Hurons win softball tournament, despite missing players

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

Playing without half of their varsity players due to the Close Up Washington trip, the Rogers City softball team still played extremely well in taking two from county rivals Onaway (18-10) and Posen (17-10) Saturday at Gilpin Field.

SOPHOMORE ELISSA Nash has been carrying the bulk of the pitching load for the Onaway Cardinals. Here she fires a pitch towards home in Rogers City Saturday. (Photo by Angie Asam)

 

“For having five junior varsity and five varsity players, I am real proud of how we did,” said Huron coach Karl Grambau. “The girls played really well and are improving each game.”

Following a dominating sweep at Hale, the Lady Hurons were 9-2 and 6-0 in the North Star League. They play in the morning on Saturday in Bridgeport against the host team at 10, and then take on seventh ranked, undefeated Gross Pointe University Liggett in pool play at the Birch Run Tournament.

In Saturday’s game one tournament game against Onaway, Kayla Rabeau smashed her first two career homers in her first two times at bat. It was two of her four hits. Mary Brege added three.

Hannah Fleming followed sister Logan Fleming’s walk with her first career home run in the first inning.

For Onaway, Morganne Badgero was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and four runs scored. Jade Galer was 2-for-2 with three RBI. Elissa Nash was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Hannah Fleming, in relief of Hannah Dittmar, earned the win over Posen with two and one-third innings.

Logan Fleming had a home run, while sister Hannah had two doubles.

Kayla Lenard was 4-for-4 with a three-run homer for Posen and knocked in four runs. Monica Bartz was 3-for-3 with four RBI. Hannah Stone doubled in her first varsity at bat.

The Lady Cardinals defeated Posen in the first game of the day, 20-5, for their first win of the young season.

Maddie McLean had a good kickoff to her varsity career as she hit two home runs in her first two varsity at bats. She finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI.

Galer was 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a double and two RBI. Chelsea Brewbaker was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and three RBI. Eleana Domke had a home run, two RBI and four runs scored. Nash and Taylor Ehrke each added hits as well.

Bartz was 2-for-2 for the Lady Vikings.

“We didn’t play good softball at all on Saturday,” said Posen coach Glenn Budnick.

ROGERS CITY crushed Hale in road action, 21-1 and 20-0.

Dittmar was the winning pitcher, giving up one hit in two shutout innings. Rabeau pitched the final two.

Hannah Fleming tossed a perfect three-inning game in the nightcap, getting all nine Hale batters she faced out.

It’s the first perfect game by a Huron pitcher since 2003 when Alison Schuiteman pitched one in the Upper Peninsula. She struck out two and the infield made the other seven plays.

There was lots of offense. Cassidy Purgiel hit for the cycle in game one with a homer in the first, a single in the second, double in the third and a triple in the fourth.

Hannah Fleming had four hits including two homers (one inside the park). Logan Fleming had two doubles and a triple.

In game two, Brege had four hits, including a double. Logan Fleming added three including two doubles.

Destanae Smillie had three hits including a double, while Dittmar had three hits, including a double.

THE VIKINGS played much better Monday in a sweep over Alcona. Taylor Chojnacki took the ball in game one and pitched like an ace. The defense was spot on behind her, with no mistakes. She went five innings, allowing five hits and no walks, while striking out six in a 12-1 win.

Lenard was 3-for-4, including a double. Amy Buczkowski was 2-for-4, while Lyndsey Romel was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Chojnacki pitched in relief in game two and held down a charging Alcona team that had scored five in the fifth to cut the Vikings lead to two. Chojnacki got the final five outs to get the game in the win column. She struck out two and gave up one hit. The score was 11-9.

“It was great bounce back wins for us after Saturday’s games,” said Budnick. “Taylor pitched a great game (one), giving us a much needed lift and we played error free behind her.”

Paige Ciarkowski had a terrific game at the plate. She had two hits and three RBI and finished the day with a hard hit ball right up the middle for a 3-for-3 day. Brooke Ciarkowski added a two-RBI triple. The Vikings were 4-6 and 3-3 overall heading to Onaway Wednesday. They host Hillman Monday.

MONDAY THE Cardinals opened the Ski Valley Conference season with their first home games of the season when Central Lake came to town. The Cardinals won game one 5-4.

With the score tied at four with two outs, the Cardinal batter struck out, but the ball got away from the catcher. Lexi Szymoniak broke for the plate from third as the catcher tried to complete the strikeout with a throw to first. The throw got away allowing the batter to reach safely as Szymoniak scored the winning run.

Badgero was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Ashley LaLonde was 2-for-3 with a stolen base. Szymoniak was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Galer and Domke each had a hit and an RBI while Nash and Ehrke each added a hit.

Nash earned the win on the mound going six innings allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk w

hile striking out five.

The Cardinals dropped game two 8-6. Nash took the loss allowing three earned runs in six innings of work on six hits and three walks while striking out five.

McLean was 2-for-2 with an RBI double. Szymoniak was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Galer was 2-for-3. Nash had an RBI triple. Brewbaker and Domke each added a hit.

The Cardinals are now 2-6 overall and 1-1 in the Ski Valley Conference. They hosted Posen Wednesday (after press time) and host JoBurg today (Thursday) beginning at T4 p.m. They will play at the Birch Run tournament over the weekend and at Forest Area Monday.