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North Branch wins Bullock Creek Invite again

By Andrew Selich

Sports Editor

MIDLAND - Last season, the North Branch varsity softball team made a little school history in one season. They won a few tournament championships, including the one in Bullock Creek, on their way to winning the school's first-ever Regional title.

This season, they look like they might just make history once again.

On Saturday, North Branch withheld a late rally from Saginaw-Valley Lutheran in the championship game of the Midland-Bullock Creek Invitational, winning the title with a 2-1 victory over the Chargers. The tournament title is the second year straight that coach Cindy Howe and the Broncos have emerged as champs at the tournament.

Emily Wickerman was the pitcher of record in all three of the Broncos wins on Saturday. In the title game, the sophomore allowed just four hits over seven innings, striking out seven along the way.

North Branch (8-3) took the lead in the third inning of the title game. Chelsea Freeland reached base on an error. Back-to-back singles from the bats of Kelsey Roloson and Molly Harmon loaded the bases for the Broncos. Tonya Calkins then doubled home both Roloson and Freeland, giving their team a 2-0 lead. Valley Lutheran scored once in the fifth, but they would get no closer, as Wickerman shut the door on any hopes the Chargers had of making a comeback.

In their opening game on the day, Wickerman struck out two while scattering three hits in a 1-0 win over West Branch-Ogemaw Heights. Roloson led off the first by getting hit by a pitch. Harmon bunted her over to second where she later scored on an error for the game's only run.

Wickerman was fantastic in the Broncos second game, allowing eight hits and just one run in North Branch's 3-1 win over Midland High. Shanel Johnstone hit a two-run homerun in the sixth inning to give her team the two-run lead and the chance to play in the championship game against Valley Lutheran.

Macomb Classic

At Anchor Bay High School, the Brandon varsity softball team went 3-1 over the weekend, finishing tied for third place out of 23 teams.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks defeated L'Anse Cruise 2-1. Jessica Sherman picked up the win for the Hawks. Brie Prescott was 3-for-4 and Ashley Prescott was 2-for-3.

In Game 2, Kimmi Michal recorded the win, giving up just three hits as Brandon defeated Ford 1-0. Vanessa Bayley had the game's only hit to lead off the final inning. Bayley made her way all the around the bases on a bunt by Prescott to get the win.

In the final game on Saturday, the Blackhawks defeated the to No. 2 ranked team in the state, Fenton, by a final of 5-1. Sherman hit a solo shot homer in the second to get the early lead for Brandon. The Hawks then added four runs in the third to account for the final. Sherman was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and picked up the win as well. Ashley Prescott added two more hits.

On Sunday, Brandon lost to undefeated Anchor Bay in the semi finals, falling 4-3 in extra innings. Freshman catcher Kelsey Zsido was 2-for-2.

Marlette Invitational

At Marlette, the Red Raiders were 2-1 on the day, failing to win their own tournament. Frankenmuth won the tournament title with a 3-0 record.

Marlette opened the day with a 12-4 win over Capac. Caitlin King picked up the win, striking out nine while surrendering five hits over five innings. The Red Raiders exploded for eight runs in the fourth. Kryssy Skakle was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Kelsey Ramsey had two hits and two RBIs. Jenna Lange had two doubles and drove in two runs.

In Game 2, the Raiders were held to just one hit by Frankenmuth's Heather Schultz in a 3-1 loss to the Eagles. King was the pitcher of record, striking out three in the loss. Lindsay Maynard had the lone hit for Marlette.

Against Bishop Foley, Marlette scored four times in both the first and second innings, jumping out to a big lead on their way to a 9-5 win. Katie Clark struck out four over five innings of work. Kayla Brown was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Ramsey drove in two runs on a single.

Saturday, April 19

SOFTBALL

Tuscola Co. Tournament at Vassar HS - KEVIN GREGORY

East at Macomb Classic

Around the horn - Friday

North Branch 4-2, LakeVille 1-2: At Otisville, the Broncos' Emily Wickerman handed the Falcons their first two losses of the season with a doubleheader sweep on Friday.

In Game 1, Wickerman fanned seven while walking none, holding the high-powered Falcon offense in check. The game was scoreless through the first three innings. In the fourth, Shanel Johnstone singled home Tonya Calkins to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. LakeVille's Sarah Wright singled home Jordyn Kippe in the bottom of the inning to tie the game, but the Falcons would get no closer.

North Branch added two more in the fifth and one in the sixth to take the win.

In Game 2, Wickerman allowed five hits and struck out five to get the Broncos the sweep. LakeVille scored first, as Amanda Diem led off the inning with a single. Brooke Terwilliger hit a triple to the fence, scoring Diem.

The score would remain the same until the sixth, when Johnstone singled, scoring Calkins, who had led off with a double. Jadlyn Boyle singled in the game-winning run in the seventh.