Softball: Dow thwarts Chemics

by Cory Butzin

Every varsity softball game between Midland Dow and Midland this year was a hard-fought contest.

Saturday’s district semi-final was no different.

The Chargers played small ball to get a run in the top of the second, and relied on a stellar pitching performance by Courtney King to hold on forae 1-0 win over the cross-town rival Chemics and advance to the district championship game.

“When it’s a high-caliber team against a high-caliber team, what you usually get is good ball,” said Midland coach Christina Griffis. “And that’s what we had today, good ball by both sides.”

Dow coach Jason Gehoski agreed.

“Midland High has played very, very well the latter half of their season,” he said. “These last couple weeks of our season, we’ve played really well. It came down to who scored that one run, I guess, and it happened to be us.”

With powerful winds blowing in from the outfield, both teams were going to have to rely on small ball to manufacture offense, and the Chargers did exactly that.

In the top of the second, Abby Lerner laid down a bunt and beat out the throw for a single. Junior varsity call-up Staci Thornton was sent in as a pinch runner and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, with Shannon Young coming to the plate. Young punched one into center field to bring Thornton home.

It was the only offense Dow could get against Chemic starter Jami Shafley as she went the distance allowing only four hits, striking out two with one walk.

In most games, that would be good enough to win. But in most games you don’t have to face King.

She pitched to only two batters over the minimum, striking out ten with two walks without allowing a hit to pick up her second 1-0 win over Midland and move to 3-0 against the Chemics this season.

“Courtney came out and did her job,” Gehoski said. “I think that’s been a trend for her, so she just continued her trend which is very nice. As a coach it makes things very, very easy.”

Midland’s season ends with a record of 22-11. While it’s not the way the Chemics wanted to go out, they are already looking forward to next year with six returning starters.

“They’re a great group of girls,” Griffis said. “I look forward to next year, because it’s going to be a whole different ballgame.”

While Gehoski was proud of his team, and very happy to be moving on, the win did leave him a little torn.

“I’m really proud of the Dow High girls,” he said. “But I’m a little saddened for the Midland High girls. They were my girls last year, but they played a great year.”

He couldn’t afford to be nostalgic for too long though, as the Chargers had a nine round heavyweight bought scheduled with the Wolves of Bay City Central for the district championship.

Photos by Cory Butzin