Portland at Eaton Rapids – – Softball Doubleheader – – Game 1 – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 9, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s journey takes him to Eaton Rapids where the Greyhounds will host the Raiders from Portland.

Your Bleacher Denizen was delighted to note that Eaton Rapids Alumna Emily Cline, who now plays basketball for Aquinas College is in the booth announcing the game! Back when she was in high school, of course, she was a notorious thief who stole basketballs and base hits (as a softball shortstop) from many unsuspecting victims! It’s great that she has chosen to come back to Eaton Rapids and donate her dulcet tones to the announcing booth!!

This game is part of “Hope At Bat”, a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society.

Now it’s time to look at our starting lineups. Eaton Rapids is the home team and will bat last.

PORTLAND RAIDERS:

Lilly Thelen cf

Bailee Fish c

Jayden Townsend p

Autumn Reffitt 3b

Claire Lyon ss

Rylee Miller 1b

Gillian Pung dp

Anastasia Seidelman lf

Bella Spitzley 2b

Anna Morris will play right field, but will not bat.

EATON RAPIDS GREYHOUNDS:

Zoe Alvarez ss

Cadence McGuirt cf

Maddy Putnam rf

Flora Steien 2b

Brooke DePeel 3b

Mallory Smith c

Izzy Hoag lf

Hailey DePeel 1b

Ari Brooks dp

Kayleigh DeShais will pitch, but will not bat.

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the graying lenses of an ancient Bleacher Denizen whose career never took off. Things were never the same after the baseball powers that be forced me to stop using my pogo stick to rob home runs. (Not fair, Emily Cline was always allowed to rob base hits with her glove!!) Actually, I never really jumped with the pogo stick, but I developed a fair amount of accuracy throwing the stick at flying baseballs to knock them down; however, I guess it was all in vain! (The athletic ability to jump with the stick was sadly lacking.

Eaton Rapids Alumna Makenna Mazurek threw out the first pitch!

Eaton Rapids Pitcher Kayleigh DeShais retired the Portland first inning leadoff batter on a fly to the pitcher. Bailee Fish was safe at first on an error and moved to second base on a single to right field by Jayden Townsend. Bailee Fish moved to third base and Jayden Townsend to second base on a wild pitch. Kayleigh DeShais struck out the next two batters to end the inning while keeping Portland off the scoreboard.

The first two Greyhound batters in the bottom were out on flies to center field. Lilly Thelen made a fine running catch on the second one. Maddy Putnam lined a single to center field. Portland Pitcher Jayden Townsend retired the next batter on a grounder to second base to end the inning.

Kayleigh DeShais retired the first two Portland hitters in the top of the second inning on a liner to second base and a grounder to shortstop that bounced off the pitching rubber. Greyhound Shortstop Zoe Alvarez made a fine play to prevent the grounder’s odd hop from turning into a base hit. Anastasia Seidelman singled to center field and took second base on a passed ball. Portland made its third out of the inning on a fly to the second baseman.

Jayden Townsend retired the three Greyhound batters in the bottom of the second inning on a grounder to third base, a liner to the pitcher and a strikeout.

After two full innings, the score was 0-0.

Lilly Thelen led off the top of the third inning for the Raiders with a single to right field. Kayleigh DeShais retired the next three batters on a bunt fly to third base, a fly to right field and a popup to first base.

Hailey DePeel grounded a single to center field to lead off the third inning for the Greyhounds. Hailey DePeel went to second base when Ari Brooks singled off the second baseman’s glove. Zoe Newberry came in to run for Ari Brooks. Hailey DePeel took third base and Zoe Newberry second on a sacrifice bunt by Zoe Alvarez. Cadence McGuirt hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Hailey DePeel. Zoe Newberry took third base on the play. Eaton Rapids made the final out of the inning on a liner to the shortstop.

Eaton Rapids scored one run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Kayleigh DeShais retired the first two Raider batters in the top of the fourth inning on grounders to the shortstop and second base. Gillian Pung singled to right field. Portland made its final out of the inning on a fly to the pitcher.

Flora Steien lined a single to center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Eaton Rapids. She took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke DePeel. Jayden Townsend retired the next Greyhound hitter on a fly to first base. Flora Steien stole third base. The Greyhounds made their final out of the third inning on a grounder to shortstop.

Kayleigh DeShais struck out the Portland leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning and retired the next batter on a grounder to first base. Bailee Fish belted a double off the center field fence. Portland made the final out of the inning on a fly to the shortstop.

Jayden Townsend retired the Greyhound leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to shortstop. Ari Brooks lined a single to right field. Zoe Newberry pinch ran for Ari Brooks and stole second base. Zoe Alvarez hit a double off the left field fence to drive Zoe Newberry home. Zoe Alvarez took third blase on a wild pitch. Cadence McGuirt drew a walk and stole second base. Maddy Putnam blooped a single to right field to drive in Zoe Alvarez as Cadence McGuirt moved to third base.

Eaton Rapids’ next hitter was out on a bouncer to the pitcher. Raider First Baseman Rylee Miller made an excellent throw home to catch the runner trying to score from third base for an inning-ending double play.

Eaton Rapids scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Kayleigh DeShais retired the Raider leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning on a fly to the shortstop. Claire Lyon singled up the middle. Maddy Putnam made a nice running catch in right field to record the second out of the inning. Kayleigh DeShais got the next hitter to pop up to the pitcher’s circle to end the inning.

Brooke DePeel was safe on an error to open the bottom of the sixth inning for Eaton Rapids. The next batter was out on a fly to the shortstop and the Greyhounds made their second out on a foul popup to third base. Hailey DePeel singled to center field to push Brooke DePeel to second base. Zoe Newberry singled to center field to load the bases. Jayden Townsend retired the next Greyhound batter on a fly to center field to end the inning.

Eaton Rapids had a 3-0 lead entering the final inning.

Anastasia Seidelman blasted a double off the center field fence to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Portland. She went to third base on Bella Spitzley’s groundout to third base. Kayleigh DeShais struck out the next Raider batter. Bailee Fish grounded a single to center field to drive in Anastasia Seidelman. Kayleigh DeShais retired the next batter on a grounder to second base to end the game.

Portland scored one run in the top of the seventh inning. Eaton Rapids won the game 3-1.

Bailee Fish had a double, a single and one RBI for Portland. Anastasia Seidelman had a double and a single. Lilly Thelen, Jayden Townsend, Claire Lyon and Gillian Pung each had a single.

Jayden Townsend pitched the complete game and allowed only three runs while striking out one batter.

Maddy Putnam had two singles and one RBI for Eaton Rapids. Zoe Alvarez had a double and one RBI. Hailey DePeel and Ari Brooks each had two singles. Zoey Newberry and Flora Steien each had one single. Cadence McGuirt contributed one RBI.

Kayleigh DeShais pitched the complete game for Eaton Rapids. She allowed only one run and struck out four Raider hitters.

Here is a link to the second game of this doubleheader! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/05/10/portland-at-eaton-rapids-softball-doubleheader-second-game-the-bleacher-denizen-may-9-2023-by-chuck-krafft/