Comes clutch: Evart sweeps Clare on a softball | Sports

EVART — Evart had a fine softball victory over talented non-league opposition Clare in windy conditions at home on Tuesday. The scores were 3-2 and 7-1.

The Wildcats pulled ahead 2-1 and scored in the opening sixth inning on an RBI single to left from first baseman Mattie Tiedt, eventually sending the game into extra innings. Evart finally won in style with a walk in the bottom of the ninth and this time it was a successful sacrifice bunt from Mattie’s younger sister, Evart second baseman Jo Jo Tiedt, that allowed Jilly Decker to score from third at the time. 3-2 victory.

Decker, a runner on second through international no-hitter rules, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice from Callie Duncan.

Kyrah Gray earned the second spot for Evart, striking out six while walking three and allowing six hits and one run. Gray got timely layups, including a soft infield fly catch by Jo Jo Tiedt with a runner on in the seventh and a shoulder catch on a wind-blown pop by third baseman Kiera Elder earlier in the contest.

Kate Gostlin knocked in Evart’s first run of the game with a single and scored Evart’s second run on Mattie Tiedt’s RBI single. Gray, Decker, and Duncan also had hits for the Wildcats.

In the second game, Liv Vanassche, Gray, and Mattie Tiedt shared the pitching duties with Vanassche taking the first three frames to earn the win. He allowed one hit and struck out two. Gray allowed one hit in two innings of work and Tiedt allowed one hit and one run with three K’s over the final two innings.

Gray and Gostlin each had three hits in the nightcap. Gostlin’s bases-loaded double knocked in Evart’s three runs. Gray, who also scored twice, scored twice.

Jo Jo Tiedt, Jilly Decker, and Emily Miller each had two hits with Tiedt hitting two and Decker scoring two runs. Miller also scored. Senior catcher Ally Theunick singled to score. Duncan and Mattie Tiedt also each had a hit.

Evart (5-1) hosts its tournament on Saturday.

MESICK — Cadillac ran its winning streak to four games as it swept Mesick, 17-2 and 23-11, in a non-conference title.

Payton Parish got the win in the first, allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out three.

At the plate, Kaylee Combs had two doubles and three RBIs; Marielle Boolman twice; Alivia Lorenz hit and RBI; Chloe Lijewski hit; Parish had three hits and two RBIs; Ellie Plotnikiewicz two hits, including a double; Cassie Jenema double run; Cali Quartz had three hits, including a home run, and an RBI; Quinn Hess hit; and Ashlynn Becktel hit.

Maddy Spoor took the loss for Mesick. Brooklyn Gunther had a hit; Spur hit and RBI; and Adrianna Williams-King hit.

Combs got the win in game two, allowing six earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four in three innings of work.

At the plate, Boolman had two hits, including a double, and an RBI; Plotnikiewicz two hits, including two, and two RBI; Lijewski double, triple and double RBI; Parish had two hits and an RBI; Becktel’s two doubles and an RBI; Two Quartz watches; Lorna Little two hits; Combines a double, a home run and three RBIs; Lillian Allen two hits and two RBIs; and Hess RBI.

For Mesick, Isabelle Terry had two hits; Kierra Bailey hit; Spur hit and RBI; Molly Kuyt two RBIs; Avery Linna with an RBI; Kylie Sexton hit; and King-Williams two hits, including a double, and two RBIs.

Cadillac (5-2) hosts Elk Rapids today.

MARION — Manton picked up two wins, defeating Marion 16-5 and 11-1 in two non-conference contests.

Aliyah Geary got the win in the Rangers opener, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with no walks while striking out one.

At the plate, Morgan Shepler had two hits and two RBI; Geary’s two hits, including a double, and two RBIs; Adrianna Sackett triple, home run and three RBI; Genna Alexander two hits and two RBI; Kadie Meyer hit; Rylyn Wilder hit; Karley Wurm hit and RBI; Kaya Jenkins hit; and Maggie Powers a hit and an RBI.

Bonnie Kiger took the loss for Marion.

In the plate, Ella Wilson had a double; Malley Raymond hit; McKayla Cruson three hits and two RBI; Kiger a hit and two RBIs; Jacelyn Moggo hit; Maddy Bell hit; and Mara Jolly hit.

Powers got the win in the second game, allowing no earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out one.

At the plate, Shepler had an RBI; Geary two hits and an RBI; Sackett RBI double, triple and triple; Jenkins struck; Wilder hit and RBI; Kyra Johnson had two hits and an RBI; and RBI Authority.

Wilson took the loss for Marion.

At the plate, Wilson had a hit; Cruson hit; Kiger with an RBI double; Moggo hit; The bell hit; and Jolly tablet.

HESPERIA — Strong pitching and defense helped Pine River sweep Hesperia 8-0 and 14-4 in non-league play.

“We didn’t play our best football but we played well enough to win,” Pine River coach Mike Nelson said. “I thought our defense played well and kept us in the game.â€

Freshman Kylee Mumby got the win in the opener, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out 17.

Emma Burns had two hits and an RBI while Lilly Felsk added a hit and two RBIs. Lanie Sparks and Sadler Mumby had a hit and two RBIs each.

Sadler Mumby got the win in the second game, allowing four hits and six walks while striking out six.

At the plate, Sparks had two hits and three RBI; Sadler Mumby three hits and two RBI; Casey Proctor hit and RBI; and Layla Draper a hit and three RBIs.

Pine River (5-1) hosts Farwell on Thursday.

REED CITY — Reed City got a big win over CSAA foe Grant on Tuesday, winning at home by scores of 5-1 and 16-1.

Isabell Guy went all seven innings in the opener, striking out 11 while allowing five hits and no earned runs.

Hailey Sanborn hit an RBI single for the Coyotes. Anna Paine and Hayden Cutler also had hits in the opener.

Guy also went the distance in the second game, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout. He had plenty of help from the Reed City forwards.

Cutler drove in four with a pair of timely hits. Morgan Hammond, Kenzie Shoemaker, Starley Baumgardner, and Anna Paine were also part of the second game parade.

Reed City (7-1, 4-0) is at Chippewa Hills on Friday.

BENZONIA — Buckley split a pair of games in its Northwest Conference opener with Benzie Central.

The Bears won the opener 9-3 while the Huskies won the dual 16-1.

Kayla Milarch got the win in the opener, striking out 10. Maddie Chilson led the way with three hits, including a home run, while Milarch had four hits, including two doubles.

Chilson and Avery Mathews each had a hit in the second game.

KALKASKA — McBain had a tough job on Tuesday at non-league opponent Kalkaska. The Ramblers lost both games by scores of 16-0 and 19-3.

McBain was held scoreless in the first inning but came back to score three times in the nightcap.

Center fielder Shannon Maloney recorded one of McBain’s three hits in the second game and scored two of McBain’s three runs.

Pitcher Emerson Tossey hit an RBI single and left fielder Brecken Gilde also singled. Catcher Olivia Peterson recorded an RBI.

Tossey started the opener for McBain and Katelyn DeZeeuw started the second game.

McBain (1-4) is at Manistee Thursday.

KALKASKA — The McBain baseball team made a short trip north to Kalkaska a success on Tuesday, coming off a 6-4, 15-2 victory over non-league foes.

In the opener, neither team ripped the cover off the ball, with McBain making three hits and Kalkaska getting just four.

The Ramblers used freshman right-hander Clayton Heuker, who pitched well in four innings, allowing one hit with six K’s and one walk with no earned runs.

“Clayton played well,†said McBain coach Shaun Mulder.

“He filled the strike zone and forced them to swing the bat and put it in the game. He kept us in the game when we couldn’t get doors early and that was huge.â€

Leadoff hitter Bryce Akom helped spark McBain’s offense. He was 2 for 3 on the day including a bases-clearing three-run double. He also scored twice.

“Bryce settles down well on the routine and is a threat on the base paths,†Mulder said.

Heuker got another hit by McBain in the opener and knocked in a run. Blayn Hughston walked twice and scored each time.

Kaden Abrahamson pitched the final two innings for the Ramblers, allowing three hits with three walks and three earned runs.

In the second game, Trenton Brunink went all four times for the Ramblers, allowing one hit with four K’s and no earned runs. Brunink got plenty of help as the Ramblers recorded eight hits and 15 runs.

“Trenton took over where Clay and Kaden came from in the first game, throwing a lot of shots,†Mulder said.

“Our starters only struck out three batters and used their pitches to get them out of their innings. We are slowly but surely looking like a baseball team.â€

Senior second baseman Trey Boven had three hits in the nightcap, including an inside-the-park home run, to knock in four Ramblers’ runs. Heuker also had two hits and two RBIs and Carson Murphy had an RBI hit along with Colton Haverkamp. Hughston singled to score two more runs.

McBain (3-4-1) is at Manistee on Thursday.

REED CITY — Reed City shared two books with visiting Grant on Tuesday in a windy CSAA matchup. The Coyotes won the opener 2-1 behind top lefty Max Hammond but Grant rallied to win the nightcap 7-5.

Hammond struck out 13 in 5.1 innings of work, allowing one hit and one run, though it was not an earned run. Maverick Conklin retired Hammond in the sixth, getting the final two outs, and Spencer Hansen pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.

Hansen also drilled an RBI single to give the Coyotes an early 1-0 lead. Zach Erickson singled later to drive home Landen Jackson with the game-winning run.

In the second game, Caleb Somers started and took the loss. He went into the fifth inning, giving up three hits and three earned runs with four K’s and three walks. Reese Dew pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and four runs, though only one earned run.

Conklin was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Hammond drilled a two-run single. Erickson and Dew also had hits for the Coyotes and Dew scored a run. Somers singled and scored as well.

Reed City (5-2) plays at Chippewa Hills on Friday.

HESPERIA — Pine River posted an 11-3 win over Hesperia in a non-league contest. The second game was called because of darkness.

“We started off a little sloppy and unfocused but our pitchers settled down and we had some guys hit the ball well,†Pine River coach Shawn Ruppert said.

“Johnny Jacobs and JJ Dean had a great outing at the plate.â€

Xander Martin got the win, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out four.

At the plate, Martin had a hit and an RBI; Nate Marks hit; Jericho Holmes hit and RBI; Braeden Larr hit and RBI; Cash Wheeler hit and RBI; Kaiden Hubble hit and RBI; Dean three hits and an RBI; Grady Moore with an RBI; Jacobs hit; and Hunter Johnson’s RBI.