Millington at Frankenmuth – – Second Game – – Softball Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 4, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

I watched the first game of the double header between these two softball powers earlier this afternoon. It is time to look at the events of this game through the somewhat clear prism of an aging Bleacher Denizen who will always remember the fair ball he hit in Little League once! (It REALLY did happen!!)
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/05/05/millington-at-frankenmuth-first-game-softball-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-may-4-2022-by-chuck-krafft/

After the game, there was a break so the players could eat. I was able to grab an excellent bratwurst from Kern’s Sausages from the concession stand. For those of you who did not bring a meal, I guess you can entertain yourself with these two videos from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel! (The first one was just posted today!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAyGsC_FuNo

And another!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUieaBvS38w

Now that we have had a chance to eat and listen to videos, it’s time to go on to the second game! This game, the Frankenmuth Eagles will bat first and the Millington Cardinals last.

Here are the starting lineups.

FRANKENMUTH

Maggie Thiel 3b

Tiffany Keller rf

Faith Breinager ss

Brooklyn Compau p

Payton Schafnitz 2b

Nicole Rodammer c

Kendall Thompson 1b

Emily Worden dp

Jordan Decker lf

Kennedy Crandall will play centerfield, but will not bat.

MILLINGTON:

Ashley Ziel p

Leah Coleman rf

Lilly Sherman 1b

Trinity Fessler c

Dylan Holmes ss

Shannon Ziel lf

Falon Wilson 2b

Emma Dickie cf

Kendall Payne dp

Leila Damm will play third base, but will not bat.

Maggie Thiel singled to lead off the game for the Eagles. Maggie Thiel went all the way to third base on Tiffany Keller’s groundout to third base. Lilly Sherman made a leaping catch of a line drive off the bat of Faith Breinager to record the second out and save a run. Ashley Ziel struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Brooklyn Compau retired the first two Cardinal batters in the first inning on a grounder to third base and a strikeout. Lilly Sherman singled to left field. Brooklyn Compau retired the next hitter on a fly to right field to end the inning.

Ashley Ziel struck out the first two Frankenmuth batters in the second inning and ot the last out on a foul popup to first base.

Dylan Holmes was hit by a pitch to open the second inning for the Cardinals. Brooklyn Compau struck out the next batter. Frankenmuth Catcher Nicole Rodammer made a great diving catch of a foul popup to record the second out. Emma Dickie walked and Dylan Holmes advanced to second base. Kendall Payne blasted a home run over the left field fence; she drove in Dylan Holmes and Emma Dickie. The next Cardinal batter grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Millington scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Ashley Ziel retired the first two Eagle batters in the third inning on a grounder to the shortstop and a strikeout. Maggie Thiel was safe on an error and went to second on Tiffany Keller’s infield single. Ashley Ziel retired the next batter on a popup to the catcher to end the inning.

Maggie Thiel came in from third base to pitch for Frankenmuth. Brooklyn Compau moved to left field. Jordan Decker went from left field to right field. Tiffany Keller went from right field to second base. Payton Schafnitz went from second base to third base. The Bleacher Denizen was permitted to remain in the same seat in the press box.

Frankenmuth Shortstop Faith Breinager made a great backhand play on a grounder by Leah Coleman that looked like it was headed into left field to record the first Cardinal out of the bottom of the third inning. Lilly Sherman beat out a slow infield roller for a single. Trinity Fessler pounded a double off the centerfield fence to drive in Lilly Sherman. Lilly Sherman had to beat a fine throw by Frankenmuth Centerfielder Kennedy Crandall and a great relay by Shortstop Faith Breinager to get home.

Trinity Fessler took third base on a wild pitch. Maggie Thiel struck out the next batter. Nicole Rodammer made a great play on a wild pitch to hold Trinity Fessler on third base. Maggie Thiel got the third out on a fly to first base.

Millington scored one run in the third inning to extend its lead to 4-2.

Brooklyn Compau was safe on an error to lead off the fourth inning. Ashley Ziel held her at first base and retired the next three batters on a strikeout, a fly to center and a grounder to third base.

Maggie Thiel struck out the three Millington batters in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Ashley Ziel struck out the first two Eagle hitters in the top of the fifth inning. Millington Shortstop Dylan Holmes made an excellent running catch of Maggie Thiel’s bid for a base hit to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Maggie Thiel retired the leadoff batter on a one hopper to second base. Leah Coleman was safe at first base and took second base on a wild pitch. Maggie Thiel alertly threw to third base on Lilly Sherman’s bouncer to the mound to start a rundown. The runner from second was tagged out and Lilly Sherman was safe at first. Lilly Sherman advanced to second base on Trinity Fessler’s walk. Millington made its third out on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base.

After five innings, Millington maintained its 4-0 lead.

Tiffany Keller beat out an infield single to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Frankenmuth. Ashley Ziel struck out the next batter. Tiffany Keller stole second base. The next batter was out on a popped up bunt and Ashley Ziel struck out the next hitter to end the inning.

Shannon Ziel was safe on an error to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Cardinals. She took second base on a wild pitch. Pinch Hitter Brooke Finatri was out on a foul popup to the shortstop. Emma Dickie walked. Shannon Ziel advanced to third base and Emma Dickie went to second base on a wild pitch. Maggie Thiel struck out the next batter and got the third out on a grounder to third base to keep Millington from putting the game further out of reach.

Frankenmuth had one more inning to try to get back into the game.

Nicole Rodammer led off the Eagle seventh inning with a single up the middle. Rose Spero entered the game as a courtesy runner. Kendall Thompson walked and Rose Spero advanced to second base. Rose Spero advanced to third base and Kendall Thompson to second on Emily Worden’s groundout to the shortstop. Maggie Thiel’s double to the center field fence drove in Rose Spero and Kendall Thompson. Ashley Ziel stopped Frankenmuth’s attempt to tie the game by inducing a popup to second base.

Frankenmuth made a fine effort, but their comeback fell short. Millington won 4-2.

Maggie Thiel had a double, a single and two RBI for Frankenmuth. Tiffany Keller had two singles. Payton Schafnitz also had a single.

Brooklyn Compau pitched two innings. She gave up three runs and struck out three hitters. Maggie Thiel pitched the final four innings. She gave up one run and struck out five batters.

Kendall (Babe) Payne had a home run and three RBI for Millington. Trinity Fessler had a double and one RBI. Lilly Sherman had two singles.

Ashley Ziel pitched the complete game for Millington. She gave up two runs and five hits while striking out eight batters.