Portland St. Patrick vs. Fowlerville – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 2, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Shamrocks from Portland St. Patrick will face the Gladiators from Fowlerville in the semifinals of the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Softball Classic. As we wait for the teams to warm up, we can offer some Good Vibrations from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel to both teams! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482fQh0Rdo

I’d like to add that this is the 1000th post since I took over the posting of these blogs from other websites. Thank you for all the support since March, 2013!!!

Here is a link to Post #999, which is the other semifinal game played earlier tonight between DeWitt and Leslie! DeWitt won to advance and play the winner of this game in the finals.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/06/02/leslie-vs-dewitt-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-june-2-2022-by-chuck-krafft/

Here are the starting lineups. DeWitt will bat first and St. Patrick will be the home team.

FOWLERVILLE:

Tori Briggs ss

Kennedy Douglass 3b

Halle Dargie p

Ashlee Dailey c

Tommi Kleinschmidt cf

Angelle Haan dp

Katie Bigos 1b

Josie Cruz 2b

Hannah Ray rf

Carlie Atcheson will play left field, but will not bat.

ST. PATRICK:

Rylee Scheurer cf

Carly Scheurer p

Lydia Meredith ss

Mara Schrauben 3b

Addy Scheurer c

Natalee Teachworth 1b

Emma Honsowitz 2b

Tori Sandborn lf

Laynie Meredith rf

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the hopefully open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who will always fondly remember the only fair ball he ever hit in Little League!! (It really did happen once!!)

In the top of the first inning, St. Patrick Pitcher Carly Scheurer retired the three Gladiator hitters (to be frequently abbreviated to Glads to save wear and tear on your Bleacher Denizen’s ancient fingers) on a popup to second base and two flies to right field.

Rylee Scheurer led off the bottom of the first inning with a bunt single and stole second base. The next batter was out when she stepped out of the batter’s box. Gladiator Pitcher Halle Dargie retired the next two batters on a popup to shortstop and a grounder to second to end the inning.

Carly Scheurer retired the three Fowlerville second inning batters on a fly to center field, a bouncer to the pitcher (which Carly Scheurer had to react quickly to snare) and a strikeout.

Fowlerville Pitcher Halle Dargie retired the three Shamrock batters in the bottom of the second inning on a bouncer to the pitcher’s circle and two strikeouts.

After two innings, the game was scoreless.

Katie Bigos ripped a single to right field to lead off the third inning for the Glads. Julie Johnson came in to pinch run for Katie Bigos. Julie Johnson advanced to second base when Josie Cruz walked. Carly Scheurer struck out the next batter. Tori Briggs boomed a double to the right field fence. Julie Johnson scored and Josie Cruz advanced to third base. The next hitter was out when her bat appeared to drop on the ball as she bunted. Halle Dargie was walked to load the bases. Carly Scheurer retired the next batter on a popup to the pitcher to end the inning.

Fowlerville scored one run in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Halle Dargie struck out the Shamrock leadoff batter in the top of the third inning. Laynie Meredith’s aggressive base running resulted in a double on her drive to right field. Halle Dargie struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Carly Scheurer struck out the Glad leadoff batter to open the top of the fourth inning. Angelle Haan lined a single off the first baseman’s glove. Katie Bigos’ sacrifice bunt moved Angelle Haan to second base. Angelle Haan took third base when a throwing error was made on a pickoff. Josie Cruz beat out a bunt single down the first base line to drive Angelle Haan home. Carly Scheurer retired the next batter on a popup to the shortstop to end the inning.

Fowlerville scored one run in the top of the fourth inning to boost its lead to 2-0.

The Shamrock leadoff batter in the fourth inning was out on a fly to the shortstop. Mara Schrauben was safe at second base on an error. Addy Scheurer beat out an infield single and Mara Schrauben advanced to third base. Addy Scheurer stole second base. Mara Schrauben and Addy Scheurer scored when a three base error was made on Natalee Teachworth’s bunt. Natalee Teachworth was out and Emma Honsowitz safe at first on a fielder’s choice bunt. Halle Dargie struck out the next Shamrock hitter to end the inning.

St. Patrick scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Shamrock Right Fielder Laynie Meredith had to go almost to the fence to catch a drive by leadoff batter Tori Briggs to record the first Gladiator out of the fifth inning. Kennedy Douglass walked. Kennedy Douglass took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Halle Dargie. Ashlee Dailey drove a single up the middle to drive Kennedy Douglass home. Ashlee Dailey stole second base. Carly Scheurer struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Fowlerville scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead.

Halle Dargie retired the first Shamrock hitters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a hot grounder to second base and a line drive to third base. Carly Scheurer drew a walk. Carly Scheurer advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Lydia Meredith crushed a ball over the centerfield fence for a two run homer as she and Carly Scheurer each scored. Halle Dargie struck out the next batter to end the inning.

St. Patrick scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead.

Carly Scheurer retired the Gladiator leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning on a bunt to the pitcher. Katie Bigos grounded a single to left field. Molly Lamar entered the game to pinch run for Katie Bigos. Molly Lamar took second base on a single to center field by Josie Cruz. Molly Lamar advanced to third base and Josie Cruz to second on a sacrifice bunt to third base by Hannah Ray. Tori Briggs was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Kennedy Douglass grounded a sharp single to center field to drive in Molly Lamar and Josie Cruz. Tori Briggs advanced to third base. Halle Dargie was walked to load the bases. Carly Scheurer retired the next hitter on a foul popup to the catcher to end the inning.

Fowlerville scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead.

Reagan Haan entered the game to play first base for the Gladiators.

Addy Scheurer was safe on an error to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Shamrocks and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Natalee Teachworth. Halle Dargie struck out the next batter. Tori Sandborn walked. Halle Dargie struck out the next batter to hold St. Patrick scoreless for the inning.

Tommi Kleinschmidt was safe at second on an error to lead off the seventh inning for Fowlerville. Tommi Kleinschmidt advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Angelle Haan. The next hitter was out on a fly to the shortstop. Carly Scheurer struck out the next batter to hold the Glads scoreless for the seventh inning.

Fowlerville took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Halle Dargie struck out the leadoff Shamrock hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning. Carly Scheurer grounded a single to centerfield. Mara Schrauben singled to right field off the first baseman’s glove. (She made a great diving effort.) Carly Scheurer went to third base. Mara Schrauben went to second base on the throw to third base. Hannah Weller entered the game to pinch run for Mara Schrauben. Addy Scheurer hit a drive to right field that barely went foul, but really excited the crowd. Halle Dargie struck her out to end the game.

Fowlerville won the game 5-4 and will play DeWitt in Monday’s final game.

Kennedy Douglass, who had the game winning hit, was named player of the game.

Lydia Meredith had a home run and two RBI for St. Patrick. Laynie Meredith had a double. Rylee Scheurer, Carly Scheurer, Mara Schrauben and Addy Scheurer each had a single. Carly Scheurer pitched the complete game for St. Patrick.

Josie Cruz had three singles and one RBI for Fowlerville. Tori Briggs had a double and one RBI. Kennedy Douglass had a single and two RBI. Ashlee Dailey had a single and one RBI. Angelle Haan and Katie Bigos each had a single.

Halle Dargie pitched the complete game for Fowlerville and struck out eleven Shamrock batters.