Major girls win one-of-three at state tournament

The Rogers City Girls Major all star team was eliminated at the state tournament after a 2-1 loss to Gladstone Monday. The team ended up 1-2 in pool play, and out of the final round of competition for the state title. Rogers City threatened in the fourth inning, as Cassie Brege, Logan Fleming and Ashley Meyers all singled, but were left stranded. They went down 1-2-3 in the fifth but came back to score a run in the bottom of the sixth.

Gladstone took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the fourth inning and went up 2-0 with a run in the top of the sixth, and last inning. Trailing by two runs, Rogers City had its season on the line in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Brege singled up the middle and Fleming followed with a single. Meyers walked to load the bases for the cleanup hitter, Sarah Meredith, who was hit by a pitch. But that would be all for Rogers City, as they couldn?t muster another hit. Meyers went all the way on the mound, striking out 11 while walking four and allowing two hits.

The team began state tournament play Saturday with a 9-6 loss to last year?s State Tournament host Mattawan. Mattawan scored four runs in the first and three in the second, causing manager Dennis Meredith to relieve Meyers with Courtney Streich. She allowed just two more runs in four innings of work. Rogers City scored two in the first and entered its last at-bat trailing by three. The local all stars were able to get Meyers and Meredith on base with the tying run Nikkie Radke at bat. Radke hit a ground ball to second and narrowly was thrown out at first for the final out. Meyers went 4-for -4; Streich was 3-for-4, and Brege 2-ror-3. On Sunday Rogers City beat Marquette 13 to 3 in four innings. With hot bats and aggressive base running Rogers City went ahead 3-0 in the first inning scoring all three runs on a two-out rally.

Fleming started the rally with a single, Meyers reached base on a error, and Meredith added a single to score Fleming. Both Meyers and Meredith scored on a passed ball to make the score 3-0. The team rallied a

gain in the second inning with two out as Fleming walked Meyers hit a single and Meredith followed with a single. Radke was hit by a pitch, Rieanna Altman walked and Morgan Hall walked, RC scored four runs on passed balls. Streich hit a single to start the third inning and two outs later then Meyers singled in Streich. In the fourth inning the all-stars started out with Altman walking, followed by singles from Rachel Chojnacki and Lexie Quaine. Then with two out, Fleming drove a single, Meyers added a double and Meredith hit a line shot up the gap to score the winning run by mercing Marquette 13-3 in four innings.

The top teams in each pool advanced to the final rounds, but the Rogers City team failed to qualify with a 1-2 record.