PORTAGE, MI (WTVB) – Mattawan’s Eliana Ruhrup uncorked a two-out, 3-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to propel the Wildcats past Coldwater 4-2 and win an MHSAA Division 1 Softball Regional title Saturday afternoon at Portage Northern.
Mattawan took an early 1-0 lead that held until the bottom of the sixth, when Rylee Rice hit a leadoff double and Kenzie Scheid brought her home with a 2-run blast to center field:
After getting the first two batters out in the top of the seventh, Scheid gave up a single and a walk, setting up Ruhrup’s late heroics on a 3-2, two-out count:
The Cardinals had a chance to send the game into extra innings with two runners on and two outs in the bottom of the frame, but Rylee Rice grounded out to second to end the game.
Offensively, Karlie Knisely added a double while Ava Longstreet singled, as winning Mattawan pitcher Maddy Vrba gave up a walk and struck out 8. Scheid allowed two walks with no strikeouts in the hard luck loss.
Listen to the Regional Final Mattawan again:
Earlier in the Regional Semifinals, Mattawan advanced with a 2-0 shutout of Holt, while Coldwater held off DeWitt 3-2. Scheid had a 2-run homer to go with a single, while Knisely had two hits and Jayla Foster doubled. Alexis Bills allowed 5 hits with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
Listen to the Regional Semifinal win again:
The Cardinals’ season ended with a 25-9 record. The Wildcats, who are coached by Coldwater alumnus Alicia Smith, improved to 23-15 and will take on South Lyon Tuesday evening in a Division 1 Quarterfinal at Adrian College.
Elsewhere, Interstate 8 champion Jackson Northwest shut out Owosso 4-0 and Chelsea 2-0 to take the Division 2 Chelsea Regional. The Mounties will face Stevensville Lakeshore Tuesday in a Division 2 Quarterfinal at Kalamazoo College.
DIVISION 3 AT PARCHMENT
- Watervliet 8, Centreville 2
- Parchment 1, Buchanan 0
- REGIONAL FINAL: Parchment 6, Watervliet 2
DIVISION 3 AT SAND CREEK
- Grass Lake 6, Dundee 0
- Jonesville 4, Sand Creek 1
- REGIONAL FINAL: Grass Lake 15, Jonesville 0 (3 innings)
DIVISION 4 AT MENDON
- Three Oaks River Valley 2, Athens 0
- Kalamazoo Christian 8, Mendon 0
- REGIONAL FINAL: Kalamazoo Christian 12, Three Oaks River Valley 11 (8 innings)
DIVISION 4 AT DANSVILLE
- Ottawa Lake Whiteford 10, Dansvolle 0 (5 innings)
- Reading 10, Addison 1
- REGIONAL FINAL: Ottawa Lake Whiteford 15, Reading 0 (3 innings)
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