The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Softball team sweeps Grosse Ile, now 11-9
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
The Milan varsity softball team is in a position to pull off what could be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in school history.
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Last year, the team was 6-24. The Big Reds now are 11-9, only one game away from doubling last year's total wins, and poised to finish the year above .500 with only around 10 games to go.
"I think a realistic goal is to be above .500," said coach Jen Jackson. "I have seen steady improvement and more and more things I'm seeing are pleasing to me defensively."
The Big Reds went 2-1 over the past three games, falling 1-0 to Flat Rock before sweeping Grosse Ile 8-6 and 7-1, elevating their Huron League record to 4-4.
Milan and Flat Rock entered the fifth inning knotted in a scoreless tie. In the top of the inning, with one out, the Rams got a runner to first on a dropped third strike. The next batter struck out for the second out, but then an infield grounder was overthrown into right field, allowing a run to score all the way from first.
The Big Reds could not mount an offensive response and dropped the game 1-0.
"It was a great game," Jackson said. "It just didn't fall our way. We played real well. We had one break down in one inning. It was a lesson that you can't let down for even one pitch."
On the mound, freshman Lani Ernst struck out nine, walked two and allowed only one hit. Offensively, the Big Reds came up with only two hits, credited to Tori Turner and Amelia Budny.
"I think we were too anxious at the plate," Jackson said. "We had a lot of fly balls."
The Big Reds bounced back against Grosse Ile, finding the pop again in their bats, but not until late in the game after falling behind 5-1.
"We started out lax," said Jackson, "like we weren't ready to play. We were too low key."
Until the fifth inning, that is, when the Big Reds erupted for seven runs. The rally was spurred when Heather Bedaygla and Kaitlin Crump reached base on errors, and were advanced by a sacrifice bunt from Stephanie Quinn. Turner promptly drove in Bedaygla and Crump with a double.
In the 8-6 win, Turner went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases. Ashley Beal went 1-for-3 with a triple while Ernst cranked in two RBI on 3-for-4 hitting, including a double. Sarah Heath went 2-for-4 while striking out three, walking four, and allowing 10 hits. Budny went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Freshman Emily Rukkila went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The comeback win was significant and encouraging, Jackson said.
"We as coaches are not going to allow playing with attitudes of 'Oh, we're done,'" she said. "We don't want our players allowing themselves to ever think we're done."
In the nightcap, Ernst pitched a one-hitter, striking out 10 and walking only two to earn a 7-1 win.
The Big Reds scored in the first inning, when Turner singled, stole second base, was advanced to third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Beal, and scored on an Ernst sacrifice fly.
"It was good fundamental softball," Jackson said.
Turner later had a triple and Ernst uncorked a homer.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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