Kenton Ridge Cougars complete 32-0 season with Division IV softball title
A dramatic comeback at Firestone Stadium sees Kenton Ridge High School claim their second consecutive state championship, finishing the campaign with an undefeated record.
The Kenton Ridge Cougars have secured their second consecutive Division IV softball state championship, defeating Licking Valley High School 7-6 at Firestone Stadium in Akron on Sunday. The victory cements the Lady Cougars’ status as the defending champions and concludes their season with a perfect 32-0 record.
The match presented a significant challenge for Kenton Ridge, who found themselves trailing 6-0 after the third inning. The Cougars began to chip away at the deficit by scoring four runs in the third and adding another in the fourth, narrowing the gap to 6-5. However, the decisive moment arrived in the bottom of the sixth inning when J.J. Davis hit a two-run single with one out, shifting the momentum and giving Kenton Ridge a 7-6 lead.
Ivee Rastatter sealed the victory with a complete-game pitching performance, securing the final three outs to hold off any potential Licking Valley comeback. Her work on the mound was critical in maintaining the narrow advantage established by Davis’s hit.
The win extends Kenton Ridge’s winning streak to 64 games, a statistic reported by Yahoo Sports, which aggregates the coverage from WHIO-TV News. This marks the second straight season the Lady Cougars have finished undefeated, highlighting a period of sustained institutional success for the program.
While the source material notes that other local high schools also secured state titles in boys' track during the same period, the focus remains on Kenton Ridge’s dominance in softball. The team’s ability to overcome a substantial deficit underscores the resilience that has characterised their campaign.
