Eaton Rapids vs. DeWitt – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 22, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft
Our softball season is coming to a close, so it’s time for the annual Hall of Fame Softball Classic. The first game of the classic will be a quarterfinal between the Greyhounds of Eaton Rapids and the Panthers of DeWitt.
As we wait for the game to start, I hope you will enjoy the latest song from my You Tube Channel. (And hopefully, I’m not actually “Too Old to Cut the Mustard.”) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6GOgZAHqxI
DeWitt will bat first.
Here are the starting lineups.
DEWITT PANTHERS:
Natalie Donaldson cf
Gabbie Brya 2b
Kyra Shadduck p
Madeline Torrence 3b
Maddie Bekkering c
Lily Utrup lf
Megan Scaccia rf
Ruby Puck ss
Eliana Logan dp
Kennedy George will play first base, but not bat.
EATON RAPIDS GREYHOUNDS:
Zoe Alvarez ss
Cadence McGuirt cf
Maddy Putnam rf
Isabel Hoag lf
Hailey DePeel 1b
Flora Steien 2b
Brooke DePeel 3b
Mallory Smith c
Ella Patrick dp
Kayleigh DeShais will pitch, but will not bat.
It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat alert eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never much of a baseball or softball player. His career was terribly set back when the powers that be refused to let him use a rocket belt to help run the bases.
Natalie Donaldson led off the game for DeWitt by beating out an infield single. Gabbie Brya was safe at first and the runner out at second on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Greyhound Pitcher Kayleigh DeShais induced a grounder to second base where Flora Steien tossed the ball to Shortstop Zoe Alvarez who fired the ball to First Baseman Hailey DePeel to complete an inning-ending double play.
DeWitt Pitcher Kyra Shadduck retired the first two Eaton Rapids hitters on a fly to the shortstop and a strikeout. Maddy Putnam doubled to right field. Eaton Rapids made its third out on a fly to center field to end the inning.
Eaton Rapids Pitcher Kayleigh DeShais retired the three DeWitt hitters in the second inning on a grounder to shortstop, a liner to third base and another grounder to the shortstop.
DeWitt Center Fielder Natalie Donaldson made a great running, diving catch of a drive by Hailey DePeel to record the first Eaton Rapids out of the bottom of the second inning. Flora Steien beat out an infield single. (DeWitt Second Baseman Gabby Brya made a great play running to the other side of second base and almost was able to throw her out.) Flora Steien moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke DePeel. DeWitt Pitcher Kyra Shadduck retired the next batter on a foul popup to first base to end the inning.
After two full innings, the game was tied at 0-0.
Greyhound Pitcher Kayleigh DeShais retired the three Panther third inning hitters on a strikeout, a grounder to second base and a grounder to the shortstop.
Ella Patrick singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the third inning for Eaton Rapids and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zoe Alvarez. DeWitt Pitcher Kyra Shadduck struck out the next hitter and got the next one out on a nice running catch in deep right-center field to end the inning.
Ari Brooks came in to pitch for Eaton Rapids.
Natalie Donaldson led off the top of the fourth inning for DeWitt by beating out an infield single and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Gabbie Brya. Kyra Shadduck doubled to right field to drive Natalie Donaldson home. Jaydin Jubeck entered the game as a courtesy runner for Kyra Shadduck.
Jaydin Jubeck went to third base on a wild pitch. Madeline Torrence singled to right field to drive in Jaydin Jubeck. Madeline Torrence went to second base on a groundout to the shortstop by Maddie Bekkering. Lily Utrup singled to left field to drive in Madeline Torrence. Ari Brooks struck out the next Panther batter to end the inning.
DeWitt scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead.
Panther Pitcher retired the three Greyhound hitters in the bottom of the fourth inning on a strikeout, a grounder to first base and a grounder to the shortstop.
Ruby Puck was safe at first base on an error to lead off the top of the fourth inning for DeWitt and advanced to second base on a bunt single by Eliana Logan. Ruby Puck advanced to third base and Eliana Logan to second base on a wild pitch. Ruby Puck scored and Eliana Logan took third base on an RBI groundout to second base by Natalie Donaldson.
Gabbie Brya was safe at first base and Eliana Logan held at third base on a fielder’s choice bunt. Kyra Shadduck drove Eliana Logan home with a sacrifice fly to right field. Greyhound Pitcher Ari Brooks retired the next batter on a fly to left field to end the inning.
DeWitt scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to boost its lead to 5-0.
Panther Pitcher Kyra Shadduck retired the Greyhound leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to shortstop. Mallory Smith was safe on an error. Panther Center Fielder Natalie Donaldson made a nice running catch to retire the next batter. DeWitt Catcher Maddie Bekkering zinged the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing to record the third out.
Zoe Newberry entered the game to play center field for Eaton Rapids and Riley Cutler went in at first base.
Maddie Bekkering led off the top of the sixth inning for DeWitt with a single to left field. Briala Lopez entered the game as a courtesy runner for Maddie Bekkering. Ari Brooks retired the next hitter on a fly to center field. Briala Lopez advanced to second base when Megan Scaccia was out on a squib to the catcher. Ruby Puck drew a walk. Greyhound Pitcher Ari Brooks struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Zoe Alvarez singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for Eaton Rapids. Kyra Shadduck struck out the next Greyhound batter. Zoe Alvarez moved to second base when Maddy Putnam walked. Kyra Shadduck retired the next two hitters on a popup to the shortstop and a strikeout to end the inning.
After six full innings, DeWitt had a 5-0 lead.
Kayleigh DeShais reentered the game to pitch for Eaton Rapids.
Natalie Donaldson beat out an infield single to open the top of the seventh inning for DeWitt and stole second base. Gabbie Brya doubled to right-center field to drive in Natalie Donaldson. Gabbie Brya advanced to third base on a groundout to second base by Kyra Shadduck and scored on a sacrifice fly by Madeline Torrence. DeWitt made its third out on a foul fly to left field.
DeWitt scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend its lead to 7-0.
Panther Pitcher Kyra Shadduck retired the Greyhound leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh inning on a one-hopper to the pitcher’s circle. Brooke DePeel singled to center field. Brooke DePeel was out at second base and Mallory Smith safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the second baseman. Kayleigh DeShais singled and Mallory Smith advanced to third base. Ella Patrick came in to pinch run for Kayleigh DeShais. Kyra Shadduck retired the next batter on a grounder to the shortstop to end the game.
DeWitt won 7-0 and will play the winner of the next game between Fowlerville and Laingsburg in the semifinal on Wednesday.
Maddy Putnam had a double for Eaton Rapids. Zoe Alvarez, Flora Steien, Brooke DePeel and Kayleigh DeShais each had a single.
Natalie Donaldson had three singles and one RBI for DeWitt. Kyra Shadduck had a double and two RBI. Gabbie Brya had a double and one RBI. Madeline Torrence had a single and two RBI. Lily Utrup had a single and one RBI. Maddie Bekkering and Eliana Logan each had a single.
Kyra Shadduck pitched a complete game shutout for the Panthers.
Here is a link to the other quarterfinal game between Laingsburg and Fowlerville that was played tonight!!