SOFTBALL: Notre Dame Prep wins eighth straight district
PONTIAC — There’s something about softball districts and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep that just go hand-in-hand. At least that’s what appears on the surface in recent years.
The Fighting Irish captured their eighth straight district title as they defeated Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 13-0 in five innings in the semifinals, then came back to clip Birmingham Marian 12-8 in the Division 2 district finals Saturday at Nortre Dame Prep.
The Irish (31-7-1) will travel to Richmond next Saturday and play the winner of the Marysville district.
In the semifinals against Cranbrook Kingswood, Caley Gleason and Victoria Bayliss combined to throw the two-hit shutout from the circle. Gleason started the contest and went three innings, yielding one hit, struck out four and didn’t walk anyone. Bayliss finished the last two innings yielding the other hit, striking out three and did not give up a free pass.
Meanwhile, the Irish scored 13 runs on 17 hits. The Cranes pitcher Anna Sperling stuck out one and walked two but couldn’t keep NDP hitters at bay. Leading the Irish attack were Madison Fox, who went 4-for-4, scored twice and drove home two runs. Hanna Bullard went 3-for-3, including two doubles, and had four RBI, while Hannah Antosz went 3-for-4, scored three times and had two RBI.
Marian defeated Birmingham Detroit Country Day (7-4) in the other district semfinal.
In the finals, the Irish scored in every inning on their way to the 12-8 win. Some untimely errors led to six unearned runs by the Irish and led to extended at bats for Marian. The Mustangs racked up 13 hits, including a three-run home run by Adriane Roberson, who finished the game 3-for-4 for Marian. Ary Dadabbo added three hits of her own including a double and a RBI for the Mustangs.
The Irish bats picked up where they left off in the opener, as they slugged out 21 hits, including five extra base hits in the finals.
The offense was led by senior third baseman Lauren Perkins, who went 5-for-5 with two doubles, scored twice and drove home one run. Antosz had another great game at the plate, going 4-for-5, scoring twice with one RBI, catcher Hanna Bullard went 1-for-2 and had two sacrifice flies on her way to a three RBI for Notre Dame Prep.
Katie Swartz also got involved in the offensive act, as she went 2-for-3, scored once and drove in two. Swartz also made many fine defensive plays in centerfield including a sensational driving catch in the bottom of the seventh inning to save the Mustangs from rallying back. Bayliss went 2-0for-5, scored twice and had two RBI.
Once again Bayliss and Gleason shared the circle this time Gleason came on in relief of Bayliss, who pitched the first four innings. She gave up four runs, two earned, on seven hits, struck out three and walked two. Gleason pitched the final three innings, giving up four unearned runs — all after two were out in the bottom of the seventh — and four hits.
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