The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Big Reds sweep league-leading Airport
Milan hands Jets second, third Huron losses of season
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2008
The Milan varsity softball team on Monday played the role of giant slayer.
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The Big Reds swept Airport 4-3, 5-3, handing the Jets their second and third losses in the Huron League, knocking them out of first place and snapping their 11-game winning streak.
"It's the best we've played all year," said Jackson. "They never gave up. They just kept coming."
It wasn't easy. The Big Reds took the opener 4-3 after jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Jets picked away at that lead, however, scoring a run in the second, third, and fifth innings to tie the game before Milan scored the winning run in the fifth.
Senior first baseman Tori Turner had two hits, including a double. Sarah Heath, Ashley Beal, and Nina Doran each had hits.
Freshman Kat Hoffman got her first win of the night, striking out nine while allowing only four hits and one walk.
It was in the nightcap that the Big Reds showed their grit, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to seize a 5-3 win.
Down 3-1 in the fifth, Lani Ernst doubled and scored on a follow-up double from Heath to pull within one of the Jets. And then in the top of the seventh, Hoffman led off with a single and Barbara Hubbard was hit by a pitch. Hoffman was forced out at third on a grounder to second from Tori Turner. A pop out followed, but a passed ball advanced the runners to second and third with two outs.
Beal, who last week chalked up the first homerun of her high school career, worked the count to 3-2 before knocking a soft line drive into right that scored two and gave Milan its first lead of the game. Ernst then knocked her second double of the game to score Beal.
Ernst has missed much of the middle part of the season due to injury, but rejoined the lineup as a designated hitter last week.
"It's huge to have Enrst back in the order," said Jackson. "Even with a bum knee she can still hit for power."
In her second win, Hoffman struck out 10 while giving up eight hits and three walks.
The sweep of Airport lifted Milan's league record to 7-5.
"It's an unmeasurable boost of confidence," said Jackson of the dual wins. "The girls are playing with a lot of confidence right now. Each game we're gaining confidence and realizing we can play with anybody."
Even, for example, a state-ranked team.
The Big Reds battled tenth-ranked Clinton over the weekend at the Chelsea Invitational, falling 5-2.
"Intimidation was not a factor," said Jackson. "We went toe-to-toe with Clinton."
Milan fell behind early, going down 2-0 in the first. Clinton scored two more in the second and again in the fourth to lead 4-0 heading into the fifth. The Big Reds started to stage a comeback, scoring twice in the fifth, but couldn't plate additional runs in the final innings.
Heath pitched four innings, striking out two and allowing six hits and two walks. Hoffman came on in relief, striking out three and giving up only one hit in three innings of work.
Turner had two hits, including a double and Doran and Hubbard each had a hit.
Milan entered the Clinton game coming off a 9-4 win over a strong Chelsea team. The Big Reds amassed 16 hits in the game, while Hoffman allowed the Bulldogs only four, striking out nine. She contributed four hits on offense.
Turner, too, continued to hit well, collecting three hits, including a triple. Heath also recorded three hits while Beal, Ernst, Doran and Hubbard each had two.
Earlier in the week, Milan split a pair of contests against league rivals, defeating Monroe Jefferson 9-1 and losing 3-1 to St. Mary Catholic Central in the pouring rain.
Beal cranked her second homerun of the year in the Jefferson win, a 3-run shot to right. Turner, Heath and Garcia each had a double.
In the SMCC loss, Ernst had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Hoffman struck out five.
The Big Reds (13-8) are ramping up for districts, and after the Airport sweep, Jackson likes the way her team is playing.
"I don't think we've peaked," said Jackson. "We're continuing to improve and I think as we're approaching districts we're really starting to take off."
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