Minor Girls eliminate Marquette in four innings; in action Thursday against Marquette
Minor Girls eliminate Marquette in four innings; in action Thursday against Marquette The Minor Girl all-stars from Rogers City are one of six teams still playing for a state championship in Port Huron. The nine-and 10-year-olds from Posen and Rogers City earned their third tournament win, on one loss, in a mercied shortened contest Wednesday against Marquette, 19-8. Coach Jay Schuiteman said the girls hit the ball hard and put away the UP team by the fourth inning. Marquette couldn?t handle the plays and threw several walks, which worked in Rogers City?s favor. Rogers City was to play next at 6 p.m. Thursday (8/7) against Gladstone.
There were four teams in action today in the losers bracket, including Rogers City, with two to be eliminated by the end of the day?s action. It?s one of the best tournament runs this season for a Little League team from Rogers City. The Junior Girls placed sixth a few weeks ago and the Minor Girls are guaranteed at least that.
Emily Marx, Katie Darga, and Leann Buczkowski all went three-for-three, while Lindsay Ponik earned her second win of the tournament on the mound. The defensive play of the game came from rightfielder Carly Wilke, who fired a relay to first baseman Leilani Kortman, who threw to third baseman Logan Schuiteman. The tag was applied to the runner trying to stretch the play into a triple.
?That play took the wind out of their (Marquette) sails,? said Schuiteman. The loss eliminated Marquette from the tournament.
Schuiteman said he?s heard nothing but great comments from others at the tournament about the way these young girls are representing their community. Last Saturday, the girls defeated Southtown 17-10, then lost on Sunday 19-6 to Hudsonville from Pinery Park, winners of seven of 10 Minor Girls state titles. Since the loss, the Rogers City has won two straight by a combined score of 27-9.