EGELSTON TWP. – When it comes to a possible West Michigan Conference championship, the Oakridge softball team is willing to scrap.

The Eagles demonstrated that on Wednesday with two impressive comeback victories over previously undefeated Ravenna, 11-6 and 9-6.

With the sweep, Oakridge improves to 13-0 overall and 8-0 in conference play while Ravenna drops to 16-2 overall and 8-2 in conference play.

“It’s good,” said Eagle head coach Joe Coletta about his team’s ability to fight back. “We were down a lot today in both games. They just kept an even keel. We talk about being comfortable in uncomfortable situations and they’re buying in. We know we always have a shot with the kids in our lineup.”

Maddie Clark of Oakridge waits for her pitch. Photo/Andrew Johnson

In Game 1, Ravenna held a 5-0 lead into the fifth inning before the Eagles rallied with an 11-run inning.

The Eagles hit three home runs in the big fifth inning., including a grand slam blast by Andrea Romero-Serrano.

The second game was very similar, and this time the big bat belonged to Oakridge senior Jasmine Pastor.

Oakridge trailed 6-3 in the top of the sixth inning and Pastor had her back against the wall with the bases loaded, two outs and two strikes.

Pastor took a low inside changeup and crushed the ball to left center where it flew over the fence for a grand slam, giving the Eagles a 7-6 lead.

Brooklyn Galdeen of Oakridge waits on first base to advance on the basepaths. Photo/Andrew Johnson

“I was in my head,” said Pastor about the big home run. “I swung at two changeups in the dirt. But I knew I could do it. I had a lot of confidence in myself. I knew I was going to get a changeup and had to stay back. I finally did. It felt so good.”

The Eagles extended the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Delaney Ruel stole home on a double steal that fooled the Bulldogs, then Brenna Cabrera hit an RBI groundout.

“It was a good test,” said Ravenna head coach Dave Sherman about the battle his team experienced against the Eagles on Wednesday night. “That’s a really good team over there.”

Things started out well for Ravenna in Game 2. Freshmen Emma Herremans started the scoring with a two RBI single, followed by an Addison Gillard RBI single and an Ellie Solem RBI groundout, giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead after one inning.

Ravenna’s Emma Herremans makes contact with the ball. Photo/Andrew Johnson

Oakridge cut the deficit to 4-3 in the second inning with RBs from Brooklyn Galdeen, Ahria Doornbos and Mallon Whipple.

Gillard hit an RBI double in the third inning to make the score 5-3 in favor of Ravenna.

A Maddie Kilbourne RBI single in the fourth inning extended the Bulldog lead to 6-,3 which was the score until the Pastor grand slam in the sixth inning.

While Wednesday’s outcome may all but settle the conference race, the two teams are the top seeds headed into Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Tier 1 softball tournament, and could meet again on Saturday.

“I think after tonight they’ll want them again,” said Sherman about his players welcoming the challenge. “They love the challenge of playing this game. It’s a great team over there that got the big hits they needed tonight.”

While the Eagles got two wins on Wednesday, they know they’ll have their hands full if they see the Bulldogs again on Saturday.

“Ravenna is a really good team,” said Coletta. “They’re going to do some big things over there.”