Local Sports: Whiteford, Jefferson wear softball tourney crowns
OTTAWA LAKE – You have a pretty good chance to win softball games when you don’t give up a run.
That was exactly the plan Whiteford’s softball team employed Saturday to win its own tournament.
The Bobcats opened with a 5-0 win over Flat Rock, then knocked off Airport 7-0.
"Our pitchers were dialed in today and pounded the strike zone, mixing spins and speed,” Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said. “Defensively, we had to shift some players around and they are adjusting well."
Addison Kopp had the only two hits for Flat Rock in the first game against Unity Nelson, who struck out 15.
Karlei Conard blanked Airport on three hits with 7 strikeouts.
Jillian Webb, Aly VanBrandt, and Jess Ulery led Whiteford's offense in the first game. Alison Spradling tripled twice against Airport, Kaydence Sheldon had two hits, and Patrina Marsh drove in two runs for the 12-1 Bobcats.
Peyton Zajac tripled and Kam Krzemen and Kennady Kroll had hits for Airport.
Madison Portis drove in the winning run for Flat Rock in an 8-7 win over Clinton. Addy Roussey and McKenna Willaims homered for the 6-5 Rams.
Winning pitcher RaeAnn Drummond went 3-for-4 with two home runs for Airport in an 11-1 rout of Clinton. Gabby Tilley added two hits for the 9-3-1 Jets.
PREP SOFTBALL
Jefferson wins tourney
Jefferson beat Taylor 8-2, Detroit Western 17-0, and Belleville 3-2 to win its own tournament Saturday.
Emmi Liptow’s homer turned out to be a game-winner against Belleville.
Other hitting stars were Rylee Dunn, Cam Carter, Julia Perry, Lindsey Gennoe, Gracie Jones, Sammy Ledger, and Carly Lindsey. Perry and Carter pitched well.
Milan, Monroe split
Avery Leach went 3-for-3 with a pair of 2-run home runs as Monroe salvaged the second game of a doubleheader 8-5 Saturday after Milan came from behind with three runs in the sixth inning to win the opener 9-6.
Allie Hall tripled in a run and Jenna Ruettinger smacked an RBI double to support winning pitcher Avery Collett as Monroe moved to 5-6. Collett, Alana Aulph, Allie Hall, and Ally Lewis had two hits each for Monroe in the first game.
“Today's games were really competitive,” Monroe coach Jim Davis said. “Both teams hit the ball hard and made some great defensive plays. … We've hung tough with some good teams, but it was nice to win one of those close games today. Milan's as good as anyone we've played so far.”
Madison Gray went 2-for-3 in each game and drove in three runs in the opener for Milan. Cami was 3-for-3 in the second game.
Dundee gets better
DUNDEE – Kennedy Irwin and Shay VanZandt both were on base six times for Dundee in a 21-2, 12-0 sweep of Melvindale Saturday.
Kaylee Imo tossed a 1-hitter in the first game and drove in six runs for the day. Lauren Doane threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the second game for the 7-3 Vikings.
“It was a better day today,” Dundee coach Mickey Moody said. “I thought we had some solid at-bats and did some things better than our last game. We have to continue to play better on defense and continue to cut down on our mistakes.”
Hensley adds homers
TOLEDO – Sophomore Aubrey Hensley, who became Bedford’s all-time leader in home runs Wednesday, tacked on two more homers as the Mules whipped Rossford 14-3 and 21-4 Saturday.
Nyah Mullins had 5 hits for the 12-3 Mules and Payton Pudlowski, Camryn Pudlowski, Mckenna Dunlap, Ashtyn and Kaitlyn Kwiatkowski hit well. Adrianna Kester and Wryley Danielson earned pitching wins.
Big day for Smith
ADRIAN – Summer Smith rang up 9 hits and 8 RBI as Ida went 2-1 in the Adrian Tournament Saturday.
The Blue Streaks beat Stockbridge 15-0 and Adrian 20-5 and fell 16-10 to Blissfield.
Maddie McCain and Jessica Schrader finished with 5 hits each and Alyssa Hogston added 4. McKenna Tarry and Reese Hennessey homered.
“All in all, the girls played hard and worked hard,” Ida coach Chelsea Brancheau said. “We keep going in the right direction.”
PREP BASEBALL
Yount, Miller double up
WALLED LAKE – Owen Yount and Noah Miller each stroked a pair of doubles to lead Monroe to an 11-0 win over Walled Lake Central Saturday.
Ryan Sieler and Drew Scznsny also had two hits each for the 10-1-1 Trojans in support of Braden Pearce, who threw a 2-hitter.
The second game of the doubleheader was rained out.
Airport comes back
CARLETON – Airport scored a run in the sixth inning and three in the seventh to come back from a 3-run deficit for a 4-3 win over Ida Saturday.
Shade Daniels’ two-run single in the seventh plated the tying and winning runs.
Seth Jones was the winning pitcher as Airport clubbed Carlson 19-4 in its second game.
Ida (5-5) topped Carlson 8-4 in its other game behind two hits each from Dom Laskowski and Brady Robertson.
Jaxon Millican pitched well against Airport.
“Really happy with the way we played all day,” Ida coach Jimmy McMonagle said. “We are starting to put it all together.”
Noah Derwick had two hits for Carlson (6-6) against Airport. Tyler Collier picked up his first hit of the season.
Rogoff hits walk-off
Tommy Rogoff blasted a walk-off homer in the seventh inning to give St. Mary Catholic Central a 6-5 win over Trenton in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.
Rogoff was 4-for-4 and also got the pitching win. Nolan Moore also homered and Anthony Caladino and Drew Bylow added two hits each.
Trenton won the second game 21-13 despite three hits by Moore.
Mules’ McNamara sharp
TEMPERANCE – Cade McNamara, brought up from the junior varsity game tossed six strong innings as Bedford salvaged a 3-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader against Rossford.
Nolan Laskey came on with two men on and no outs in the seventh inning and got the last three outs for a save. Isaac Garrow went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.
Caleb Olivera went 3-for-4 in the first game, but the Mules fell 4-2.
Pitching carries Milan
MILAN – Holden Gates and Gunnar Kruise earned pitching wins and Kam Ackley picked up a save in his first varsity pitching outing to lift Milan (10-3) to a 3-1, 5-1 sweep of Howell Charyl Stockwell on Saturday.
Gavin Kruise led the offense with 5 hits and Gary Linzell was outstanding defensively behind the plate.
Kantola, Smith win
LIVONIA – Kyle Kantola and Micah Smith picked up the wins as New Boston Huron swept Livonia Stevenson 6-2 and 12-0 Saturday.
Connor Grant had 2 hits in each game to lead the offense.
Jefferson stumbles
Jefferson finished 0-2 in its own tournament Saturday, falling 8-7 to Belleville and 19-8 to Melvindale.
Joey Neckel, Shane Johnson, and Cody Byrd had 2 hits each in the second game.
Whiteford splits
OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford (3-5) came back to smack Whitmore Lake 18-3 Saturday after dropping a 6-4 heartbreaker to Manchester in 8 innings.
Aiden Cousino picked up the win. Brenden Masters had 4 hits on the day and Logan Tammerine added 3.
PREP SOCCER
Huron challenges champs
ROYAL OAK – New Boston Huron put up a great battle before falling 2-1 Saturday to defending Division 4 state champion Royal Oak Shrine.
Gabby Emelian headed in a corner kick from Shaylyn Carpenter for Huron’s goal.
Maggie Warden, Callie Eaton, Mira Lazenby, Addison Bozynski, and Rylie Cassette played well.
Late goal tops Milan
MILAN – Pinckney scored on a free kick with less than four minutes remaining to nip Milan 3-2 Saturday.
Emma Budd and Aubree Higgins scored for Milan off assists from Leah Mazei and Sylvia Koch.
FRESHMAN BASEBALL
Heams leads Bedford
TEMPERANCE – Hudson Heams went 6-for-7 with 4 RBI as Bedford split with Clay Saturday, winning the first game 10-2 and dropping the second 7-4.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Whiteford, Jefferson wear softball tourney crowns
