Freeland at Frankenmuth – – Softball Doubleheader – – First Game – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 25, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

This afternoon your Bleacher Denizen’s journey takes him to his home town, Frankenmuth, where the Eagle’s will host the Falcons from Freeland in a softball doubleheader! (Someday, I hope to learn what it takes to get where I can refer to my blogging journey as an odyssey. Somehow, that might add some gravitas to the blog!! I’ll get, there, someday, I KNOW I will!!)

While we wait for the game to start, I hope we can enjoy this Ragtime Tune with (hopefully) comedic twists near the middle and the end from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUieaBvS38w

Here are the starting lineups for this afternoon’s first game! Frankenmuth is the home team and Freeland will bat first.

FREELAND FALCONS:

Jenna Kowalski c

Zoey Markey ss

Evelynn Rybicki cf

Isabel Cumper rf

Madeline McDonald 3b

Ashley Collier p

Brynn Jaime 2b

Addie Steffen dp

Grace Deshone 1b

Avery Mantei will play left field, but will not bat.

FRANKENMUTH EAGLES:

Brooklyn Compau p

Tiffany Keller 2b

Payton Schafsnitz ss

Kendall Thompson 1b

Emily Worden dp

Chloe Compau lf

Peyton Anderson c

Izzy Bernthal 3b

Kennedy Crandall cf

Jordan Decker will play right field, but will not bat.

We are now ready to review the events of this game from the perspective of an aging Bleacher Denizen whose effectiveness as an outfield was severely limited when the powers that be declared that he was not permitted to use a bushel basket to catch balls on the field.

Brooklyn Compau struck out all three Falcon hitters in the top of the first inning to open the game.

Ashley Collier retired the three Frankenmuth hitters in the top of the first inning on a strikeout, a soft fly to the pitcher’s circle and a strikeout.

Brooklyn Compau retired the three Falcon hitters in the top of the second inning on a fly to right field, a strikeout and a popup to second base.

Ashley Collier retired the three Eagle hitters in the bottom of the second inning on two strikeouts and a one hopper to the pitching circle.

Brynn Jaime was safe when an error was made on her leadoff bunt in the third inning. Brynn Jaime stole second base. Brooklyn Compau struck out the next batter. Brynn Jaime took third base on a passed ball. Brooklyn Compau struck out the next two Freeland batters to hold the Falcons scoreless for the inning.

Peyton Anderson grounded a single up the middle to lead off the top of the third inning for Frankenmuth. Rose Spero entered the game to pinch run for Peyton Anderson. Ashley Collier struck out the next Eagle hitter. On strike three, Rose Spero dived back and knocked first base off its moorings. After a brief timeout to reset first base, the game renewed.

Rose Spero took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kennedy Crandall. Ashley Collier retired Brooklyn Compau on a deep fly to center field to end the inning.

After three full innings, the game was tied at 0-0.

Brooklyn Compau got the Falcon leadoff batter in the top of the fourth out on a foul popup to the catcher. She struck out the next two Freeland batters to end the inning.

Tiffany Keller led off the bottom of the fourth inning for Frankenmuth with a single down the left field line. Jenna Kowalski fired the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing. Ashley Collier retired the next two Eagle batters on a strikeout and a popup to second base.

Brooklyn Compau struck out the Falcon leadoff hitter to open the top of the fifth inning. Ashley Collier was safe at first base on an error. Ashley Collier advanced to second base when Brynn Jaime was hit by a pitch. Ashley Collier advanced to third base and Brynn Jaime was out at second base when Addie Steffen was safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Brooklyn Compau struck out the next Falcon hitter to hold Freeland scoreless for the inning.

Freeland Second Baseman Brynn Jaime went back into right field to catch a short fly to record Frankenmuth’s first out of the bottom of the fifth inning. Ashley Collier struck out the next Eagle batter and retired Peyton Anderson on a line drive to third base to end the inning.

After five full innings, the game remained tied at 0-0.

Brooklyn Compau struck out Freeland’s leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth inning. Frankenmuth Left Fielder Chloe Compau made a fine running catch of a drive off the bat of Zoey Markey to record Freeland’s second out. The Falcons made their third out on a grounder to second base.

Izzy Bernthal doubled off the center field fence to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Eagles. Izzy Bernthal advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Kennedy Crandall. Brooklyn Compau was intentionally walked. Bri Barker entered the game as a courtesy runner for Brooklyn Compau and stole second base. Izzy Bernthal scored and Bri Barker advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly to right field by Tiffany Keller to give Frankenmuth its first run of the game. Ashley Collier struck out the next Eagle hitter to end the inning.

Frankenmuth scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Brooklyn Compau struck out the first two Falcon hitters in the top of the seventh inning, Ashley Collier was safe at first on an error and stole second base. Brooklyn Compau struck out the next batter to end the game.

Frankenmuth won the first game of this double header by a 1-0 score.

Ashley Collier pitched a complete game for Freeland. She gave up only one run and struck out eight Eagle batters.

Izzy Bernthal had a double for Frankenmuth and scored the game’s only run. Tiffany Keller had a single and drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly. Peyton Anderson also had a single for the Eagles.

Brooklyn Compau pitched a complete game shutout for Frankenmuth. She allowed no hits and struck out fourteen Falcon batters.

Here is a link to the second game of this doubleheader!! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/04/26/freeland-at-frankenmuth-softball-doubleheader-second-game-the-bleacher-denizen-april-25-2023-by-chuck-krafft/