Hurons fall in district final game

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

After defeating Harbor Light Christian 6-3 in the district semifinals the Rogers City Hurons varsity softball team moved on to the district finals against Onaway and were not able to overcome a five home run performance by the Cardinals as they fell 1-7. ?I thought we played very well. We out hit Onaway 11-8 but they had five home runs. We stranded runners but I thought we had a great effort and it will help us in the future. Hats off to Onaway, they have a good team and we wish them luck,? said coach Karl Grambau who thought his team played well enough to win but just didn?t win.

Playing as the visitors the Hurons came out and scored first in the game. With one out in the top of the first freshman shortstop Courtney Streich singled up the middle to start the offense. Sophomore center fielder Nikkie LaLonde then doubled to left to move Streich to third. Senior catcher Emily Marx stepped to the plate and hit a bloop single to centerfield, however, Streich was gunned out at the plate trying to score. Sophomore third baseman Rebecca Meredith then dug in and ripped a double to left field to score Marx, giving the Hurons a 1-0 lead.

That lead didn?t last long as Onaway was able to push across a run in the bottom half of the inning. Onaway regained the lead in the bottom of the second when Tamara Lupu hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. The score would remain 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals and the Hurons had runners on base in every inning but were unable to push a run across the plate. A Sam Brasseur homerun in the bottom of the fourth extended the lead to 3-1, where it stayed until the bottom of the sixth.

With her sister standing on first base sophomore Emily Estep stepped to the plate and hit a home run to left field, followed by a Molly Cleaver home run taking the score to 6-1. After an out Lupu again stepped to the plate and hit a homer to extend the lead to 7-1, and setting a new state record for home runs in a single game.

Sophomore Brooklyn Idalski took the loss going six innings (and facing the first three hitters in the seventh) allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out three. Freshman Nicole Radke came on for the final inning allowing one run on one hit. Marx led the offense for the Hurons going three-for-four with three singles. Marx reached base each time she batted as she reached on an error in the top of the seventh. Meredith had two hits including the RBI double in the first. LaLonde had two hits including a double and freshman Cassie Brege had two infield singles. Streich and junior Linnea Brege each added a hit.

AGAINST HARBOR Light in the district semifinals the Hurons scored early as they took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. With one out Streich reached on an error and moved to second on a passed ball. After a LaLonde strikeout Marx stepped to the plate and ripped a single up the middle to score Streich. Meredith then dug in and doubled off the right field fence to score Marx and give the Hurons the early lead. Harbor Light answered in the bottom of the third with two outs as they strung together three straight hits to tie the game at two.

Senior Katie Darga led off the fourth with a single, was sacrificed to second by Linnea Brege and later scored on an error to give the Hurons the 3-2 lead. The Hurons added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Cassie Brege reached on an error, Idalski followed with a single and Streich had an infield single to score Brege. LaLonde then reached on an error that brought in the final two runs. Harbor Light added one in the seventh with a one out triple followed by a single, they would end the game with two runners on and a ball hit to right field corralled by C

assie Brege for the final out.

Radke earned the win on the mound going six and one-thirds innings allowing three runs on six hits and striking out one. Idalski came on for the final two outs of the game allowing no runs on one hit. Meredith led the hitting attack going three-for-four with two doubles and an RBI. Idalski had two singles, scored a run and had an RBI. Striech had one hit, scored twice and drove in a run. LaLonde had a double and two RBI. Marx had a single and a sacrifice as well as an RBI and a run scored. Darga added a hit and a run scored while Linnea Brege had a single and a sacrifice.

LAST WEDNESDAY the Hurons hosted Posen and lost both games 7-4 and 3-1. Darga took the loss in game one going five and one-third innings allowing seven runs on eight hits while striking out two. Radke came on in relief allowing no runs and no hits. LaLonde and Linnea Brege led the offense with two hits each while Idalski, Streich, Marx, Meredith and Darga each added a hit. Radke took the loss in game two going all seven innings allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. Marx led the offense with two hits while Meredith, Morgan Hall and Linnea Brege each added a hit.

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