Addison vs. Fowler – – MHSAA Softball Regional Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 10, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen has made the trip to Morenci High to watch the Panthers from Addison play the Eagles from Fowler in the Regional Softball Semifinal!

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy these Good Vibrations from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482fQh0Rdo

Fowler won the coin flip, so they will be the home team and Addison will bat first.

Here are the starting lineups:

ADDISON PANTHERS:

Laci Patterson 3b

Alisha Gahn p

Olivia Speelman 2b

Isabella Patterson lf

Kahlen Wheaton 1b

Emily Wright ss

Lexi Patterson cf

Nevaeh Edison c

Kalyn Trecy rf

FOWLER EAGLES:

Avery Koenigsknecht c

Grace Piggott rf

Saige Miller ss

Paisley Hansen 1b

Carly Andros 3b

Bri Halfmann p

Emma Smith dp

Anna Andros lf

Makenna Smith 2b

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

Let’s take a look at the events of this game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was loved by opposing catchers and umpires for the cooling breezes generated by his flailing attempts to hit baseballs and softballs.

Laci Patterson singled to lead off the top of the first inning for the Panthers. Fowler Catcher Avery Koenigsknecht fired the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing. Fowler Pitcher Bri Halfmann retired the next batter on a grounder to the shortstop. Olivia Speelman singled to center field. Addison made the third out of the inning on a grounder to second base.

Panther Pitcher Alisha Gahn retired the three Eagle hitters in the bottom of the first inning on a grounder to first base, a strikeout and a grounder to third base.

Kahlen Wheaton was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the second inning for Addison. Bri Halfmann got the next hitter to bounce the ball to the mound. Bri Halfmann spun and tossed the ball to Shortstop Saige Miller, who touched second base and fired the ball to Paisley Hansen at first base for a 1-6-3 double play!!! (Saige Miller is a freshman and may already have the best infield throwing arm in the Lansing Area.) Bri Halfmann retired the next hitter on a grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.

Paisley Hansen lofted a ball in the vacant area behind the pitcher and beat out an infield single to open the bottom of the second inning for Fowler and stole second base. Alisha Gahn struck out the next Eagle hitter. Bri Halfmann drew a walk and Selena Stump entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bri Halfmann. Alisha Gahn struck out the next batter. Anna Andros tripled down the left field line to drive in Paisley Hansen and Selena Stump. Alisha Gahn struck out the next Fowler batter to end the inning.

Fowler scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Nevaeh Edison walked to lead off the top of the third inning for Addison. Nevaeh Haag entered the game as a courtesy runner for Nevaeh Edison. Bri Halfmann struck out the next Panther batter. Laci Patterson singled and Nevaeh Haag advanced to second base. Alisha Gahn walked to load the bases. Olivia Speelman singled to left field to drive in Nevaeh Haag and Laci Patterson and Alisha Gahn advanced to second base.

Alisha Gahn went to third base and Olivia Speelman to second on a groundout to first base by Isabelle Patterson. Kahlen Wheaton singled to left field to drive in Alisha Gahn as Olivia Speelman advanced to third base. Emily Wright singled to left field to drive in Olivia Speelman as Kahlen Wheaton went to second base. Lexi Patterson walked to load the bases. Nevaeh Edison walked to force Kahlen Wheaton home as Emily Wright moved to third base and Lexi Patterson to second.

Carly Andros came in to pitch for Fowler. Addison Spicer went in to play third base.

Carly Andros struck out the next Panther batter to end the inning.

Addison scored five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-2 lead.

Avery Koenigsknecht was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the third inning for Fowler and stole second base. Grace Piggott doubled to left field to drive in Avery Koenigsknecht. Saige Miller singled to advance Grace Piggott to third base; Saige Miller then stole second base. Alisha Gahn struck out the next three Eagle batters to end the inning.

Fowler scored one run in the bottom of the third inning to trim the Addison lead to 5-3.

Carly Andros retired the first two Addison batters in the top of the fourth inning on a bouncer to the pitcher and a popup to the shortstop. Olivia Speelman walked. Carly Andros struck out the next Panther hitter to end the inning.

Alisha Gahn struck out the Fowler lead off batter in the bottom of the fourth inning. Anna Andros was hit by a pitch and took second base on a wild pitch. Alisha Gahn retired the next two Fowler batters on a groundout to third base and a strikeout.

Avery Koenigsknecht retired the leadoff Panther batter in the top of the fifth inning on a soft line drive to shortstop. Emily Wright singled and advanced to second base and then third base on wild pitches. Addison Spicer made a fine play to catch a bunt to third base in the air for the second Addison out. The Panthers made their third out on a popup to second base.

Alisha Gahn retired the Fowler leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to first base. Saige Miller walked and stole second base. After Alisha Gahn struck out the next Eagle hitter, Saige Miller stole third base and came home on an overthrow. Fowler made its third out of the inning on a grounder to the shortstop.

Fowler scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning to shave the Addison lead to 5-4.

Kalyn Trecy walked to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Addison. Carly Andros struck out the next Panther hitter. Kalyn Trecy was out at second base and Alisha Gahn safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Olivia Speelman doubled and Alisha Gahn advanced to third base. Carly Andros retired the next Addison batter on a grounder to first base to end the inning.

Bri Halfmann was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the sixth inning for Fowler and took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Addison Spicer. Anna Andros singled to center field to move Bri Halfmann to third base. Bri Halfmann scored on an overthrow as Anna Andros raced to third base on the play. Makenna Smith drove Anna Andros home with a sacrifice bunt to give Fowler the lead.

Avery Koenigsknecht singled to center field and stole second base. Grace Piggott hit a double to left field to drive Avery Koenigsknecht home. Alisha Gahn struck out the next Fowler batter to end the inning.

Fowler scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to move on top by a 7-5 score.

Carly Andros retired the three Addison seventh inning hitters on a fly to deep left field by Kahlen Wheaton, a grounder to the shortstop and a strikeout.

Fowler won this game 7-5 to earn a berth in the Regional Final to be played later today.

Olivia Speelman had a double, two singles and two RBI for Addison. Emily Wright had two singles and one RBI. Laci Patterson had two singles. Kahlen Wheaton had a single and one RBI. Nevaeh Edison had one RBI.

Alisha Gahn pitched the complete game for Addison and struck out eleven batter.

Anna Andros had a triple, a single and two RBI for Fowler. Grace Piggott had two doubles and two RBI. Saige Miller had two singles. Paisley Hansen had a single and two RBI. Avery Koenigsknecht had one single. Makenna Smith had one RBI.

Carly Andros came in to pitch with two out in the third inning. She pitched four and two thirds innings and gave up no runs and only two hits while striking out four batters.

Here is a link to the other semifinal game between Reading and Sand Creek! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/06/11/reading-vs-sand-creek-mhsaa-softball-regional-final-the-bleacher-denizen-june-10-2023-by-chuck-krafft/

Here is a link to the regional final between Sand Creek and Fowler! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/06/11/fowler-vs-sand-creek-mhsaa-softball-regional-final-the-bleacher-denizen-june-10-2023-by-chuck-krafft/