Back-to-back regional titles
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
For the second year in a row, the Hurons of Rogers City (31-6) are Division 4 regional champs. They defeated Rapid River on a walk-off RBI single from Courtney Streich in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win. It was Rogers City’s first regional title at home in 10 years.
The biggest hero of the game, and perhaps the season, was Alexa Quaine, who pitched the orange and black out of a bases loaded jam with nobody out and the game tied at two in the top of the seventh.
Quaine struck out two and caught a pop up.
“I told myself to relax and to keep moving the ball around, and if they hit it then my team would have my back because we have a solid defense,” said Quaine.
“It could be the defining moment of the season,” said coach Karl Grambau.
The first batter struck out on a 3-2 pitch, while the next batter popped out on the first pitch. Quaine did the rest with a strikeout on a 1-2 pitch. The ensuing celebration fired up the Hurons and they rallied in the bottom of the frame.
With one out, Cassie Brege hit a pop-up in shallow left field. The Rockets’ shortstop had a beat on the ball, but pulled off of the ball at the last second and let it drop. Brege made it to second.
That brought Logan Fleming up, who already hit a double and a solo homer. She was not given a good pitch to hit and walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Streich, who had doubled down the line in her previous at bat in the fifth to tie the game at two, came through with a clutch single to right/center to easily score Brege.
“It was a rush,” said Streich, who was mobbed at pitcher’s mound. “I was so happy. To end off like that, especially with the last games on the home field, that was awesome.”
Nikki Radke pitched well as the starter, but said she tired in the final inning. She gave up a single and hit the next two batters to load the bases.
“Alexa had my back and I was happy that she was there,” said Radke. “Rapid River is definitely one of the toughest teams that we faced.”
The Hurons moved onto the regional championship game and had a much easier time taking care of Norway, 16-4.
The Hurons scored three in the first and five in the second.
Morgan Hall had a sacrifice fly and Kayla Fleury had a RBI single, but it was Quaine who knocked in four of the early runs with a double and a three-run homer.
In the top of the second, with Hall and Sarah Meredith on board, Quaine lifted a ball to deep left center. The center fielder ranged over and got a glove on the ball, but it bounced off of her glove into the huge Huron contingent of fans beyond the fence.
The score was 8-1 when Norway cut the lead to four with a three-run homer.
In the top of the fifth, Cassidy Purgiel singled and Rachel Chojnacki walked. With Purgiel on third and Chojnacki on first, Fleming homered for the second time in the
The Hurons added five in the seventh. Meredith knocked in two in the frame with a single.
“This is the first year they are having the games at Michigan State,” said Grambau. “We certainly would like to get there. We are one step closer.”
Fleming was 6-for-7 in the regional tournament, while Quaine was 5-for-7. Streich had five hits.
The Hurons take on Central Lake at 3 p.m. Tuesday. A police escort ushered the team bus out of town.