the loss for North, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out nine across six innings.
North visits Perry High School on May 6, while Kenston travels to Roosevelt High School on May 5.
Top Players
- Kherington Swader (Kenston): 2-for-2, RBI double
- Quinn Robertson (Kenston): 7 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 11 K
- Kendall Robertson (Kenston): RBI sacrifice fly
- Mira Jarzemback (Kenston): RBI bunt single
- Violet Dichazy (North Rangers): RBI single
