Leslie vs. Fowler – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 23, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

We are getting to play the last of this year’s quarterfinals in the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame’s Softball Classic. The Blackhawks from Leslie will take on the Eagles from Fowler in this game.

The winner will play Holt which won tonight’s first game. Here is the play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/05/24/waverly-vs-holt-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-23-2023-by-chuck-krafft/

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you’ll enjoy my latest You Tube post. Hopefully “Too Old to Cut The Mustard” is not too autobiographical! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6GOgZAHqxI

Here are the starting lineups! Leslie will bat first.

FOWLER EAGLES:

Grace Piggott rf

Avery Koenigsknecht c

Saige Miller ss

Paisley Hansen 1b

Carly Andros 3b

Anna Andros lf

Bri Halfmann p

Emma Smith dp

Makenna Smith 2b

Chloe Feldpausch will play center field, but will not bat.

LESLIE BLACKHAWKS:

Gabby Waldofsky cf

Jalen Fossitt ss

Ada Bradford p

Sarissa Jones 2b

Adrianna Fogg dp

Myah Fletcher c

Kay Adair rf

Ella Bugbee 3b

Payton Boyer lf

Sahara Burley will play third base, but will not bat.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who will always treasure the memory of the only fair ball he ever hit in Little League. It rolled all the way to the shortstop, who kept the lumbering Bleacher Denizen from getting to first base. (Sniff.)

Fowler Pitcher Bri Halfmann retired the Leslie leadoff batter in the top of the first inning on a soft fly to third base. Jalen Fossitt singled to center field. Fowler Center Fielder Chloe Feldpausch made an excellent throw back to the infield and nearly threw out the runner. Jalen Fossitt had to hold at first base. Jalen Fossitt advanced to second base on a groundout to the shortstop by Ada Bradford. Jalen Fossitt took third base on a wild pitch. The Blackhawks made their third out on a grounder to the shortstop.

Leslie Pitcher Ada Bradford struck out Fowler’s first two hitters in the bottom of the first inning. Saige Miller lined a single to left field. Fowler made its third out on a fly to the shortstop.

Adrianna Fogg drilled a single to left field to lead off the top of the second inning for Leslie. Adrianna Fogg took second base on a wild pitch. Myah Fletcher cracked a double off the left field fence to drive Adrianna Fogg home. Hailey Creisher entered the game as a courtesy runner for Myah Fletcher.

Hailey Creisher took third base on a sacrifice bunt by Kay Adair. Bri Halfmann retired the next two Blackhawk hitters on a strikeout and a groundout to first base to strand the runner at third base.

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

Leslie Shortstop Jalen Fossitt ranged behind third base to catch a popup to record Fowler’s first out in the bottom of the second inning. Anna Andros was hit by a pitch and went to second base when Bri Halfmann walked. Selena Stump entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bri Halfmann. Ada Bradford struck out the next Eagle hitter. Ada Bradford got Fowler’s third out on a grounder to the pitcher.

Fowler Pitcher Bri Halfmann retired the first two Leslie hitters in the top of the third inning on a grounder to shortstop and a nice running catch of a foul fly by Eagle Right Fielder Grace Piggott. Ada Bradford singled to left field. Eliana Trierweiler entered the game as a courtesy runner for Ada Bradford and went to second base on a wild pitch. Eliana Trierweiler advanced to third base when Sarissa Jones was safe at first on an error.

Adrianna Fogg singled to left field to drive in Eliana Trierweiler. Sarissa Jones moved up to second base. Sarissa Jones took third base and Adrianna Fogg went to second on a wild pitch. Myah Fletcher doubled to left field to drive in Sarissa Jones and Adrianna Fogg. Hailey Creisher entered the game as a courtesy runner for Myah Fletcher. Kay Adair singled to right field to drive Hailey Creisher home.

Carly Andros moved from third base to pitcher and Addison Spicer took over at third base.

Carly Andros retired the next Blackhawk hitter on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Leslie scored four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead.

Grace Piggott beat out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the third inning for Fowler. Grace Piggott stole second base as Ada Bradford struck out the next Fowler hitter. Ada Bradford struck out the second Eagle batter in a row. Paisley Hansen drew a walk. Leslie Second Baseman Sarissa Jones ranged far to her left and threw out the next Eagle hitter at first base to end the inning.

Carly Andros retired the Leslie leadoff batter in the top of the fourth inning on a bunt to third base. Gabby Waldofsky walked. Jalen Fossitt singled and Gabby Waldofsky advanced to second base. Ada Bradford singled to drive in Gabby Waldofsky. Jalen Fossitt went to third base and Ada Bradford took second base on the throw to third base. Eliana Trierweiler entered the game as a courtesy runner for Ada Bradford.

Jalen Fossitt scored and Eliana Trierweiler took third base on a wild pitch. Carly Andros retired the next Blackhawk hitter on a soft fly to the pitcher and got the third out on a roller to the pitcher’s circle.

Leslie scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to boost its lead to 7-0.

Ada Bradford struck out the first two Eagle hitters in the bottom of the fourth inning. Emma Smith was safe at first base on an error. Makenna Smith beat out an infield single as Emma Smith went to second base. Ada Bradford struck out the next Fowler hitter to end the inning.

Myah Fletcher led off the top of the fifth inning for Leslie with a single to right field. Hailey Creisher came in as a courtesy runner for Myah Fletcher. Kay Adair singled to deep right field and Hailey Creisher advanced to third base. Fowler Second Baseman went back into right field and caught a bid for a single by Ella Bugbee for the first out as the runners held at first and third base. Payton Boyer beat out an infield single as Hailey Creisher scored and Kay Adair took second base.

Gabby Waldofsky walked to load the bases. Carly Andros retired the next Blackhawk hitter on a popup to second base and got the third out on a grounder to second base.

Leslie scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to push its lead to 8-0.

Ada Bradford struck out the first two Fowler batters in the bottom of the fifth inning. Blackhawk Shortstop made a great hustle play to catch a soft fly off the bat of Paisley Hansen before it dropped for a single.

Fowler Center Fielder Chloe Feldpausch made a great running catch to record Leslie’s first out in the top of the sixth inning. The next Blackhawk hitter was out on a liner to the pitcher. Myah Fletcher got her fourth hit of the night when she singled to deep center field and advanced to second base on an error. Hailey Creisher came in as a courtesy runner for Myah Fletcher. Kay Adair belted a triple to drive Hailey Creisher home. Leslie made the third out on a grounder to the shortstop.

Leslie scored one run in the top of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 9-0.

Carly Andros blasted a home run to right field to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for Fowler. Anna Andros beat out an infield single. Ada Bradford struck out the next Eagle hitter. Emma Smith beat out an infield single as Anna Andros advanced to second base. Anna Andros took third base and Emma Smith second base when Makenna Smith was out on a bunt to the pitcher. Ada Bradford struck out the next Eagle batter to end the inning.

Fowler scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the Leslie lead to 9-1.

Payton Boyer lined a single to center field to open the top of the seventh inning for Leslie. Gabby Waldofsky singled to right field. Fowler Right Fielder threw the ball in to Second Baseman Makenna Smith, who fired the ball to Addison Spicer at third base to nail the runner. Gabby Waldofsky took second base on the throw to third base. Fowler Pitcher Carly Andros retired the next two Blackhawk batters on flies to right field to end the inning.

Ada Bradford struck out the Fowler leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second inning. Saige Miller doubled to left center field. Ada Bradford retired the next Eagle hitter on a fly to second base and struck out the following batter to end the game.

Leslie won the game 9-1 and will play Holt in Wednesday’s quarterfinal game.

Carly Andros hit a home run for Fowler and had one RBI. Saige Miller had a double and a single. Grace Piggott, Anna Andros, Emma Smith and Makenna Smith each had a single.

Myah Fletcher had two doubles, two singles and three RBI for Leslie. She was named player of the game. Kay Adair had a triple, two singles and two RBI. Adrianna Fogg, Payton Boyer and Ada Bradford each had two singles and one RBI. Gabby Waldofsky had one single.

Ada Bradford pitched the complete game for Leslie. She gave up one run and seven hits. She struck out fifteen batters.