COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports, it was a packed schedule yesterday, especially in baseball and softball including an Interstate Eight baseball doubleheader we had on the radio from Lowe Field in Coldwater where the Cardinals swept a pair from Jackson Northwest 7-0 and 11-3. In the opener, Brayton Rzepka tossed a complete game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and just one walk and he was our McDonalds Player of the Game for Coldwater. Rzepka also had an RBI single as the Cardinals made the most of their 4 hits against the Mounties.
In game two, Sean Printke picked up the victory with a 4-hitter over six strong innings of 3-run ball with six strikeouts while Randall Linton finished up in the seventh with two strikeouts. Jordan Butler led the offense with 3 hits and 4 runs scored with an RBI and was our McDonald’s Player of the Game in the nightcap. Coldwater improved their record to 4-and-2 in the conference and 12-4 overall.
In the Junior Varsity action, Coldwater swept their doubleheader at Jackson Northwest 10-2 and 7-5. Collin Torrey and Cameron Miller were the winning pitchers. Miller had a double and a single and 3 RBI’s in the opener while in the second game, Eric Bach had 2 hits.
Also in baseball yesterday, Quincy swept a doubleheader at Athens 7-1 and 6-2. In the opener, Tyler Powell went the distance with a 4-hitter and 6 strikeouts with only one walk. Jake Jodway had 2 hits with a triple and 2 RBI’s and Jake Rider had two hits with a double. In the nightcap, Rider earned the victory with a 4-hitter over five innings and 7 strikeouts. Hunter Haylett tossed two scoreless innings of relief with no hits allowed. Kahlen Stahl had 3 RBI’s with a double while Jodway and Rider had 2 hits apiece with an RBI for Rider. The Orioles are now 4-2 in the Big Eight and 13-6 overall.
Also in the Big 8, Union City swept a doubleheader at Springport 8-1 and 10-0. Seth Bruce was the winning pitcher in game one while Cody Link had a double and two singles with 3 RBI’s. Eli Way also had 3 RBI’s with 2 singles and Darren Austin had 2 doubles and a single and 2 RBI’s. In the 6-inning second game, Austin threw a one-hitter with 9 strikeouts while Bruce had 2 singles with 2 RBI’s. The sweep improved the Charger’s record to 4-2 in league play and 9-8 overall.
Bronson was a doubleheader winner at home over White Pigeon 7-1 and 5-0. Daniel McMichael and Coty Bennett each tossed two hitters with 14 strikeouts for McMichael and 7 for Bennett. In the opener, Thadd Herman had 2 RBI’s and in the nightcap, Philip Mandoka had a triple as the Vikings improved to 6-8 overall and 2-and-2 in the BCS East.
Yesterday in softball, it was a split for Coldwater at home against Jackson Northwest. The visiting Mounties won the opener 9-8 in eight innings. Darlene Horn took the loss while Morgan Howard had two home runs and a single. Coldwater took the nightcap 8-3 with Stacy Guzy the winning pitcher. Alyson McKinley and Howard each had 2 singles with the Lady Cardinals record now at 4-2 in the Interstate 8 and 11-3 overall.
In the JV games at Northwest, it was a sweep for Coldwater 22-9 and 2-1. Cheyenne Akers and Emma Stanley were the winning pitchers. Jalynn Snyder had a triple and single and 3 RBI’s in the opener while in game two, Sydney Simpson also had 3 RBI’s with a single and triple.
In Big 8 softball, Quincy swept a doubleheader at Athens 17-8 and 20-5. Hannah Economou had 8 strikeouts in the opener and she hit a grand slam in the nightcap. Kaylin Oliver and Katelynn Newberry both had 3 hits in the second game. Quincy is now 5-1 in the conference and 9-9 overall.
Union City swept their Big 8 doubleheader at Springport 18-1 and 14-4 with Marissa Mead earning both wins on the mound. She helped her own cause with 2 hits and 3 RBI’s in the opener and two more hits, including a triple and an RBI in the second game. Also in the nightcap, Brenna Johnson had 2 hits and 3 RBI’s and Emma Elgan added 3 hits. The Chargers improved to 4-2 in the conference and 10-8 overall.
It was a sweep for Bronson at home over White Pigeon 12-0 and 17-2. Adyson Lasky earned both victories. She gave up 1-hit with 5 strikeouts over 3 frames in the 5-inning opener and followed it up with a one-hitter in the four inning nightcap. In the first game, Kelsey Robinson went 4-for-4 with a double and 3 singles while Lasky had 2 singles and 2 RBI’s. In the second game, Skyler Sobeski had a double and 2 singles with 3 RBI’s while Allie Sikorski had 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s. Bronson improved to 4-0 in the BCS East and 11-5 overall.
Tuesday in track, Coldwater hosted Jackson Lumen Christi and the Cardinal’s boys team beat Lumen Christi 127 to 35 while the visiting Titans won the Girls meet 82-55. Double winners for the Boys were Logan Targgart in the shot put and discus and Blaze Watson in the high jump and pole vault. On the girls side, Ashley Chase won the 100 meter dash and the high jump.
In boys golf, Coldwater finished in first place yesterday in an Interstate Eight Jamboree hosted by Pennfield at the Marywood Golf Course. The Cardinals won the event by one stroke over Jackson Lumen Christi 159-to-160. Coldwater was led by Cam Ruge with a 38, Nolan Duda carded a 39, Nathan Waterbury and Stephan Boston each had 41’s, Nick Galliers had a 42 and Keagan Dwyer rounded out the scoring with a 43. The win moved the Cardinals back into second place overall in the I-8.
Yesterday in girls tennis, Coldwater lost 8-0 at Jackson Lumen Christi. In the JV match, it was a 3-3 tie with Lumen Christi. Winning for Coldwater were Merlyn Johnson, Emily Foulk, and Jasleen Lalia at first, second, and third singles.
On today’s high school sports schedule, there’s track with Quincy hosting a Big 8 tri-meet with Union City and Concord while Bronson hosts White Pigeon.
Today on the Coaches Corner, it’s Bronson Boys track coach Dawn Wronikowski.
