Lakers Softball back to CHSL Finals
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In what was a back and forth affair Wednesday evening in Madison Heights, but the Lakers eventually prevailed with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings against Bishop Foley. The first time star junior pitcher and 2018 Bowling Green pledge Hannah Davies saw the Ventures she threw an 18 strikeout no hitter. After that game Davies was sidelined for 5 weeks with a back injury and the team struggled in her absence. On Wednesday, Bishop Foley came out swinging a hot bat against Davies with two hits and a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. After a walk and a throwing error in the second inning the Ventures tacked on another run to take a 2-0 lead. Davies settled in after that and held Bishop Foley to one hit and one unearned run the rest of the game.
Conversely, the Lakers were having a tough time getting anything going on offense early with only 1 of the first 10 batters reaching base. The Lakers offense started to show signs of life in the top of the fourth with back to back hits by Stephanie Carver (1RBI 2 runs) and Caroline Kramer (2-5 1 RBI) with Carver’s courtesy runner Shannon Romkema eventually scoring to cut the lead to 2-1 Ventures. In the top of the sixth frame the Lakers put two more on the board to take a 3-2 lead only to have the Ventures answer with a run of their own to make it 3-3 after 6 innings. The score would stay that way until Junior Kayla Sanders (1-5 2 Runs) broke the tie in the top of the tenth inning on a close play at the plate. Davies (10 IP 15 K’s) sent the Ventures down 1, 2, 3 in the bottom half of the inning to sealing the 4-3 the victory.
“An up and down game from an up and down season.” Coach Steve Troy said after the game. “After Hannah went down we knew we were going to have to scrap and scrape to get into the playoffs but we liked our chances [in the playoffs] with her back healthy… That being said it was a team win today with everyone contributing.” The Lakers have been on a roll winners of five straight and now will play for the Catholic League Championship for the third season in a row.
The CHSL Championship game will be held Monday May 22nd 4:00 p.m. at U of D Mercy.
