By Yaneek Smith

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

ROSSFORD — It’s been a rough stretch for Rossford softball. The Bulldogs have lost three straight to three of the best teams in the Northern Buckeye Conference — Oak Harbor, Otsego and Eastwood.

Rossford (6-14, 2-8 NBC) found out just how good Oak Harbor (18-2, 9-1) was, falling to the visiting Rockets, 13-0, in five innings Friday.

The top of the first inning saw Oak Harbor shortstop Reese Adkins draw a one-out walk, and first baseman Porter Gregory hit a single to right field that got behind the right fielder, allowing Adkins and Gregory to move to third and second base, respectively.

Right fielder Ava Geyer drove in Adkins with a base hit to center, third baseman Karder Haas had an RBI single and center fielder Tatum Baumgartner drilled a three-run homer to left, pushing the lead to 5-0.

Rossford pitcher Aryana Bond held the Rockets scoreless in the second and third innings, respectively, but Oak Harbor scored twice in the fourth to put the game away.

Left fielder Morgan Lalonde led off with a double and second baseman Mylie Sandwich drilled a two-run homer to center to make it 7-0.

The Bulldogs managed just three hits and didn’t support Bond.

“If you don’t hit the ball, your pitcher is going to press,” said Rossford coach Tom Kralovic. “I know that because I pitched in high school and college.

“Ary and Norah (Demory) are getting better, (but) everybody is going to have to pick each other up. Ary didn’t pitch poorly in the first inning, but they hit a few of her mistakes.”

Obviously, no runs and three hits are not going to be enough to support a pitcher.

“We’re kind of in a hitting funk right now. In the last three games, we’ve faced older pitchers that know how to pitch,” said Kralovic. “We have to score runs. Hitting takes care of a lot.”

In the fifth, the Rockets scored six runs to go ahead, 13-0, after they drew five walks and had three hits, including a double.

“Oak Harbor is a good team,” said Kralovic. “I know about their veterans, but I didn’t know much about their younger players. But they were picked to win the league. They’re a good team.”

Gregory reached base four times and Lalonde hit a double and drove in a run.

“In this lineup, anyone can do anything at any time,” said Oak Harbor coach Cami Haas. “We always pick someone up. The bottom of our lineup produced. Our lineup has been consistent all season long. Those were big home runs by Tatum and Mylie.”

Alyse Sorg was terrific in the circle for the Rockets.

“She pitched well, she pitched hard,” said Haas. “Overall, she had a really strong day.”

As for the Bulldogs, they’ll host Toledo Woodward in the Division II tournament on Tuesday at 5 p.m. If they win, they’ll face the top seed in Maumee. The winner advances to the district semifinals at Genoa.

“If we hit the ball, we’ll be okay,” said Kralovic. “Maumee’s pitcher throws a rise ball, and some of our younger hitters aren’t used to that.”