Softball: Chemics pound Trojans in SVL play

by Quinn Kane

The Midland High varsity softball team won big Monday afternoon, outscoring Saginaw High 32-1 in a pair of mercy-shortened games.

Game one ended in dramatic fashion when senior Kelli Shafley ended the contest with a two-run walk-off homer in the fourth inning to punctuate a 15-0 blowout. Katie Showalter also had a nice game offensively, adding two hits and scoring a pair of runs.

Jami Shafley took the hill for the Chemics in game one and struck out nine batters in her four innings of work. After the game, Midland coach Jason Gehoski praised his sophomore ace for her performance, particularly given the game’s final score.

“I think Jami pitched pretty well,” he said. “In games like these you can work on some things.”

In game two, it was the Trojans who drew first blood, scoring in the opening inning on an errant throw to second to give them the early lead. But Midland would score 17 unanswered runs to induce the 15-run mercy rule to end the game after three.

Offensively, freshman Emily Bentley led the way with a home run while junior Heather Stoney scored a pair of runs. Sophomore Genavieve Kohoyda had two RBIs.

Freshman Amber Gerstacker picked up the win for the Chemics, shaking off the first inning run by striking out all three batters she faced in the second and not surrendering another score.

Following the game, Gehoski also gave praise to the Trojans, who he said played well despite the lopsided final score.

“I give Saginaw High all the credit in the world,” he said. “They work very hard, and this is the best I’ve seen them play in years.”

But Gehoski also credited his own team, a team he says has a shot at the Saginaw Valley League title if things fall into place for the Chemics.

“We’re a good ball club,” he said. “If we play up to our potential we can beat anybody.”

The Chemics will host Coleman on Wednesday in a make-up game from an April 11 rainout. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.