Essexville Garber at Frankenmuth – – First Game of Softball Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 30, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is at his Alma Mater, Frankenmuth to watch as the hometown Eagles host the Dukes from Essexville Garber in a softball doubleheader. Both teams have a history of softball success and the Bleacher Denizen is excited to write up the Dukes in a regular season game. (A couple years ago, he posted this from a State semifinal!) https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/06/16/essexville-garber-vs-trenton-mhsaa-division-2-softball-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-june-15-2022-by-chuck-krafft/

Let’s give Frankenmuth some equal time here as they made it to a state final a few years ago and I was also able to cover that! https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2015/06/frankenmuth-vs-wayland-union-mshaa.html

It’s about 60 degrees outside, so it’s a bit cold, but very playable.

I was able to meet both Coach Chris Kokaly from Garber and Coach Todd Sprowl for the first time. (This is Coach Sprowl’s first year as the Eagle Softball varsity coach.) Both were really friendly as I got the information for the starting lineups and their help is really appreciated!!

Here are the starting lineups. Garber is the visiting team and will bat first.

ESSEXVILLE GARBER

Ella Kokaly cf

Alyssa Bowker 3b

Grace Zwetzig 2b

Ava Wagner rf

Kara Kotenko p

J.J. Shooltz c

Izy Lathram ss

Meredith Krauseneck 1b

Naomi Yarish lf

FRANKENMUTH

Payton Schafsnitz ss

Kennedy Crandall cf

Chloe Compau p

Kendall Thompson 1b

Emma Sprowl c

Bri Barker rf

Izzy Bernthal 3b

Miranda Polley lf

Chloe Comstock 2b

It is now time to write up the events of this game through the occasionally clear vision of an aging Bleacher Denizen who never had much success when he attempted to play baseball and softball in the days of yore. However, I’m proud to state that opposing catchers and umpires always loved the refreshing breezes I created with my flailing swings and were always glad to see me when I batted!!

Chloe Compau struck out the first two Garber hitters in the top of the first inning. Grace Zwetzig belted a double to the left field fence. Chloe Compau struck out the next Duke batter to end the inning.

Payton Schafsnitz singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Frankenmuth and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kennedy Crandall. Chloe Compau singled to center field. Duke Center Fielder Ella Kokaly made a great throw home to hold Payton Schafsnitz to third base as Chloe Compau took second base on the throw.

Sienna Bosco entered the game as a courtesy runner for Chloe Compau. Payton Schafsnitz scored and Sienna Bosco advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly by Kendall Thompson. Kara Kotenko struck out the next Frankenmuth batter to end the inning.

Frankenmuth scored one run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Chloe Compau struck out all three Garber hitters in the top of the second inning.

Kara Kotenko struck out Frankenmuth’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the second inning. They say that baseball and softball are games of inches and Izzy Bernthal proved that when her double down the left field line was barely fair. Kara Kotenko struck out the next Eagle batter. Chloe Comstock drew a walk. Kara Kotenko struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Meredith Krauseneck walked to lead off the top of the third inning for Garber. Chloe Compau struck out the next batter. Meredith Krauseneck stole second base as Chloe Compau struck out the next Duke hitter. Garber made its final out of the inning on a bunt to third base.

Kara Kotenko struck out Frankenmuth’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the third inning. Chloe Compau walked. Sienna Bosco came in to run for Chloe Compau. Kara Kotenko retired the next two batters on a popup to second base and a foul popup to third base to end the inning.

With three innings in the books, the Frankenmuth lead remained at 1-0.

Chloe Compau struck out all three Garber batters in the top of the fourth inning.

Bri Barker blooped a single that barely eluded Garber Center Fielder Ella Kokaly’s diving effort to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Frankenmuth; she took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Izzy Bernthal. Kara Kotenko struck out the next two Eagle batters to end the inning.

J.J. Shooltz was hit by a pitch to open the top of the fifth inning for Garber. She alertly ran all the way to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Izy Lathram. J.J. Shooltz scored the tying run for Garber on a passed ball. Chloe Compau struck out the next Garber hitter and got the Dukes’ third out on a bunt to third base.

Garber scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1.

Payton Schafsnitz stroked a solid single to left field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Frankenmuth. Kennedy Crandall lined a single to center field to move Payton Schafsnitz to third base. Kennedy Crandall slid under the second baseman’s glove to barely beat a fine throw by Garber Catcher J.J. Shooltz to steal second base. Chloe Compau was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sienna Bosco came in as a courtesy runner for Chloe Compau.

Kendall Thompson doubled off the top of the left field fence to drive in Payton Schafsnitz and Kennedy Crandall as Sienna Bosco went to third base. (Had that ball been about three inches higher, it would have been a grand slam!) Emma Sprowl lined a single off the third baseman’s glove to drive in Sienna Bosco as Kendall Thompson went to third base. Chloe Kazowski entered the game as a courtesy runner for Emma Sprowl.

Kara Kotenko retired the next three Eagle hitters on a foul popup to the catcher, a popup to first base and a strikeout to end the inning without any further scoring by Frankenmuth.

After five full innings, Frankenmuth had a 4-1 lead.

Chloe Compau retired Garber’s first two hitters in the top of the sixth inning on bunts to third base. Grace Zwetzig walked and went to third base when Ava Wagner blasted a double off the center field fence. Chloe Compau struck out the next Garber hitter hold Garber scoreless for the inning.

Kara Kotenko struck out Frankenmuth’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the sixth inning and retired the next batter on a grounder to the shortstop. Kennedy Crandall doubled off the shortstop’s glove. Chloe Compau drove Kennedy Crandall home on a single to center field and advanced to second base on the throw home. Sienna Bosco entered the game as a courtesy runner for Chloe Compau.

Sienna Bosco scored when Kendall Thompson was safe at second base on an error. Emma Sprowl singled to deep center field to drive in Kendall Thompson. Chloe Kasowski entered the game to run for Emma Sprowl. Frankenmuth made its final out of the bottom of the sixth inning on a fly to center field.

Frankenmuth scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 7-1.

Chloe Compau retired Garber’s hitters in the seventh inning on a grounder to shortstop and two strikeouts to end the game.

Frankenmuth won the first game of this doubleheader by a 7-1 score.

Grace Zwetzig and Ava Wagner each had a double for Garber.

Kara Kotenko pitched the complete game and struck out nine Frankenmuth batters.

Chloe Compau had three singles and one RBI for Frankenmuth. Kendall Thompson had a double and three RBIs. Emma Sprowl had two singles and two RBIs. Kennedy Crandall and Izzy Bernthal each contributed one double to the Eagle cause. Payton Schafsnitz had two singles. Bri Barker had one single.

Chloe Compau pitched the complete game for Frankenmuth. She gave up one run and two hits; she also struck out fifteen Garber batters.

Here is the play by play of the second game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/05/01/essexville-garber-at-frankenmuth-second-game-of-softball-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-april-30-2024-by-chuck-krafft/