Lady Hurons drop two close games to Gaylord

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

Thursday, under sunny skies and warm temperatures, the Rogers City varsity softball team hosted the Gaylord Blue Devils in a doubleheader, the teams? only action on the week. The Hurons dropped both games to the Blue Devils losing 3-2 and 3-1. Game one was a scoreless affair until in the bottom of the fifth inning, freshman Nikki LaLonde hit a triple with one out and would score on a passed ball to give the Hurons the 1-0 lead.

Going into the sixth and final inning the Hurons were in a position to win the game by holding Gaylord scoreless. Gaylord was able to push an unearned run across the plate after a Huron error opened the door and the Blue Devils were able to capitalize. The game would be 1-1 at the end of six innings and move into extra innings. The international tie breaker format was used, with the last out of the previous inning starting on second base.

In that extra frame Gaylord was able to push two runs across while the Hurons could only muster one run to fall 3-2. Rogers City executed only three hits in the game with LaLonde?s triple, a double by sophomore Linnea Brege and a single by senior Sara Carpenter.

Logan Schuiteman took the loss on the mound for the Hurons. Schuiteman gave up just five hits, walked one and struck out six, giving up only one earned

run. GAME TWO started another deadlock at 0-0 until some Rogers City errors in the third inning allowed Gaylord to score 2 runs and take an early lead, Gaylord would add one run in the top of the fourth inning to go up 3-0.

Rogers City pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth to make the final score 3-1 when Carpenter was able to reach base on an error and score on a Brooklyn Idalski groundout. The Hurons had only one hit in the game, a single by senior Amanda Lenard. Katie Darga took the loss allowing three unearned runs and giving up just four hits while allowing no walks and striking out nine.

?Both Logan and Katie have thrown very well and neither deserved to lose the game. Our pitching has been our bright spot so far and that is great. They have been doing great and I think they will continue to improve. Both Gaylord and Cheboygan have strong teams and I think we kind of beat ourselves against Gaylord,? said coach Karl Grambau. The Hurons are now 2-2 on the season and traveled to Petoskey today (Thursday) before hosting their home tournament Saturday set to begin at 10 a.m.