Softball: Chemics whip Warriors in the fourth to advance

by Cory Butzin

The Chemics only scored in one inning.

But one inning was enough.

The Midland High varsity softball team took advantage of a five-run fourth inning and 10 strikeouts from Jami Shafley to take a 5-2 contest over host Bay City Western Tuesday in the opening round of the district softball tournament.

“I told the girls as long as we play our game and play it the way we know how, we will win and they did,” said Midland coach Christina Griffis.

With Shafley on the mound, Midland’s defense wasn’t put in many vulnerable positions.

“Excellent,” Griffis said in response to her starter’s performance. “She has a mind of steel, poise, a lot of confidence on that mound as if she owns it, and that’s what a pitcher needs in these types of games.”

While Shafley kept the Warriors off the base paths, it took a little while for the Chemics to find their way onto them.

But that finally happened in the fourth.

Genni Kohoyda opened the top half by beating out an infield hit for a single, and Emily Bentley and Melissa Rathbun followed with singles of their own to load the bases with no outs. Breanne Walkowiak hit a grounder to the pitcher, but the throw to home couldn’t be handled and Kohoyda slid in safely to give Midland the lead. Emily Hoffman then walked to bring in another run, and Heather Stoney singled to bring home Rathbun and Walkowiak and give the Chemics a commanding 4-0 lead. Elise Wright, who took over for Allison Jahr after Jahr was forced from the game with a knee injury, singled to bring home Hoffman and cap Midland’s monster inning.

Western responded in the bottom of the fifth with two unearned runs, but they couldn’t close the gap any further.

Shafley pitched a complete game, allowing only three hits and no earned runs with 10 strikeouts to pick up the win.

Maddison Sebald took the loss for Western after allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings.

“The girls are behind each other; that’s the biggest thing,” Griffis said. “I think they know everyone’s got their back. All 15 of us, the whole coaching staff, we all have confidence in these girls and they’re starting to believe it, and it’s showing.”

The Chemics improve to 22-10 on the season. They return to action Saturday at Western High where they will take on cross-town rival Dow. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.