COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Fans who congregated at the Rotary Softball Complex Thursday afternoon saw two outstanding games from two teams battling for the Interstate 8 title. Coldwater won the opener 1-0, while Harper Creek sent the Cardinals to their first loss of the season by taking the nightcap 5-2.
Coldwater pitcher Laynie VanAken. (Photo by Pam Porter)
In the first game, Laynie VanAken threw a no-hitter with one walk and 12 strikeouts. Coldwater could only scratch out two hits, singles from Rylie VanAken and Mya Porter, off Beaver ace Aleena Stahlhood. It was Rylie VanAken’s two-out hit in the fifth that brought home Audrina Bucklin for the game’s only run.
The second game saw Harper Creek break a 1-1 tie with a four-run rally in the third that was capped off by a two-run homer from Blair Yurisich. Vandria Bucklin went 2-for-2 with a double and scored both Cardinal runs.
Coldwater is now 19-1 overall and 7-1 in the Interstate 8, while Harper Creek improved to 17-2 overall and 5-1 in league play. They could potentially face each other again in the championship game of the upcoming Division 2 District on May 30th.
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The Cardinals will host a tournament on Saturday, with games against Tecumseh, Dowagiac, and Paw Paw on deck.
BRONSON, MI – Bronson is now 18-5 on the season as they swept their non-conference doubleheader against Schoolcraft, 12-0 in five innings and 11-1 in six innings.
Viking pitchers Madison Shaw and Ashlynn Harris combined to allow four hits for the entire twinbill. Shaw pitched the opener, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six. Braelyn Gimenez hit a two-run homer and finished 2-for-3, while Lydia Wells added a two-run double.
In the nightcap, Harris allowed one hit and one walk while striking out 10. Audrey Shiery was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs, Wells went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs, and Roni Bir added a double.
Bronson will play a doubleheader at Adrian Madison Saturday.
OLIVET, MI – Quincy split their non-conference doubleheader at Olivet, taking the opener 10-6 and dropping the nightcap 10-9.
The first game saw the Oriole overcome a 6-4 deficit with three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh. Hannah Brown and Josi Parker had two hits apiece, and Taylor Lewis recorded six strikeouts.
In the second game, Quincy jumped out to a 5-0 lead but couldn’t make it stand as the Eagles put four runs on the board in the fourth and fifth innings and added two more in the sixth. Mackenzie Sattison doubled and tripled as she finished 3-for-4, with Parker going 3-for-5. Parker, Lewis, Gabby Norris, and Shaylee Cope drove in two runs apiece.
The Orioles will take a 7-15 overall record to their Tuesday doubleheader at Reading.
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