EAST LANSING — Rogers City and Kalamazoo Christian are familiar with each other.
The teams played in last year’s Division 4 softball semifinal with the Comets winning, 2-0. Christian went on to win the state title.
In an early-season tournament, the Hurons got the better of Christian, 8-4. However, star pitcher Rebekah VanDam wasn’t on the mound and RBI machine Kara Gjeltema was out of the lineup.
That won’t be the case Saturday when they collide after Rogers City advanced with an 11-1, five-inning victory over Fowler at Michigan State today.
“This is the spot that we wanted to be in; we wanted to meet them in the finals,” said senior first baseman Morgan Hall, who paced Rogers City (33-6) with three hits and three RBIs. “As long as we keep our heads, stay calm and make the plays, I think we can do it.
“Last year’s game against them was a heart-breaker. They hit a home run to start the game. I think this year we’re going to be more composed. We know how this thing goes. We just gained so much experience. Although we didn’t come out with the state title or runner-up, we know the pressure.”
The Hurons scored first on the savvy baserunning of leadoff hitter Logan Fleming.
She singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third while Sarah Meredith bounced to shortstop and scored on a two-out single by Hall.
Fowler tied the score in the top of the third on Kayla Schafer’s triple that scored Brianna Schmitt. Schafer was later tagged out at home on a fielder’s choice to end the threat.
Rogers City responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the third and got a two-run single from Meredith and a run-scoring single by Hall to retake the lead, 3-1.
Still with nobody out, Sydney Feldpausch threw a wild pitch, advancing the runners to second and third. She eventually walked in a run with the bases loaded and two outs.
Up for the second time in the inning, Cassie Brege hit a bouncer to shortstop, but Kayla Fleury beat Tori Wirth to third as another run scored. Feldpausch struck out Fleming for the final out, but five runs had scored to give the Hurons a 6-1 lead.
In the fourth, Hall’s single scored another run, and when Feldpausch let the ball scoot by her for the second error of the inning, the Hurons were ahead, 8-1.
A double steal kept the Eagles grounded and put runner on second and third with no outs. Another run scored on a wild pitch, and coach Kat Schmitt pulled Feldpausch for Wirth.
She was greeted by a bunt single from Autumn Idalski to reload the bases. Brege singled past shortstop, scoring two runs to make it 11-1.
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