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Pitcher/slugger Caitlin Benningfield key player for streaking Cedar Ridge softball team

Rick Cantu, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
Cedar Park's Caitlin Benningfield is a team leader as a pitcher and as a hitter. Her batting average of .625 leads the Raiders. She is 8-1 in the circle for a team that has won 24 consecutive games.
Cedar Park's Caitlin Benningfield is a team leader as a pitcher and as a hitter. Her batting average of .625 leads the Raiders. She is 8-1 in the circle for a team that has won 24 consecutive games.

Led by the rampaging Cedar Ridge softball team, 13 Austin-area schools are ranked in the state's top 25 this week by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

Cedar Ridge (24-1) is No. 16 in the country by MaxPreps and No. 6 in the state. The Raiders haven't lost since dropping a 5-4 decision to Leander on opening day. Perhaps the biggest key to their season is a pitching rotation that relies on three dynamic players, said head coach Kelsi Weseman.

"They have kept us in every game and and given our offense a chance to win," Weseman said. "Every pitcher in our lineup has stepped up for us in a big moment at one point or another."

Senior Kendall Ward is another Cedar Ridge standout as a pitcher and hitter. She has a pitching record of 8-0 and is hitting .370.
Senior Kendall Ward is another Cedar Ridge standout as a pitcher and hitter. She has a pitching record of 8-0 and is hitting .370.

Weseman is referring to Caitlin Benningfield (8-1, 1.22 ERA, 66 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched, 1 perfect game), Kendall Ward (8-0, 1.01 ERA, 82 strikeouts in 55 innings, 1 perfect game) and Nicole McCann (8-0, 0.59 ERA, 90 strikeouts in 47 innings).

That pitching trio just happens to be among top offensive players, too. Benningfield (.625 batting average, 4 home runs), Ward (.370, 2 homers) and McCann (.306, 4 homers) have been consistent. Leadoff hitter Sierra Winner (.405, 10 steals) and Landon Collins (.369, 4 triples) are also team leaders.

"We had high expectations coming into the season," Weseman said. "We had a good year last year, but came up short on some of our team goals. ... From day 1, our goal is to keep raising the bar."

More: Golfer Jaxon Donaldson of Wimberley aims for third state title

Here is a list of how the other 12 area teams are ranked in Texas: Salado (sixth in Class 4A), Llano (sixth in 3A), Georgetown (11th in 5A), Johnson City (23rd in 2A), Lexington (17th in 3A), Gateway Prep (25th in 3A), Liberty Hill (15th in 5A), LASA (25th in 5A), Dripping Springs (17th in 6A), Lake Travis (24th in 6A) and Bowie and Vista Ridge (tied for 25th in 6A).

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: After opening year with loss, Cedar Ridge has won 24 straight games