Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
FREMONT — The batting lineup for Oakridge’s softball team has been quite prolific throughout the 2024 season.
It’s state tournament time now, however, so anything extra might provide a boost. That includes party garb purchased by Alisha Pieczynski, mother of freshman standout Kelcey Osborne, in an attempt to keep the intensity going for the Eagles. Included in the purchase were chef hats, which Pieczynski was hoping would keep the offense “cooking.”
Seems like it worked, as Oakridge lit up the scoreboard in a 13-4 victory over Grand Rapids Catholic Central in a Division 2 regional semifinal at Fremont Saturday morning. Oakridge led Allendale 9-4 in the top of the second inning of the championship game before rain forced its postponement.
Oakridge (31-9) and Allendale (18-15-1) will resume their regional title game at 5 p.m. Monday at Fremont. Allendale defeated Newaygo, 10-4, in the other regional semifinal Saturday.
In the first game of the day, Oakridge used an eight-run second inning to create some cushion against GRCC (21-15) and kept the Cougars at bay the rest of the way. Maddie Clark led the offensive charge for the Eagles with three hits, including a double and triple, and she drove in five runs. Osborne, Kaelinn Jozsa, and Gracie Clark had two hits apiece. Osborne and Gracie Willea scored three runs each.
Osborne also picked up the pitching win, allowing three earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game effort.
In the first inning of the title game between Oakridge and Allendale, the Falcons scored four runs on four hits in the top half of the inning. The Eagles answered with nine runs in bottom half without the benefit of a hit. Allendale pitchers totaled eight walks in the inning as conditions worsened with rain coming down.
Photos courtesy of Alisha Pieczynski
