Eaton Rapids at Portland – – Softball – – First Game of Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 13, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is off to Portland where the Raiders will host the Eaton Rapids Greyhounds in a softball doubleheader! It is a cloudy day and I hope rain doesn’t affect the games much (or worse yet cause them to be postponed.) I got to Portland in time to get my hair cut and have a great slice of pizza from the Portland Party store before I drove to Portland High.

If I understand correctly, Eaton Rapids, Portland and Lansing Catholic are all bunched up at the top of the CAAC-White standings, so these games will have a lot to say about who will be the conference champion!

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this original tune from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc

When I got to the game, there was plenty of time to see Portland Coach Brandee Novara and Eaton Rapids Coach Tori Askew to get the starting lineups. Thanks to both of them for their friendliness and help with the starting lineups. Eaton Rapids is the visiting team and will bat first. Here are the starting lineups.

EATON RAPIDS

Abi Pratt ss

Maddy Putnam cf

Kalli Ordiway lf

Riley Cutler 1b

Mallory Smith c

Brooke DePeel 3b

Ari Brooks p

Cheyenne Drinkwater rf

Taylor Orta will play second base, but will not bat.

PORTLAND

Bella Spitzley p

Bailee Fish c

Lilly Thelen cf

Rylee Miller 1b

Autumn Reffitt 3b

Claire Lyon ss

Anastasia Seidelman lf

Molli Miilu dp

Veda Smith rf

Willa Almy will play second base, but will not bat.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat clear eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who will always treasure the memory of the only fair ball he ever hit in little league. It was a grounder to the shortstop and I batted (if you can call it that) right handed, so I will say I pulled it!! Such a grand moment!!

In the top of the first inning, Portland Second Baseman Willa Almy made a fine effort on a grounder, but Eaton Rapids leadoff batter Abi Pratt beat it out for an infield single. Portland Catcher Bailee Fish fired the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing. Bella Spitzley retired the next two Greyhound hitters on a fly to left field and a grounder to first base to end the inning.

Bella Spitzley walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Portland. She went to second base when Bailee Fish beat out a bunt single. Robin Ward entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bella Spitzley and Brynn Nelson came in as a courtesy runner for Bailee Fish. Robin Ward went to third base and Brynn Nelson to second when Lilly Thelen was safe at first base on an error.

Eaton Rapids Pitcher Ari Brooks struck out the next Portland hitter. Autumn Reffitt singled to left field to drive Robin Ward home as Brynn Nelson went to third base and Lilly Thelen to second base. Ari Brooks retired the next two Raider batters on a popup to the shortstop and a fly to left field where Kelli Ordiway made a great running catch to end the inning.

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

Riley Cutler walked to lead off the top of the second inning for Eagle Rapids. Mallory Smith smashed a double off the left field fence to drive Riley Cutler home. Mallory Smith took third base on the throw to the plate. She scored on Brooke DePeel’s RBI groundout to third base.

Portland Pitcher Bella Spitzley retired the next batter on a popup to second base. Danika Finch singled up the middle. Bella Spitzley struck out the next Greyhound batter to retire the side.

Eaton Rapids scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Molly Miilu led off the top of the second inning for Portland with a single to center field and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Veda Smith. Bella Spitzley crushed a home run over the left field fence to drive in herself and Molly Miilu. Bailee Fish pounded a double to the left field fence. Brynn Nelson entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bailee Fish.

Lilly Thelen lined a single to center field to drive Brynn Nelson home. Greyhound Pitcher Ari Brooks retired the next two batters on a popup to the shortstop and a fly to left field to end the inning.

Portland scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead.

Abi Pratt led off the top of the third inning with an apparent line drive single to right field, but she was ruled out for stepping out of the batter’s box as she swung. Maddy Putnam singled to left field and took second base on a single to right field by Kalli Ordiway. Portland Shortstop Claire Lyon made a fine play to go back to catch a line drive by Riley Cutler. (This probably prevented a run.) Eaton Rapids made its final out of the inning on a popup to second base.

Portland’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the third inning was out on a fly to left field. Anastasia Seidelman blasted a double to deep center field. Ari Brooks struck out the next Portland batter and got the third out on a fly to center field.

Brooke DePeel doubled to left field to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Eaton Rapids. Ari Brooks singled to center field and Brooke DePeel advanced to third base. Mae Schutte entered the game as a courtesy runner for Ari Brooks and stole second base. Brooke DePeel scored on an RBI groundout to first base by Danika Finch. Mae Schutte advanced to third base.

Raider Pitcher Bella Spitzley struck out the next Greyhound batter. Abi Pratt singled to left field to drive Mae Schutte home. The Greyhounds made their third out on a grounder to second base.

Eaton Rapids scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning tie the game at 4-4.

Ari Brooks retired the three Portland hitters in the bottom of the fourth inning on a grounder to third base, a fly to center field and a grounder to first base.

Bella Spitzley retired the first two Greyhound hitters in the top of the fifth inning on a fly to right field and a grounder to second base. Mallory Smith doubled down the left field line. Eaton Rapids made its third out when Autumn Reffitt made a fine pickup at third base and Rylee Miller made a great scoop at first base.

Ari Brooks retired the three Raider batters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a fly to center field where Maddy Putnam made an excellent running catch, a strikeout and a fly to right field where Cheyenne Drinkwater made an excellent running catch.

Ari Brooks singled to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Eaton Rapids. Mae Schutte entered the game as a courtesy runner for Ari Brooks. Mae Schutte was out at second base and Danika Finch safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop. Bella Spitzley struck out the next Greyhound batter. Abi Pratt singled to left field and Danika Finch advanced to second base. Veda Smith made a great running catch in right field to secure the third Greyhound out.

Ari Brooks retired the three Portland hitters in the bottom of the sixth inning on a grounder to third base, a foul popup to the catcher and a fly to the shortstop.

With six full innings in the books, the game was still tied at 4-4 heading into the seventh inning.

Kelli Ordiway doubled to left center field to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Eaton Rapids. Riley Cutler singled to center field. Kelli Ordiway advanced to third base and Riley Cutler aggressively went to second base on the throw to third base. Bella Spitzley got the first Greyhound out on a foul popup to the first base where Rylee Miller made a great catch near the fence.

Bella Spitzley picked the runner off third base; she got in a rundown and Riley Cutler was able to get to third base before the runner was tagged out. Eaton Rapids made its final out of the inning on a grounder to the shortstop.

Ari Brooks retired Portland’s leadoff batter in the seventh inning on a fly to left field. Bailee Fish walked. Ari Brooks struck out the next batter. Robin Ward entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bailee Fish. Greyhound Center Fielder Maddy Putnam made an excellent running catch to get the third Portland out.

The game is tied 4-4 after seven innings, so we will have EXTRA INNINGS!!

They use a similar tie breaker to what the major leaguers use. Brooke DePeel was stationed at second base to open the top of the eighth inning.

Brooke DePeel advanced to third base on a groundout to second base by Ari Brooks. Danika Finch hit a fly to right field, but when Veda Smith made a great throw home, Brooke DePeel had to hold at third base. Eaton Rapids made its third out on a foul popup to first base.

Riley Miller was placed on second base to start the bottom of the eighth inning for Portland. She advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Autumn Reffitt and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Claire Lyon.

Portland won this game 5-4 in eight innings.

Abi Pratt had three singles and one RBI for Eaton Rapids. Riley Cutler had two doubles and one RBI. Kalli Ordiway had a double and a single. Ari Brooks had two singles. Brooke DePeel had a double and one RBI. Danika Finch had a single and one RBI. Maddy Putnam and Riley Cutler each had one single.

Ari Brooks pitched the complete game for Eaton Rapids and struck out five Portland hitters.

Bella Spitzley had a home run and two RBI for Portland. Bailee Fish had a single and a double. Anastasia Seidelman had a double. Lilly Thelen and Autumn Reffit each had a single and one RBI. Molli Miilu had a single. Claire Lyon had one RBI.

I also covered Game 2 of this doubleheader. Here is the play by play! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/05/14/eaton-rapids-at-portland-softball-second-game-of-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-may-13-2025-by-chuck-krafft/