Ravenswood second baseman Kayleigh Somerville, left, backpedals to catch a shallow fly ball in right field during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I softball game against Williamstown in Ravenswood. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

RAVENSWOOD — Needing two consecutive wins over the regional’s top seed — against a Weir team which posted a shutout just two days prior, Ravenswood won’t let the improbable enter the conversation.

The Red Devilettes improved to 17-12 and kept their season alive for at least another round after defeating Williamstown 13-4 in five innings, Wednesday at Eastwood Elementary School.

“I feel very confident about our chances at Weir — we’ve called it the Ravenswood Way the entire season,” Ravenswood coach Mallory Hilton said in reference to an 11-0 loss to Red Riders on Tuesday. “I think the first four innings against Weir were very representative of my team. On a gut feeling, I decided to make a pitching change and realized it was the wrong one. I’ll take responsibility for that momentum shift.

“My girls were put under pressure that I put them in and we just couldn’t get back from that deficit. We will be better prepared (on Thursday).”

In Wednesday’s elimination game, Ravenswood received its share of help in terms of control problems from Yellowjacket pitching. But the Red Devilettes also created their own opportunities after belting out 14 hits — including a 3-for-4 effort with two RBIs from freshman Kenzie Shumate, who also scattered four hits and struck out four while pitching a complete game.

Williamstown starting pitcher Alyssa Clare read her pitch sign off her wrist during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I softball game at Ravenswood. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I think our team just really wanted it today — I wanted to win because I wanted to keep playing,” said Shumate, who was several feet from making her RBI double in the second inning from becoming a two-run homer as the ball hit the upper portion of the center field fence.

Shumate was one of three Ravenswood batters with multi-hit performances. Peyton Mast went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while No. 9 hitter Peyton Slater went 2-for-2 to go along with a sacrifice bunt and a pair of RBIs. Monica Slater led Ravenwood with three RBIs.

“Ravenswood is a really good hitting team,” said Williamstown coach Ron Stanley after his ballclub ended the campaign at 9-21. “There is really no one to pitch around.”

The workhorse of the Williamstown pitching staff, Alyssa Clare, showed the wear and tear of a 30-game season. She lasted just 2 â…” innings, allowing 13 runs and walking eight. After Ravenswood sent 12 batters to plate as part of an eight-run third inning, Gracie Rush entered in relief and allowed two hits and no runs over the final 1 â…” innings.

“Alyssa has been hurting a little bit — we used her a lot this year,” Stanley said. “Plus she was ill today. Her location and speed were off.”

Ravenswood starting pitcher Kenzie Shumate delivers a pitch during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I softball game against Williamstown in Ravenswood. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

A pair of walks to lead off the bottom of the first inning was a sign of things to come. Clare nearly escaped any further damage when the next two hitters were retired on fly outs. Mast, however, blooped a single into right field to bring home Alayna Whited with the game’s first run.

Williamstown No. 8 hitter Lakyn Harshbarger shifted the momentum in the top of the second inning, ripping a two-run home run over the left field fence for a 2-1 Yellowjacket lead.

Ravenswood, though, responded immediately. A bases-loaded walk — one of four issued by Williamstown pitching along with Shumate’s RBI double highlighted a four-run frame that saw the Red Devillettes bat around.

Williamstown cut the gap to 5-3 in the third inning when Elli Hanlon hit the first of her two doubles.

A lengthy home half of the third inning by the Ravenswood offense included six runs on eight hits and three bases-loaded walks — and increased the Red Devillette advantage to 13-3.

Williamstown players gather for a meeting on the mound, including Lakyn Harshbarger (8), who hit a two-run home run in the second inning during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I softball game at Ravenswood. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Among the four seniors graduating off the Williamstown softball program are Tatum Oates and Shayle Montgomery. Montgomery doubled and scored a run in the fifth.

“Early in the game, everybody stayed hyped up on the bench and tried to be encouraging — nobody thought about it being our last game,” Montgomery said.

Both girls played softball for the Yellowjackets for four years. The postgame walk to the bus saw some tears on their part.

“I feel like we went out this year and gave it our all and did that the whole season,” Oates said. “We really hoped for the best and hoped everybody else on our team would come through.”

Class AA, Region I

Ravenswood catcher Layna Whited looks over to her coach for a pitch sign during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I softball game against Williamstown in Ravenswood. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Loser’s Bracket

Ravenswood 13, Williamstown 4

(5 innings)

WHS 021 01 – 4 4 0

RAV 148 0x – 13 14 1

Williamstown third baseman Gracie Rush throws out a runner at first base in an infield grounder during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I softball game at Ravenswood. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WP: Kenzie Shumate 5.0IP 4H 4R 4ER 3BB 4SO

LP: Alyssa Clare 2.1IP 12H 13R 13ER 8BB 0SO

Gracie Rush 1.2IP 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 1SO

Leading hitters

Williamstown (9-21): Shayle Montgomery 1-2, run, 2B; Taytum Oates run; Elli Hanlon 2-2, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs; Sophia Adkins run; Lakyn Harshbarger 1-2, run, HR, 2 RBIs

Ravenswood (17-12): Layna Whited 1-1, 3 runs; Josie Caldwell 1-2, 2 runs, RBI; Montana Slater 1-4, run, 3 RBIs; Kenzie Shumate 3-4\, 2B, 2 RBIs; Peyton Mast 3-4, run, RBI; Paige Oliver 1-3, run, 2 RBIs; Emma Smith 1-2, run, RBI; Kayleigh Somerville 1-2, 2 runs, RBI; Peyton Slater 2-2, run, 2 RBIs.

Next game: Class AA, Region I, Ravenswood at Weir, 6 p.m. Thursday