Posen wins with a comeback and by holding tough
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
Nine was pretty good number to the Viking softball team in their season-opening sweep at Whittemore-Prescott. The girls scored nine times during the last two innings to get past the host Cardinals in game one, 14-9. And in game two, they kept it going with nine runs in the first two innings, which would be enough for a 10-8 victory.
The games were played on April Fools? day, the earliest start to the season in years for the Vikes, if not ever. The games were played in the nicest weather in weeks. ?It was great to get outside,? said head coach Glenn Budnick. ?We made plenty of mistakes, and we were the beneficiary of many as well.?
Budnick also said it was nice to get two wins and see what they need to work on before the first home game Tuesday against Rudyard. ?WE HIT really well in game one with 16 hits, but lost a little in game two due to the (Whittemore) pitcher having some control issues,? said Budnick.
Getting wins in their first appearances on the mound were sophomores Leanne Buczkowski (7 IN, 8 H, 7 K?s career high, 7 W, 5 ER) and Lindsay Ponik (5 IN, 6 H, 2 W, 6 K?s, 2 ER).
Joining her sophomore teammates on the mound was LeAnn Strzelecki, who picked up a save with one inning of work in game two. She gave up one hit, two walks, but struck out the last two batters of the day.
Game one was a back-and-forth contest from start to finish. W-P led 7-4, before Posen picked up one in the fifth inning and three in the sixth to go up 8-7. The Cards came back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two run homer for a one run lead.
Posen may be young, with only one senior and two juniors in the starting lineup, but they didn?t show it in their first pressure situation of the season. LEAVE IT to the all-state outfielder, Christina Bednarski, to get it going with a leadoff single. The bases were loaded after Strzelecki singled and junior Cheryl Romel was hit-by-pitch.
Ponik hit into a fielder?s choice scoring Bednarski, while Strzelecki was tossed out at third for the first out. Junior Janice Ciarkowski reloaded the bases with a walk when Buczkowski showed some power and hit a shot off the top of the fence. The ball fell behind the fence for a ground-rule double to score two, although it was very close to being a grand slam. Freshman Emily Delekta was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. Eighth-grader Anna Couture and freshman Paige Lewandowski hit into fielder?s choice to get another run in. Bednarski ended the scoring with a two-run single. The final run tally in the inning was six runs, which was much more than was needed.
The leading hitters follow: Couture 3-for-5 (2 DB, single, 2 RBI, on base 5 times);
THE VIKINGS were the recipients of 14 walks, nine in the first two innings, but Posen overcame the handicap of giving up an out each time they went through the lineup. In the third inning, Budnick used all his subs, but lost Ciarkowski to an injury at second base. She has a chipped ulna and possible ligament damage and could be out a month. Budnick used the designated player/flex position for defense, but that left the Vikes with eight hitters, minus one of their best sticks.
?Every time Janice?s time came up in the order it was an out. It ended up hurting scoring chances twice,? said Budnick. ?The girls still did what was needed to win.? Posen has home dates next Tuesday and Thursday against Rudyard and Alanson. The Vikings are ranked ninth in the Division IV, Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association.