Portland at Eaton Rapids – – Softball Doubleheader – – Second Game – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 9, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft
The Portland Raiders have played the first game of their doubleheader at Eaton Rapids. The Greyhounds won the first game of the doubleheader. Here is the play by play! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/05/10/portland-at-eaton-rapids-softball-doubleheader-game-1-the-bleacher-denizen-may-9-2023-by-chuck-krafft/
Here are the starting lineups for Game 2. Eaton Rapids is the home team, but will bat first. (We’re in Eaton Rapids. While the Bleacher Denizen has some difficulty understanding this with his limited mental processing abilities, this seems to be how high school softball teams handle doubleheaders!
EATON RAPIDS GREYHOUNDS:
Zoe Alvarez ss
Cadence McGuirt cf
Maddy Putnam rf
Flora Steien 2b
Brooke DePeel 3b
Mallory Smith c
Hailey DePeel 1b
Izzy Hoag lf
Ari Brooks p
PORTLAND RAIDERS:
Lilly Thelen cf
Bailee Fish c
Jayden Townsend 2b
Autumn Reffitt 3b
Claire Lyon ss
Rylee Miller 1b
Gillian Pung lf
Chloe Page dp
Bella Spitzley p
Anna Morris will play right field, but will not bat.
It is now time to review this game through the vague prism of an Aging Bleacher Denizen whose career was severely limited when the powers that be refused to allow him to use a bushel basket to make catching the ball in the outfield easier. Some people just refuse to appreciate a bit of creativity!
Zoe Alvarez singled to center field to lead off the game for the Greyhounds. She took second base on a bunt single by Cadence McGuirt. (That bunt was perfectly placed between the pitcher and third baseman. KUDOS!!!) Maddy Putnam beat out a bunt single. When an overthrow was made, both Zoe Alvarez and Cadence McGuirt scored; Maddy Putnam ended up on third base.
The next hitter was out on a fly to Raider center fielder Lilly Thelen. Ms. Thelen made a great throw home to cut down the runner trying to score from third base to complete a double play. Raider Pitcher Bella Spitzley retired the next hitter on a fly to center field to end the inning.
Eaton Rapids scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Lilly Thelen was safe on an error to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Portland. She advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Bailee Fish. Eaton Rapids Pitcher Ari Brooks retired the next two Raider hitters on a liner to second base and a popup to second base to end the inning.
Lilly Thelen made a fine catch on a deep fly off the bat of Mallory Smith to record the first Greyhound out in the top of the second inning. Hailey DePeel singled to second base. Izzy Hoag grounded a double to left field and Hailey DePeel advanced to third base. Hailey DePeel scored and Izzy Hoag moved to third base on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by Ari Brooks. Zoe Alvarez singled to left field to drive in Izzy Hoag. Bella Spitzley struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Eaton Rapids scored two runs in the top of the second inning to extend its lead to 4-0.
Claire Lyon doubled to deep right field to lead off the bottom of the second inning for the Raiders. She advanced to third base on Rylee Miller’s groundout to second base. Claire Lyon scored on a wild pitch. The next Raider batter was out on a grounder to third base; Hailey DePeel made a great scoop to ensure the out. Ari Brooks struck out the next Raider batter to end the inning.
Portland scored one run in the bottom of the second inning to trim the Eaton Rapids lead to 4-1.
Bella Spitzley retired the three third inning Greyhound batters on a strikeout, a fly to second base where Jayden Townsend made a fine catch running back into right field and a great running catch in center field by Lilly Thelen.
Eaton Rapids also flashed some leather as Flora Steien made a great grab of a line drive by Portland fourth inning leadoff batter Bella Spitzley to record the first out. Lilly Thelen lined a single. Bailee Fish doubled down the left field line to push Lilly Thelen to third base. Jayden Townsend walked to load the bases. Ari Brooks retired the next Raider hitter on a fly to the shortstop.
With two out and the bases loaded, Claire Lyon bashed a home run over the left field fence to give Portland the lead. Rylee Miller singled up the middle. Portland made the final out of the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop.
Portland scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-4 lead.
Bella Spitzley retired the three Eaton Rapids hitters in the fourth inning on a fly to the shortstop, a fly to left field and a strikeout.
Ari Brooks struck out the Portland leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bella Spitzley was hit by a pitch. Ari Brooks struck out the next Raider hitter. Bailee Fish blooped a single to center field; Bella Spitzley went to third base. Ari Brooks retired the next Raider batter on a bouncer to the pitcher to hold Portland scoreless for the inning.
Bella Spitzley retired the first two Greyhound batters in the top of the fifth inning on a bouncer to the pitcher and a fly to left field. Cadence McGuirt doubled to right center field. The next Greyhound batter was out on a grounder to shortstop to end the inning.
Ari Brooks retired the three Raider batters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to third, a great running catch by Greyhound Left Fielder Izzy Hoag and a grounder to second base.
After five full innings, Portland continued to have a 5-4 lead.
Eaton Rapids first two hitters in the sixth inning were out on a grounder to third base and a popup to the shortstop. Pinch Hitter Ella Patrick singled to left field. Hailey DePeel singled to center field and Ella Patrick took second base. Bella Spitzley retired the next Greyhound batter on a grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.
Ari Brooks retired the Portland leadoff batter in the bottom of the sixth inning on a popup to second base. Pinch Hitter Anastasia Seidelman singled to center field. Anastasia Seidelman went to second base when Bella Spitzley beat out an infield single. Lilly Thelen was safe and Bella Spitzley out at second base on a fielder’s choice grounder to second base. Anastasia Seidelman advanced to third. Ari Brooks retired the next batter on a grounder to third base to end the inning.
The game entered the top of the seventh inning with Portland holding a 5-4 lead.
Ari Brooks singled to right field to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Eaton Rapids. Zoe Newberry entered the game to pinch run for Ari Brooks. Lilly Thelen made a fine running catch of a Zoe Alvarez drive to center field to record the first out. Zoe Newberry stole second base. Bella Spitzley struck out the next two Greyhound batters to end the game.
Portland won the second game of this doubleheader by a 5-4 score.
Cadence McGuirt had a double and a single for the Greyhounds. Zoe Alvarez had two singles and one RBI. Hailey DePeel had two singles. Izzy Hoag had a double. Ari Brooks had one single and an RBI. Maddy Putnam and Ella Patrick each had a single.
Ari Brooks pitched the complete game for the Greyhounds. She allowed four runs and struck out three hitters.
Claire Lyon had a big game for Portland; she had a grand slam home run, a double and four RBIs. Bailee Fish had a single and a double. Lilly Thelen, Bella Spitzley and Anastasis Seidelman each had a single.
Bella Spitzley pitched the complete game for the Raiders. She allowed four runs and struck out five hitters.