Softball: Chemics earn split with Heritage

by Quinn Kane

The Midland High varsity softball team split a doubleheader Monday against Saginaw Heritage, prevailing 2-1 in game one before falling in the nightcap by a score of 6-2.

For the Chemics, game one was highlighted by the pitching of starter Jami Shafley, who struck out eight in going the distance for the win.

After the game, Chemics coach Jason Gehoski was pleased with the work of his sophomore ace.

“She’s our number one,” Gehoski said. “I have a ton of confidence in her, and I’ll be going to her throughout the season.”

While the Chemics pitching was sound, the team’s defense was anything but. Midland made five errors in the game, including two on one play in the fifth inning that eventually led to a Heritage runner getting thrown out at the plate.

“Usually five errors doesn’t win a game,” Gehoski said. “But we kept it together, and in the end we were on top.”

Offensively, the Chemics got a jump when freshman Emily Bentley’s first-inning double plated Katie Showalter to give Midland the early lead. Two innings later, Showalter would again be in on the action, picking up a single and swiping second before scoring on a single by Kelli Shafley, who would finish the game 2-for-3.

Those two runs would be all the scoring the Chemics would need as Jami Shafley continued her dominance on the mound. The Hawks would sniff a comeback late, putting the tying run on first with two outs. But Shafley would close out the last batter in half a dozen pitches to give the Chemics the win.

While pitching was the story of game one, Gehoski also gave praise to Bentley, who proved a little something in just her second game in blue and gold.

“She had a great game,” Gehoski said afterwards. “She just needs to get her confidence level up a little, and she’ll be fine.”

Fine indeed. Bentley followed her game one RBI double with a two-run homer in game two to give the Chemics their only runs in a 6-2 loss.

On the mound, Gehoski split the game between his two young pitchers. Freshman Amber Gerstacker allowed five earned runs in three innings of work, giving up seven hits and striking out two. Meanwhile, Jami Shafley did not surrender an earned run in her four innings of work, giving up only two hits and striking out six.

“In game two we were not very successful or aggressive at the plate,” Gehoski said. “We need to pick it up on offense and defense to help both our pitchers.”

The Chemics will return to action Wednesday when they travel to Bullock Creek. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.