Michigan Lutheran Seminary vs. Beal City – – MHSAA Regional Softball Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 8, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is in Beal City covering the State Softball Regional. Portland St. Patrick played Alcona in today’s first game. Here is the play by play of that game.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/06/08/alcona-vs-portland-st-patrick-mhsaa-regional-softball-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-june-8-2024-by-chuck-krafft/

In today’s second game, the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinals will play the Aggies from the host school, Beal City.

It’s a bit rainy, so the start of the game was delayed a few minutes. I’m up in the booth with Beal City Announcer Ed Lynch, who is keeping everyone informed of the action with his dulcet tones. He’s an excellent announcer!!

Here are the starting lineups. Beal City won the coin toss and will be the home team, so Seminary will bat first.

MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY

Amelia Rivera cf

Addison Whitmer lf

Ally Coffey p

Ella Slangor ss

Sam Priem rf

Ava Schroeder 1b

Bella DeLong 3b

Sydney Darling 2b

Grace Steiger c

BEAL CITY

Lauryn Licari c

Emily Taylor ss

Arryana Brown 3b

Macy Johnston 1b

Emma Block p

Macy McKenny 2b

Dakota Dodak lf

Eva Lynch cf

Lauren Gross rf

It is now time to take a look at the events of this game through the aging, but occasionally accurate eyes of a Bleacher Denizen whose baseball and softball careers never got off to much of a start. However, he is proud that he is esteemed by many umpires and opposing catchers who loved the cooling breezes generated by your Bleacher Denizen’s flailing attempts to swing baseball bats.

Amelia Rivera walked to lead off the top of the first inning for Seminary. Beal City Pitcher Emma Block got the next pitcher to bounce to her. She fired the ball to second base and Aggie Shortstop Emily Taylor fired the ball to first base to complete the double play. Emma Block struck out the next Cardinal hitter to end the inning.

Cardinal Shortstop Ella Slangor made a great running catch of a fly to left field by Lauryn Licari to retire the Aggie leadoff batter in the bottom of the second inning. Cardinal Pitcher Ally Coffey retired the next two batters on a fly to the pitcher and a grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.

In the top of the second inning, Beal City Pitcher Emma Block struck out Seminary’s first two batters and got the third out on a bunt to first base where Beal City Second Baseman Macy McKenny alertly covered the base after Macy Johnston fielded the bunt.

In the top of the second inning, Seminary Left Fielder Addison Whitmer made a great attempt at a running catch, but leadoff Macy Johnston’s drive fell in for a leadoff double. Seminary Pitcher Ally Coffey retired the nest batter on a fly to left field. Macy McKenny beat out a squib as Macy Johnston ran to third base. Macy McKenny stole second base. Dakota Dodak walked to load the bases with one out.

Eva Lynch singled to center field and drove in Macy Johnston and Macy McKenny. Dakota Dodak went to second base; Dakota Dodak took third base and Eva Lynch second base on the throw to home plate. Ally Coffey struck out the next Aggie batter. Dakota Dodak scored and Eva Lynch advanced to third base on a wild pitch.

Lauryn Licari singled to left field to drive Eva Lynch home. Madason Fisher entered the game as a courtesy runner for Lauryn Licari. Ally Coffey retired the next Aggie hitter on a fly to right field to end the inning.

Beal City scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Aggie Pitcher Emma Block retired Seminary’s leadoff batter on a soft liner to first base. Sydney DeLong walked. Grace Steiger singled to right field. Beal City Right Fielder Lauren Gross got the ball into the infield quickly where Aggie Third Baseman Arryana Brown and Shortstop Emily Taylor executed a rundown to perfection to retire the runner. Emma Block struck out the next Cardinal batter to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third inning, Seminary Pitcher Ally Coffey reacted quickly on a sharp hit up the middle by Aggie leadoff batter Arryana Brown and threw her out at first base. Macy Johnston tripled down the left field line. Emma Block walked. Aubrey Thielen entered the game as a courtesy runner. Macy Johnston scored and Aubrey Thielen took second base on a wild pitch.

Ally Coffey struck out the next Aggie hitter; Aubrey Thielen stole third base on strike three. Aubrey Thielen scored on a wild pitch. Dakota Dodak doubled off the left field fence. Eva Lynch doubled off the left field fence and Dakota Dodak scored. Ally Coffey retired the next Aggie batter on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Beal City added three runs in the bottom of the third inning to push its lead to 7-0.

Emma Block retired the Cardinal leadoff batter in the top of the fourth inning on a grounder to second base. Ally Coffey walked. Ella Slangor singled up the middle. On an over throw, Ally Coffey advanced to third base and Ella Slangor to second base. Sam Priem singled to center field and drove Ally Coffey and Ella Slangor home. Emma Block struck out the next Cardinal hitter. Ella DeLong singled to right field and Sam Priem advanced to third base.

Sydney Darling walked to load the bases with two outs. Emma Block struck out the batter to end the inning.

Seminary scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to shave the Beal City lead to 7-2.

A drizzle started around the middle of the fourth inning.

Lauryn Licari lined a single to left field to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for the Aggies. She took second base on a wild pitch. Lauryn Licari went to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Taylor and scored on a double to center field by Arryana Brown. Cardinal Pitcher Ally Coffey retired the next hitter on a popup to shortstop. Arryana Brown stole third base and scored on a wild pitch.

Emma Block was safe at first base on an error. Aubrey Thielen entered the game as a courtesy runner for Emma Block and took second base on a passed ball. Aubrey Thielen scored when Macy McKenny was safe at first base on an error. Macy McKenny went to second base on a passed ball and stole third base. Dakota Dodak singled to left field to drive in Macy McKenny. Dakota Dodak stole second base and third base. Ally Coffey retired the next batter on a fly to right field.

Beal City scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 11-2.

In the top of the fifth inning, Aggie Second Baseman Macy McKenny made a fine running catch in short right field to retire the Cardinal leadoff batter. Addison Whitmer lined a single up the middle. Ally Coffey slammed a two run homer over the right field fence to drive in herself as well as Addison Whitmer. Emma Block retired the next two Cardinal batters on a popup to first base and a fly to center field to end the inning.

Seminary scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to shave the Beal City lead to 11-4.

Lauren Gross beat out an infield single and went to second base on an overthrow to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Beal City. Addy Sanders entered the game as a pinch runner and stole third base. Lauryn Licari walked. Madason Fisher entered the game as a courtesy runner for Lauren Licari. Addy Sanders and Madason Fisher both scored on a wild pitch.

Emily Taylor doubled to center field. Arryana Brown singled to right field to drive Emily Taylor home with the winning run.

Beal City scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 14-4 lead. The game was ended here because of the emergency rule.

Ally Coffey had a home run and two RBI for Seminary. Sam Priem had a single and two RBI. Addison Whitmer, Ella Slangor and Grace Steiger each had a single.

Ally Coffey pitched the complete game for the Cardinals and struck out two hitters.

Eva Lynch had a double, a single and three RBI for Beal City. Dakota Dodak and Arryana Brown each had a double, a single and one RBI. Lauryn Licari had two singles and one RBI. Emily Taylor had a double. Macy McKenny and Lauren Gross each added a single.

Emma Block pitched the complete game for the Aggies. In five innings, she gave up four runs, five hits and struck out six batters.

Here is a link to the final game which was played on Sunday. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/06/09/portland-st-patrick-vs-beal-city-mhsaa-softball-regional-final-the-bleacher-denizen-june-9-2024-by-chuck-krafft/