Monday Madness

It was a full slate of games on Monday and here are the results I have so far:

The USA baseball team swept Cass City 5-1, 10-3 to improve to 12-6 overall and more importantly 6-0 in the GTW.

In the opener, Matias Kraynak struck out six and scattered four hits to earn the win. Offensively, Mitch Keyes led the team with two hits, while Kelson Gettel, Kraynak, Shane Schmidt and Heath Schmidt had one hit each.

In game two, Jordan Bolzman racked up seven K's en route to the win. At the plate, Tyson Valentine and Heath Schmidt had two knocks apiece, while Tim Holland and Caleb Brow each singled.

Here's my impression of the Patriots... this team is heating up. I saw them just two weeks ago against Ubly and they weren't that impressive. Well, they are definitely kicking things into high gear at this point.

The guy who deserves a lot of credit for the turn around is Mitch Keyes. Heading into yesterday's games against the Red Hawks, Keyes had 12 hits in the last four games and was hitting .447 for the season with 13 RBIs. Needless to say, he has been a big spark for the Patriot's offense.

Could a league championship be in the future for USA? I sure think so.

In other baseball action, Bad Axe split with Reese. The Hatchets won the opener 6-4 and lost the nightcap 5-1.

In game one, Jason Brown allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings and struck out four to earn the "W". Tim Rader picked up the save with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Things did get a little dicey, as he walked three and allowed a hit.

At the plate, Nathan Janik had two singles and a double, while Rob Watkins and Brown chipped in two singles each. Eric Moore added a two run homer in the fifth.

In game two, Pete Salens took the loss, allowing four runs and two walks in six innings. Salens did strike out seven. Offensively, no Hatchet player had more than one hit in the nightcap.

Bad Axe is 4-2 in league play and 11-9 overall.

EPBP split its league match up with BCAS, winning game one 6-3 and dropping game two 11-1.

In the opener, Kyle Dubs pitched a complete game, five hitter to earn the win. Chris Rowe led the offense with a double, while Mark Feger, Shawn Wise and Adam Chiotti each added singles.

In the nightcap (a five inning game), Logan Tibbits, Feger and Rowe had singles for Lakers. EPBP is 7-8 overall and 2-4 in the GTW.

The Lady Laker softball team was swept by BCAS, losing 2-1, 9-1.

In the opener, Erica King tossed a three hitter, but allowed a two-run homer in the fifth which proved to be the difference. Melissa Fritch led the offense with a double, while Haley Schulz and Whitney Damrow added a pair of singles each.

King had the team's lone hit in the game two loss.

In soccer, Bad Axe defeated Sandusky 8-0.

The Hatchets got three goals from Mary Mc Cracken, while Shayna Polega add two scores. Sara Schnorack, Sara Thoms and Jackie Rochefort also scored.

The team got two assists from Rochefort, as well as one help each from Chelsea Grifka, Amanda Wehner, Katie Essian and Polega.

Coach David DeCourval complimented his team's defense, pointing out that they allowed just one shot on goal. Thoms and Rochefort shared the win in goal.

In other soccer action, Harbor Beach was an overtime winner over Marlette. Kara Hess had the game winning goal to give the Pirates a 1-0 victory.

In the extra session, Moriah Kish powered past several defenders and took a sharp shot on the goal. The Marlette keeper partially deflected the ball, which then hit the post and bounced in
front of the goal.

Hess ran through the loose ball knocking it into the goal with her body to score the game winner.

In track, both the Ubly boys' and girls' teams won a tri-meet at Lakers, which also included Bad Axe.

So that's it for now.

Remember, take the time to vote on this week's poll on potential State Champions in the Thumb area this spring.