BATTLE CREEK, MI – Paw Paw scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Coldwater 5-4 in an MHSAA Division 2 Softball Quarterfinal game at Bailey Park in Battle Creek.
The Red Wolves got on the board in the bottom of the first, as Stella Shaefer scored from third following an errant throw from the outfield after a fly ball out.
The Cardinals answered in the third, as an RBI single from Laynie VanAken brought home older sister Rylie VanAken and tied the game at 1-1.
Paw Paw retook the lead in the fifth, 3-1, thanks to a two-run homer to right-center field from Elizabeth Vanderburg.
Coldwater tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth as Laynie VanAken hit a two-RBI single to bring home Rylie VanAken and Mya Porter. Laynie VanAken would score on a ground ball out by Vandria Bucklin to give the Cardinals a 4-3 advantage.
In the pivotal seventh inning for Paw Paw, Vandenburg homered to left to tie the game at 4-4. Cami VanderMeeden tripled, and after an intentional walk to the next hitter, VanderMeeden attempted to steal home. She was initially called out at the plate, but the call was reversed following a conference with the three umpires, sending the Red Wolves to Thursday’s Semifinals.
Coldwater had only five hits in the game, all singles; Mya Porter went 2-for-3, and Laynie VanAken went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in. Six of Paw Paw’s nine hits were for extra bases.
Paw Paw starting pitcher Lauren MacKellar allowed only one walk and struck out eight in getting the victory. Her counterpart for Coldwater, Laynie VanAken, walked two and notched eleven strikeouts in the loss.
The Cardinals ended their season with a 25-7 overall record, an Interstate 8 championship shared with Marshall, and District and Regional titles. The Red Wolves will take a 36-3 record into their Division 2 Semifinal matchup against Carleton Airport Thursday at 10 a.m. at MSU’s Secchia Stadium.
Listen to our broadcast again:
OTHER AREA SOFTBALL QUARTERFINAL SCORES
- Division 3 at Jackson College: Grass Lake 10, Laingsburg 9 (Laingsburg eliminated Bronson in Saturday’s Regional Semifinals)
- Division 3 at Kalamazoo College: Ravenna 6, Buchanan 0 (6 innings)
- Division 4 at Bailey Park: Mendon 11, Manchester 0 (5 innings) (Hornet pitcher Rowan Allen threw a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts)
Comments