Hillman upsets Hurons in first round of softball tourney

Elephant tears of sorrow flowed freely as the top-rated Huron softball team fell to Hillman 3-2 in nine innings Tuesday. The loss ended a season of promise, built on the success of last season?s state Division IV runner-up team, and fired by a core of determined seniors. The upset win sent the Hurons home and the Tigers on to face Onaway in the district semifinals Saturday. The winner of that game will take on the winner of the Posen vs. Atlanta game in what has become a wide-open district. Coach Karl Grambau, who has had less than good luck in tournament games played in Onaway, offered consolation to his team, but forgetting what might have been will be difficult for the young players and a legion of loyal fans. ?We stranded many baserunners in the game. A break or two here or there could have made the game go either way,? he said.

SENIOR ASHLEY Fleming pitched a very strong game, willing her team to win as the teams were knotted at 1-1 heading into the Hillman half of the seventh inning. She got the first player to bounce out to the mound, fooling her on a 1-2 changeup. The next batter drilled the first pitch for a single up the middle. A walk put runners on first and second. Then the next batter grounded to second baseman Laura Konieczny, who tried tagging the runner heading for second, but missed. She threw to first to get the second out of the inning. With the potential winning run on third, Fleming got the next batter looking on a riser to the outside part of the plate.

ASHLEY GOT an infield single in the bottom of the inning. Megan Hanson, running for Fleming, advanced to second on a pick-off throw gone badly and suddenly the Hurons were threatening. But Hillman got Jess Konieczny swinging and Tiffiny Krueger popped out to end the threat. Hillman went down 1-2-3 on two strikeouts and a grounder to Sara Dove at third. Sophomore catcher Dana Fairbanks walked on a 3-2 count, and then Dove sacrificed her to second. Terri Schultz struck out and then, with Liesa Kelley batting, Fairbanks was thrown out trying to steal third for the third out. Hillman threatened again in the bottom half of the eighth as the first player singled and went to second on a wild pitch, and the second player up singled to right. Hillman coach Gary Bisson held the runner at third, as Kelley got the ball in to first baseman C.J. Calabrese in a hurry. Fleming came through again to squash the rally. With the potential winning run on third base again, Ashley struck out the next two batters and got the third out on a popout to second.

THAT SET up the decisive ninth inning. Kelley led off with a hustle single, beating out a grounder to short for a hit. She reached base all four times up, three on hits and one on an error. Laura Konieczny, sent up to sacrifice, ended up beating out a bunt for a hit. Calabrese then advanced the runners with a sacrifice. Fleming was intentionally walked to load the bases for senior shortstop Jess Konieczny who lofted a soft fly over short to score Kelley with the lead run. Krueger popped out for the third out but the Hurons took a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth. That is where things went bad for the Hurons. The first batter walked and moved to second

on a ground out to second. The next batter reached on an error, scoring the run from second. A single to right moved the runner from second to third, as Bisson again opted to hold the runner instead of risking a play at the plate. It proved to be the right move as a single by Hillman pitcher Brianne Herbek drove in the winning run. Bisson, who grew up in Rogers City, had praise for the Hurons and the performance of Fleming. ?My hat is off to Rogers City. They have a great group of kids,? he said. ?We made the most of the opportunities we had. The bad thing about this kind of a game is that someone has to lose.?

THE HURONS, rated number one all season in the Division IV coaches? poll, ended the season at 27-5. Coach Grambau, in his third year as varsity softball coach, has had a run of bad luck in district play in Onaway recently. His girls? basketball team lost last fall in the district finals, his boys? basketball team lost in 2004, and his first softball team in 2003 lost in district play in 2003. In addition, the 2005 volleyball team lost in the district finals in in Onaway in March. ?We?ve had so many good memories this season. Everyone worked so hard all season. That is why it hurts so much, because we cared so much,? Grambau said. Fleming capped a stellar prep career with a six-hitter, striking out 17 while walking five.

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