Fowlerville vs. Grand Ledge – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 22, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft
In tonight’s second game, the Fowlerville Gladiators (Glads) will compete with the Comets from Grand Ledge to see who will play in Friday’s Tournament Final. We are at Ranney Park in Lansing where Bob Every, the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Director has groomed this park to perfection! It’s a beautiful place to have a softball tournament.
Here is the play by play of the first semifinal game of the evening!!
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/05/23/laingsburg-vs-leslie-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-22-2024-by-chuck-krafft/
Grand Ledge earned its spot in the semifinal with this win over Williamston. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/05/22/grand-ledge-vs-williamston-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-21-2024-by-chuck-krafft/
Fowlerville got here by winning this quarterfinal game over Waverly. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/05/22/fowlerville-vs-waverly-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-21-2024-by-chuck-krafft/
Fowlerville won the coin flip and be the home team. Grand Ledge will bat first.
Here are the starting lineups.
GRAND LEDGE
Kailey Nelson rf
Gianna Naccarato ss
Jade Queen cf
Tomia Geter dp
Kaysen Strohaver 3b
Zoe Hart 1b
Bella Perez lf
Addyson Fulton 2b
Madison Wohlscheid c
Shayla Kiser will pitch, but will not bat.
FOWLERVILLE
Tori Briggs p
McKenna Maybee lf
Kiely Davis 2b
Tommi Kleinschmidt cf
Angelle Haan dp
Tara Peterson rf
Avery Borg c
McKayla Fletcher 3b
Meadow Browne 1b
Molly Lamar will play shortstop, but will not bat.
It is now time to go through the events of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of a graying Bleacher Denizen who never was able to get much traction as a baseball or softball player. It took him to long to learn that while the opposing bench and fans cheered every time he swung at a ball and missed, his coach and teammates thought differently. It was disappointing to realize that the people cheering me were on the “wrong” side.
Fowlerville Pitcher Tori Briggs retired the Grand Ledge leadoff batter in the top of the first inning on a groundout to the shortstop. Gianna Naccarato was safe at first base on an error. Tori Briggs retired the next two Comet batters on a fly to left field where McKenna Maybee made an excellent diving grab and a strikeout.
Tori Briggs doubled off the center field fence to lead off the top of the first inning for Fowlerville. She took third base when McKenna Maybee was safe at first base on a bunt single. McKenna Maybee stole second base. Kiely Davis singled to right field to drive in Tori Briggs and McKenna Maybee.
Tomia Geter came in to pitch for the Comets.
She struck out the next Gladiator hitter. Kiely Davis advanced to second base when Angelle Haan was safe at first base on an error. Kiely Davis went to third base and Angelle Haan to second base on a wild pitch. Tomia Geter struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Fowlerville scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Kaysen Strohaver was safe on an error to lead off the top of the second inning for Grand Ledge. Kaysen Strohaver advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Zoe Hart. Bella Perez doubled off the center field fence to drive in Kaysen Strohaver. Adyson Fulton singled to right field to drive in Bella Perez.
Adyson Fulton went to second base when Madison Wohlscheid walked. Adyson Fulton was out at third base when Kailey Nelson was safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Madison Wohlscheid advanced to second base on the play. Fowlerville third baseman McKayla Fletcher made a fine play to barely throw out the Comet runner at first base for the third out.
Grand Ledge scored two runs in the top of the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Tomia Geter struck out Fowlerville’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the second inning. Meadow Browne lined a single to left field. Meadow Browne was out at second base and Tori Briggs safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Tomia Geter struck out the next Gladiator batter to end the inning.
In the top of the third inning, Fowlerville Pitcher Tori Briggs showed some quick hands as she picked off a line drive through the middle for the first out. Fowlerville Second Baseman Kiely Davis reacted quickly when a shot glanced off the pitcher’s glove and threw out the next hitter at first base. Grand Ledge made its third out on a grounder to the pitcher.
Tomia Geter retired the three Fowlerville hitters in the bottom of the third inning on a grounder to second base and two strikeouts.
Zoe Hart was hit by a pitch to open the top of the fourth inning for Grand Ledge. She took second base on a single up the middle by Bella Perez; a fielding error on the play allowed Zoe Hart to advance to third base and Bella Perez to advance to second base.
Everyone was safe on a fielder’s choice grounder by Adyson Fulton. Zoe Hart beat the throw home to score and Bella Perez went to third base. Tori Briggs struck out the next two Comet hitters. Grand Ledge made its final out of the inning on a grounder to the shortstop.
Grand Ledge scored one run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead.
Tomia Geter struck out the Glad leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth inning. Avery Borg doubled off the right field fence. Ella Olrich entered the game as a courtesy runner for Avery Borg. Tomia Geter struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Tori Briggs retired the three Comet batters in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to the pitcher and two flies to first base. Gladiator First Baseman Meadow Browne made an excellent play reaching to spear a line drive on the second of the two plays.
Tomia Geter retired the three Gladiator batters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to the shortstop and two strikeouts.
With five full innings in the books, the Grand Ledge lead remained at 3-2.
Tori Briggs retired the first two Grand Ledge hitters in the top of the sixth inning on a bouncer to third base and a grounder to the shortstop. Adyson Fulton lined a single to center field. Tori Briggs struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Tomia Geter retired the three Fowlerville hitters in the bottom of the sixth inning on a grounder to second base, a strikeout and a grounder to the pitcher.
Tori Briggs retired the Comet leadoff batter in the top of the seventh inning on a grounder to third base. Gianna Naccarato pounded a home run over the right field fence. Jade Queen singled to left field. Tomia Geter belted a two-run home run to right field to drive in Jade Queen.
Fowlerville second baseman made a nifty running catch in short right field to retire the next Comet hitter. Zoe Hart singled to center field. Tori Briggs struck out the next hitter to end the inning.
Grand Ledge scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend its lead to 6-2.
Fowlerville made its first out of the seventh inning on a fly to first base. Pinch Hitter Ella Olrich drew a walk. Tomia Geter struck out the next two Gladiator hitters to end the game.
Grand Ledge won the game 6-2 and will play Leslie in Friday’s final game.
Kiely Davis had a single and two RBI for Fowlerville. Tori Briggs and Avery Borg each had a double. McKenna Maybee and Meadow Browne each had a single.
Tori Briggs pitched the complete game for Grand Ledge and struck out five Comet hitters.
Tomia Geter pitched seven innings for Grand Ledge. She gave up no runs and only two hits while striking out an impressive fifteen batters. For this as well as her two run home run she hit in the seventh inning to blow the game open, she was named the ASAP Printing Player of the Game!!
Tomia Geter was not the only Comet who played well!! Gianna Naccarato hit a home run and had one RBI. Bella Perez had a double, a single and one RBI. Adyson Fulton had two singles and two RBI. Zoe Hart and Jade Queen each had a single.