Leslie vs. DeWitt – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 2, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft
Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen is off to Ranney Park in Lansing to watch the Leslie Blackhawks compete with the DeWitt Panthers for a place in the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Softball Classic Semifinal. While we wait for the teams to get ready, I’d like to share some Good Vibrations for everyone from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482fQh0Rdo
I guess it’s time for the starting lineups! DeWitt will bat first and Leslie will be the home team.
DEWITT:
Natalie Donaldson cf
Corina Hernandez 1b
Kyra Shadduck p
Hannah Grewe 3b
Gabbie Brya 2b
Sunny Pochert c
Maddie Bekkering dp
Kaitlyn Lawver lf
Emily Brandell rf
Heather Schmidt will play shortstop, but will not bat.
LESLIE:
Gabby Waldofsky cf
Jalen Fossitt ss
Ada Bradford p
Sarissa Jones 2b
Kay Adair rf
Ella Bugbee 3b
Sahara Burley 1b
Myah Fletcher c
Payton Boyer lf
It is now time to look at the events of this game through the glassy eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen whose baseball and softball careers were severely curtailed when the Athletic Powers That Be refused to allow him to wear rocket propulsion to help him lumber around the bases.
Natalie Donaldson singled to lead off the game for the Panthers. Leslie Pitcher Ada Bradford retired the next batter on a fly from a bunt to third base. Natalie Donaldson stole second base and advanced to third base on Kyra Shadduck’s ground out to the pitcher. Ada Bradford struck out the next hitter to end the inning.
DeWitt Pitcher Kyra Shadduck retired the three Leslie hitters in the first inning on a grounder to third base, a strikeout and a liner to second base.
Leslie Pitcher Ada Bradford retired the three Panther hitters in the second inning on a strikeout, a groundout to second base and a strikeout.
DeWitt Pitcher Kyra Shadduck retired the three Blackhawk hitters in the second inning on a strikeout, a bunt to the mound and a strikeout.
With two innings in the books, the game is scoreless.
Kaitlyn Lawver singled to right field to lead off the top of the third inning for DeWitt. Ada Bradford retired the next batter on a popup to third base. Kaitlyn Lawver went to second and Natalie Donaldson was safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder. Kaitlyn Lawver moved up to third base and Natalie Donaldson took second base on Corina Hernandez’ single to left field. Kaitlyn Lawver scored on Kyra Shadduck’s RBI groundout to second base. Natalie Donaldson advanced to third base and Corina Hernandez moved to second base.
Hannah Grewe walked to load the bases. Everyone was safe when Gabbie Brya bunted into a fielder’s choice. Natalie Donaldson scored, Corina Hernandez took third base, Hannah Grewe moved to second base and Gabby Brya was safe at first. Ada Bradford retired the next batter on a grounder to the pitcher’s circle to end the inning.
DeWitt scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Kyra Shadduck struck out all three Blackhawk hitters in the third inning.
Ada Bradford retired the three DeWitt batters in the fourth inning on a strikeout, a fly to third base and a strikeout.
Gabby Waldofsky blooped a single to left field to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for the Blackhawks. Jalen Fossitt hit a hard line drive, but it was directly at Panther Centerfielder Natalie Donaldson, who caught it to record the out. Ada Bradford hit a long single to center field as Gabby Waldofsky advanced to second base. Sarissa Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases. DeWitt Pitcher Kyra Shadduck struck out the next two hitters to hold Leslie scoreless for the inning.
After four innings, DeWitt held a 2-0 lead.
Ada Bradford retired the three Panther batters in the top of the fifth inning on grounders to third base, the pitcher’s circle and shortstop.
DeWitt Centerfielder Natalie Donaldson made a nice running catch to record Leslie’s first out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kyra Shadduck retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a fly to left field.
DeWitt’s leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth inning was out on a liner to third base. Gabby Brya was safe on an error. Ada Bradford struck out the next Panther hitter and got the third out on a grounder to the pitcher to end the inning.
Gabby Waldofsky lined a single to right field to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for Leslie. Kyra Shadduck retired the next three hitters on fly balls to second base, left field and right field.
After six innings, DeWitt had a 2-0 lead.
Kaitlyn Lawver belted a home run to straight away center field to lead off the top of the seventh inning for DeWitt. Ada Bradford struck out pinch hitter Layla Stone. Natalie Donaldson singled up the middle. Corina Hernandez was out on a foul fly to third base. Natalie Donaldson alertly advanced to second base after the catch. Natalie Donaldson stole third base and scored on a throwing error.
DeWitt scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend its lead to 4-0.
Kyra Shadduck struck out all three Leslie batters in the seventh inning.
DeWitt won the game 4-0 and will play in Monday’s Championship Game!
Kyra Shadduck pitched a complete game and struck out twelve batters. She was named player of the game!
Gabby Waldofsky had two singles for Leslie. Ada Bradford had a single and pitched the complete game.
Kaitlyn Lawver had a single, a home run and one RBI for DeWitt. Natalie Donaldson had two singles. Corina Hernandez had one single. Kyra Shadduck and Gabbie Brya each had one RBI. Kyra Shadduck pitched a complete game shutout. She struck out twelve batters and gave up only three hits.
Here is the play by play of the second game of tonight’s doubleheader for those who are interested!
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/06/03/portland-st-patrick-vs-fowlerville-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-june-2-2022-by-chuck-krafft/