Major girls off to state. Juniors and minors set to begin action
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
The major girls all-star team went 4-0 in the District 13 tournament in Cheboygan to take the title and earn a spot at the Little League State Finals in Clinton this weekend. After defeating Tri-Rivers 10-0 last Tuesday evening, the girls defeated Onaway 13-2 on Wednesday evening behind winning pitcher Lizzi Martin who had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit.
Martin and Kayla Fleury added singles in the win while Jade Ramus doubled. Martin, Jenna Hincka and Amy Buczkowski each had RBI?s in the win. The game was 0-0 until the third inning when Rogers City scored seven and Onaway added one. Rogers City added six more in the fourth inning and Onaway added one to make the final score 13-2.
Friday Rogers City squared off with Cheboygan and won a close 4-3 game. Cheboygan took an early lead, as they struck first in the top of the second with one run. Rogers City would answer in the bottom of the third to tie the game at one. Rogers City added one more in the bottom of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Cheboygan scored twice in the top half of the sixth inning to go up 3-2 before Rogers City came to bat and scored twice to take the game 4-3.
Winning pitcher was Alexa Quaine who allowed just two hits while striking out seven; the hit did not come until the final inning, as Quaine was un-hittable through five. Down by one in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and a full count, Ryley Schalk hit a game-winning single to score Autumn Idalski and Jenna Hincka and give RC the win. Schalk had two singles in the contest while Idalski, Quaine and Hincka each had one. Schalk had two RBI while Idalski and Quaine each added one in the win.
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP game on Sunday, Rogers City found themselves facing Cheboygan again. Quaine took the mound again allowing just three hits and striking out four. Rogers City scored one run in each the first, second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead before Cheboygan scored in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 3-1. Rogers City added one more in the fifth and then shut Cheboygan out in the sixth to win 4-1. Fleury had two singles in the win while Martin and Idalski each had one. Fleury and Buczkowski each had RBI in the win.
THE YOUNG ladies have now begun fundraising efforts to pay for their trip to Clinton for the state finals. Rogers City will begin action on Saturday at 3 p.m. against District 4 champion in the first game of pool play. Their next game will be Sunday at 1 p.m. against the District 11 champion followed by a 4 p.m. contest Monday against the District 15 champion to wrap up pool play.
Following pool play the top two teams out of each of the four pools will move on to bracket play scheduled to start Tuesday and run through Wednesday. The state championship game is scheduled for Thursda
If Rogers City wins their first contest, they will play Saturday at 2 p.m. in the semifinals against the winner of the North Emmet vs. Sault/Onaway winner. If they lose they will play Saturday at noon. The double-elimination tournament will continue through the finals, which will be played Tuesday at 5 p.m.
THE JUNIOR girls tournament in Pellston begins Friday when Rogers City takes on Cheboygan at 6:30 p.m. With a win, Rogers City would move on to play the winner of the North Emmet/Harbor Springs game Saturday at noon; with a loss they would play the loser of that game Saturday at 2 p.m. The finals for the tournament are set for Monday at 6 p.m.