State-bound Minor Girls take on District 12 Saturday in Port Huron
After earning a sweep over Cheboygan to capture a district championship, the Minor Girls all-stars from Rogers City switched gears from pitching balls to pitching products. It was more than a week ago the girls mercied Cheboygan 17-6 to advance to the state tournament in Port Huron. The girls were hoping they could be as successful in the community with fundraisers as they were on the diamond.
?It went really well,? said coach Jay Schuiteman. ?The community was really supportive.?
THE PLAYERS conducted hot dog and bake sales and collected bottles and cans for what could be a week stay in Port Huron if they keep on winning. Opening ceremonies for the 9 and 10 year olds will be at 9 a.m. at Kimball Township Park. Rogers City has its first contest in the double elimination tournament at 3 p.m. against District 12.
District 12 is a huge area, covering the communities of Cadillac, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon. Schuiteman said the team that will have to be reckoned with is Pinery Park, which has won seven of 10 state titles. The coach learned the squad has a nine-year-old who can throw 42 m.p.h.
In batting practice Tuesday, Schuiteman had the batting machine cranked up to 46 m.p.h. and the girls were stinging the ball. The coach allowed his daughter Alison, who threw heat for RCHS, pitch against them, and they hit the ball off her as well. The Rogers City stars are not matched up with Pinery Park, but could eventually face that team in the tournament.
LINDSAY PONIK earned the win over Cheboygan July 23, with help from a nine-run fifth. The girls literally ran Cheboygan out of Little League Park in Rogers Cit
Leilani Kortman doubled, knocking in a couple of runs, while Leanne Buczkowski also was swinging a hot bat and added a double.
The coach complimented catcher Emily Marx: she did an ?excellent job.? Marx also hit the ball well. Logan Schuiteman earned her second save in two outings. She came in and struck out the side in the fifth inning, but it was still Ponik?s game to win.
The Minor Girls are the second team from the Rogers City Little League program to earn a trip to state, as the Junior Girls made it and were eliminated last week.