Fowlerville vs. Grand Ledge – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 1, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft
We have completed the first game of tonight’s doubleheader. You can read the story of Portland St. Patrick’s game with Holt here!
As we wait for the teams to take infield practice, we can listen to this solo piano tune from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAyGsC_FuNo
This game will feature the Gladiators from Fowler against the Comets from Grand Ledge. Here are the starting lineups! Grand Ledge will bat first and Fowlerville will be the home team.
GRAND LEDGE:
Ella Bruntjens cf
Kaedyn Hirschman 2b
Taylor Piper ss
Kaylee Costello p
Ashley Priese rf
Gianna Naccarato c
Zoe Hart 1b
Kaysen Stohaver 3b
Emily Price lf
FOWLERVILLE:
Tori Briggs ss
Kennedy Douglass 3b
Halle Dargie p
Ashlee Dailey c
Tommi Kleinschmidt cf
Angelle Haan dp
Katie Bigos 1b
Josie Cruz 2b
Hannah Ray rf
Carlie Atcheson will play left field, but will not bat.
It is now time to review the events of this game through the cloudy lenses of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who will always treasure the memory of the single fair ball he ever hit in Little League. (It really DID happen once.)
The Grand Ledge leadoff batter was out on a foul popup to the third baseman. Kaedyn Hirschman singled to center field. The next Comet hitter was out on a fly to left field. Kaylee Costello singled to center field and Kaedyn Hirschman went to second base. Fowlerville Pitcher Halle Dargie struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Fowlerville’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning was out on a grounder to the shortstop. Comet Right Fielder Ashley Priese made a nice catch going back to record the second out.. Halle Dargie singled to centerfield. Fowlerville made its third out on a bouncer to third base.
The game was scoreless after one full inning.
Gianna Naccarato walked to lead off the second inning for the Comets. The next hitter was out on a foul popup to first base. Gianna Naccarato took second base when everyone was safe on a fielder’s choice grounder off the bat of Kaysen Stohaver. Fowlerville pitcher Halle Dargie retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a grounder to the pitcher to end the inning.
Tommi Kleinschmidt singled to right field to lead off the bottom of the second inning for the Gladiators. Comet Pitcher Kaylee Costello struck out the next batter. Tommi Kleinschmidt stole second base. Kaylee Costello struck out the next batter. Tommi Kleinschmidt took third base on a wild pitch. Kaylee Costello struck out the next batter to end the inning.
After two full innings, the game remained scoreless.
Kaedyn Hirschman led off the top of the third inning for the Comets with a sharp single to center field. Glad (abbreviated to save wear and tear on the Bleacher Denizen’s aging fingers) Shortstop Tori Briggs ranged back into short centerfield to retire the next hitter. Kaylee Costello was safe at first and the runner out at second on a fielders choice grounder to the shortstop. Glad Pitcher Halle Dargie retired the next batter on a grounder to second base to end the inning.
Hannah Ray beat out an infield single to open the second inning. When she tried to advance on an overthrow, Comet First Baseman Zoe Hart alertly threw her out at second base. Tori Briggs was safe at first on an error and stole second base. Tori Briggs advanced to third base on Kennedy Douglass’ grounder to the pitcher. Halle Dargie boomed a double off the centerfield fence to drive in Tori Briggs. Fowlerville made its third out on a bouncer to second base.
Fowlerville scored one run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Glad Pitcher Halle Dargie retired the three Comet fourth inning hitters on a foul fly to first base, a fly to right field where Hannah Ray made a fine running catch and a grounder to second base.
Fowlerville’s fourth inning leadoff hitter was out on a grounder to the pitcher. Angelle Haan lined a single to center field. Comet Catcher Gianna Naccarato rifled a throw to second base to catch the runner stealing. Comet Pitcher Kaylee Costello retired the next hitter on a foul fly to first base to end the inning.
After four full innings, the Gladiator lead remained at 1-0.
Glad Pitcher Halle Dargie retired the three Comet batters in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to the pitcher, a strikeout and a popup to first base.
Josie Cruz lined a single to right field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Fowlerville. After Kaylee Costello struck out the next batter, Comet Catcher Gianna Naccarato zinged a throw to second base to catch the runner stealing. Tori Briggs hit the ball to right field and with excellent base running, legged out a double. The Glads made their third out of the inning on a grounder to the shortstop.
After five innings, the Gladiator lead remained at 1-0.
Taylor Piper rifled a single to center field to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Grand Ledge. Taylor Piper went to second base on a wild pitch. Ashley Priese singled to right field. Glad Right Fielder Hannah Ray made a fine throw to home to nail the runner trying to score. Ashley Priese took second base on the throw home. Grand Ledge made its third out on a bouncer to second base.
Comet Right Fielder Ashley Priese made a tumbling catch to retire Fowlerville’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the sixth inning. The next hitter was out on a grounder to the shortstop.
Zoe Hart was safe on an error to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Grand Ledge. Halle Dargie struck out the next Comet batter. Zoe Hart went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Price. Ella Bruntjens singled to right-center field to drive in Zoe Hart with the tying run. Halle Dargie retired the next batter on a soft fly to the mound to end the inning.
Grand Ledge scored one run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 1-1.
Comet Pitcher Kaylee Costello got the Fowlerville leadoff batter in the seventh inning out on a grounder to shortstop. Pinch Hitter Raelynn Haan was out on a fly to right field. Josie Cruz drew a walk. Hannah Ray singled to left field as Josie Cruz advanced to second base. Tori Briggs singled to right field to drive in Josie Cruz with the winning run.
Fowlerville won the game 2-1 and will play in Thursday’s semifinal.
Kaedyn Hirschman had two singles for Grand Ledge. Ella Bruntjens had a single and an RBI. Taylor Piper, Kaylee Costello and Ashley Priese each had a single. Kaylee Costello pitched the complete game and gave up only two runs.
Halle Dargie and Tori Briggs each had a single, a double and one RBI for Fowlerville. Hannah Ray had two singles. Tommi Kleinschmidt, Angelle Haan and Josie Cruz each had a single. Halle Dargie pitched the complete game for Fowlerville and gave up only one run.