The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Big Reds strong in Huron softball opener
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
The Milan varsity softball team has now won big, won close and lost hard on its way to compiling a 5-4 record, only one win away from tying last season's total victories.
Advertisement
The Big Reds got their first Huron League win April 18, defeating Riverview at home 3-1, and placed second at the South Lyon Invitational over the weekend.
"We're feeling pretty good about things right now," said coach Jen Jackson.
In their first conference game of the year, the Big Reds fell behind 1-0 to Riverview in the first inning, but then shut the Pirates' offense down the remainder of the game.
"We played very good defense," said Jackson, "which has been our goal from the beginning."
Winning pitcher Sarah Heath struck out six, walked four and only allowed three hits.
Milan didn't have many more hits (five), but they made them count. Junior Tori Turner went 2-for-3 with a double and freshman Lani Ernst went 1-for-3 with a double. Heath helped her cause, going 1-for-2 with two RBIs and sophomore Amelia Budny went 1-for-3.
Milan's pitchers delivered outstanding performances in the first two games of the South Lyon tournament to lead their team into the finals.
Heath pitched a no-hitter in a 10-0 win in five innings against Farmington Harrison to open the tournament, and Ernst struck out 18 in a tight 3-2 win over Cass Tech in the semi-finals.
"Our pitchers were really bringing it that day," Jackson said.
Heath struck out seven and walked three after the Big Reds recorded a five-run first to set an early tone.
Turner recorded two RBIs, going 1-for-3 with a trip, while sophomore Ashley Beal and junior Emily Brewer each went 2-for-3 with double. Beal had one RBI and Brewer had two. Sophomore Erin Costello went 1-for-3 with a double. Budny, Kaylin Crump and Stephanie Quinn contributed hits to the offensive onslaught.
"They're hitting the ball pretty well," Jackson said. "Every chance we get we try to score. I try to be somewhat daring on the base paths."
This was an important part in the Big Reds' 3-2 win over Cass Tech, a pitching duel that saw the Cass Tech pitcher delivering pitches in the 60-mph range.
Scoring opportunities were few and far between, but Milan made the most of them when they came along.
The Big Reds scored twice in the fourth when lead-off Beal walked, stole second and scored when Heath reached base on an error. Heath crossed the plate on the first of Ernst's two triples.
The game was tied 2-2 into the sixth when Beal singled to center and scored on Ernst's second triple of the game.
It was an important win for the Big Reds.
"The team was very excited that they were able to hold off a strong pitcher," Jackson said.
Milan lost 7-4 in the finals against South Lyon, falling behind 5-0 in the first three innings. Heath, who had trouble staying ahead in the count, gave up seven hits before Ernst came in to relieve, striking out six and allowing one hit.
The Big Reds scored once in the fourth and once in the fifth, but really came to life in the sixth, scoring twice more and ending the inning with the bases loaded. The game was called on time.
"The fact that we were able to come back kind of renewed (our) spirit," Jackson said.
Turner went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Ernst batted a thousand in three at-bats with two doubles and a triple. Heath went 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI. Amber Lindzy went 1-for-3.
On a windy field Monday, the Big Reds fell 4-1 to league rival Flat Rock, a loss Jackson said could have gone the other way with a few breaks.
"(Flat Rock was) a good, well-rounded team," said Jackson, "but we didn't get the breaks of it. Several of our balls that should have been hits got caught up in the air."
She also noted a breakdown in the defense's focus.
"I told them after the game, 'Look what happens when you let down just a little bit,'" she said.
Ernst took the loss, recording six strikeouts, five walks, and conceding three hits.
Turner went 2-for-3 with a double and a homerun.
The Big Reds are now 5-4 overall with a 1-1 league record.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
Staff Blog, "Inside The Newsroom"
TOP JOBS
