Softball roundup: Gaylord continues shutout streak, JoBurg sweeps opening DH
GAYLORD ― Last week was a beautiful week in multiple ways if you're a sports fan.
The beautiful weather that greeted the state this week meant area prep sports teams were in action on a regular basis, including the talented softball squads that come from the Gaylord area.
Both the highly ranked GHS and Johannesburg-Lewiston teams were in action at the end of last week, with Gaylord hoping to stay hot after dominating their first three games of the season last weekend and JoBurg looking to get their season started on the right foot.
See how area softball teams fared.
Gaylord sweeps Shepherd with two more shutouts
If you know anything about softball in Northern Michigan, you probably knew the Gaylord girls came into the season with high expectations. The No. 2 ranked team in the state for Division 2, the uber-talented girls have something to prove this year after their unfortunate ending to the 2022 campaign.
However, even with all the knowledge in the world, its hard to imagine a start as good as the Lady Blue Devils have gotten off to.
Last weekend, the girls started their season with three-straight shutout victories, outscoring their opponents 38-0 and cruising to the Reed City Invite Championship, all while avenging their 2022 playoff loss by defeating the team that knocked them out, Escanaba, in the championship game.
This week, they continued on their opening season shutout streak with two more shutout victories on Thursday, April 13, defeating Shepherd 10-0 and 8-0 to improve their record to 5-0 overall.
Kennedy Wangler, Alexis Kozlowski, Alexis Shepherd and Braliegh Miller all had two hits in the game one victory, with Wangler's providing a double and a triple while Kozlowski and Shepherd both had a double. Aubrey Jones got credit for the win, pitching four shutout innings with six strikeouts.
Miller and Aubrey Jones both had multi-hit performances in game two, with Miller going 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI while Jones also went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBI. Abby Radulski got the win after three innings of scoreless work, while Avery Parker struck out six batters in her three innings pitched.
The Blue Devils have now outscored their opponents 56-0 through five games. They will host Bay City Western on Wednesday, April 19 in their next matchup.
JoBurg sweeps Lake City
Another team entering the season with high expectations are the JoBurg girls, entering the season as the No. 10 ranked team in Division 4 after their second-straight Ski Valley title a season ago.
The Lady Cardinals got their 2023 campaign going on Friday, April 14 as they traveled to Lake City for a doubleheader matchup with the Trojans. And, it turned out to be a successful first showing for JoBurg as they picked up the two-game sweep, outscoring their opponents 17-2 in their opening two games.
Jayden Marlatt fueled the 12-1 victory in game one, allowing one unearned run and striking out seven batters in her five innings pitched while adding a double, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. Reagan Sides went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple, three RBI and two runs scored, while Jocelyn Tobias went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Game two was a bit closer, but the Trojans could not find a way to scratch any runs across off Chloe Ferguson as the Cardinals picked up a 5-0 victory to complete the sweep. Ferguson allowed just two hits in her six innings pitched. Tobias (2-for-2, two RBI) and Jaeden Briley (2-for-3, two runs scored) were standouts from the plate in the shutout win.
JoBurg will be starting their Ski Valley schedule next week, traveling to Fife Lake Forest Area on Wednesday, April 19.
Other scores
Gm 1: Gaylord St. Mary's 25, Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian 15
Gm 2: Gaylord St. Mary's 11, Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian 14
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Softball roundup: Gaylord continues shutout streak, JoBurg sweeps opening DH
