COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A fine season for the Coldwater Cardinals baseball team has gotten even better. The Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association has ranked the Cardinals as the number one team in the state in Division Two according to this weeks poll which was released on Wednesday. The Cardinals are 25-7 so far this season. Marshall was ranked in 6th in Division Two. Meanwhile, Centreville remains as the top team in Division Four and Schoolcraft was ranked third in Division Three.
The Cardinals host Battle Creek Lakeview for a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m. at Lowe Field. AM-1590 and FM 95.5 will pick up the action in progress at about 5:30 p.m. following the Evening Journal.
Mendon 3, Union City 0
Union City pitcher Blade Gordon went the distance as he allowed one earned run and struck out seven. The Chargers are now 18-12-1 overall. They will face Parchment on Saturday morning in the Bronson Polish Festival tournament.
—GIRLS SOCCER—
Coldwater 3, Parma Western 2
The Coldwater girls varsity soccer team captured third place in the Interstate 8 Gold Division tournament Wednesday with a 3-2 win at Parma Western. Jasmine Wellet got the winning goal with 1:48 to play off a throw-in from Malorie Rzepka. The Lady Cardinals started the scoring with a goal from Rzepka, assisted by fellow freshman Samantha Rodesiler 14 minutes into the game. Parma then scored twice in a 10 minute stretch before Coldwater tied the score one minute before the half on a goal from Madison Marsh, assisted by Rzepka.
Nadia Kiersey made 8 saves in goal as Coldwater improves to 8-5-5 on the season and finishes 4-3-2 in the Interstate 8 Conference. The third place tournament finish is the highest ever for the girls. Coldwater opens district play next Tuesday, hosting Harper Creek.
The Coldwater JV team lost at Parma 6-0. They will play their final game at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Thursday.
—GIRLS SOFTBALL—
Coldwater’s J.V. Girls Softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader to Homer on Wednesday by scores of 5-3 and 11-5. Jay Snyder and Mallory Kissenger tripled in the opening game. Coldwater’s record is now 24-10. They will wrap up the season at Battle Creek Lakeview on Thursday afternoon.
—TRACK—
Quincy won the boys meet while Reading topped the girls standings on Wednesday at the Big Eight Conference meet hosted by Springport. The first place finish for the Quincy boys allowed them to finish second in the final conference standings. The Orioles had 100 points followed by Concord and Athens with 75 points apiece. Union City was fourth with 66 points. Reading won the girls meet with 105 ½ points followed by Quincy with 95 ½ points. Union City finished in a tie for seventh with Homer. The second place finish for the Quincy girls allowed them to finish third in the final conference standings. Individual winners from Branch County were as follows….
—-Boys—
Long Jump— Jalen Boes (Union City)100— Ryan Gibson (Quincy)800 Relay—Union City (Jalen Boes, Elijah Harris, Gavin Hooker and Chad Bruce)400— Gavin Hooker (Union City)1600 Relay—Union City (Boes, Harris, Hooker and Austin Mosher)
—Girls—
Pole Vault— Katie Spaulding (Quincy)100 Hurdles—Katie Spaulding (Quincy)Discus— Rachel Wing (Union City)Shot Put— Rachel Wing (Union City)400 Relay—Quincy (Jessica Holcomb, Mackenzie Horsfall, Claire Supianoski and Taylor Holcomb)
Bronson competed in the Junior Varsity portion of the BCS meet and finished fourth in both the boys and girls meets. Zach Summey won the boys shot put while Xochitl Garcia won the girls 800.
THURSDAY BRANCH COUNTY SPORTS 5-26-16
—BASEBALL—
B.C. Lakeview at Coldwater (DH) (AM-1590, FM 95.5 WTVB, joined in progress at 5:30pm)Bronson at Quincy
—GIRLS SOFTBALL—
B.C. Lakeview at ColdwaterBronson at ClintonQuincy at MarshallCentreville at Union City
—BOYS GOLF—
Coldwater at MHSAA Division Two Districts hosted by Niles at Orchard Hills GC)Bronson and Union City at MHSAA Division Four Districts hosted by Kalamazoo Hacket at Milham Park Golf Course
