BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – The Bronson Vikings are the last team from Branch County standing in this year’s MHSAA Softball Tournament. They did not allow a run as they swept to victory at the Division 3 Schoolcraft District. Meanwhile, the dream season of the Coldwater Cardinals came to an abrupt conclusion in Marshall.
Division 2 District at Marshall
Vicksburg upset Coldwater 5-3 in the Semifinals of the Division 2 Marshall District.
The game started off well enough for the Cardinals, as Laynie VanAken hit an inside-the-park home run in the first inning. Mya Porter’s RBI single in the third gave Coldwater a 2-0 lead. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth. The Cardinals scratched out a run in the sixth, but could not close the gap any further.
Laynie VanAken allowed all five Vicksburg runs on eight hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts. Her pitching counterpart for the Bulldogs, Allison Truckey, gave up five runs, struck out five, and didn’t allow a walk. Besides Laynie VanAken’s homer and Mya Porter’s single, Rylie VanAken went 2-for-3 with a triple, and Audrina Bucklin hit a single.
Coldwater’s campaign wrapped up with a 30-2 record. Vicksburg would go on to win the District title by beating Harper Creek 9-7. The Beavers advanced with a 9-4 win against Marshall.
Division 3 District at Schoolcraft
At the Division 3 Schoolcraft District, Bronson shut out Centreville 8-0, while Union City defeated Constantine 10-3 in the two Semifinal games. The championship contest saw the Vikings blank the Chargers 18-0 in four innings.
In the Bronson-Centreville game, winning pitcher Ashlynn Harris allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out nine. She helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI, while Roni Bir went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
In the Union City-Constantine contest, Calli Wilkinson homered on the very first pitch and finished 4-for-5 with a double three RBIs. Ellie Williams went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs driven in. Lauren Tundevold and Madison Krummrey also doubled as the Chargers collected 14 hits. Karlie Eagen tossed a complete game victory, striking out seven.
In the District Final, Bronson’s Madison Shaw held the Chargers to just one hit with no walks and five strikeouts. Lydia Wells was 4-for-4 with three RBIs, and Bir went 2-for-2 with two RBIs as the Vikings put together a 12-hit attack.
Union City’s season concludes with a 17-15-record. Bronson improves to 33-5 and will face Buchanan this coming Saturday at 10 a.m. in the first Regional Semifinal game at Centreville. The winner will take on either Kalamazoo Christian or Coloma in the Regional Final.
Division 3 District at Homer
At the Division 3 Homer District, Quincy won their semifinal game against Jonesville 8-5, but lost to the host Trojans in the District Final 9-8.
Against Jonesville, Gabbi Norris was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Josi Parker also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. and Taylor Lewis drove in three runs Ary’Annah Freeman added a double. Lewis was the winning pitcher, while Parker picked up the save.
Against Homer, the Orioles a 6-2 deficit with six runs in the fifth. The Trojans answered in the sixth with three runs. Lewis doubled, and Parker went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Homer advanced to the title game with a 9-1 victory against Hillsdale.
Quincy wrapped up its season with a 15-20 record.
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