Oakridge’s softball team tested itself throughout the regular season with these moments in mind.
The Eagles have had their eyes on a state tournament run and they have successfully passed the first checkpoint: Winning a district title.
It wasn’t easy, but host Oakridge outlasted Fruitport, 6-2 in 10 innings, in the Division 2 district championship game Saturday (June 1).
Oakridge (30-9) advances to this Saturday’s regional at Fremont, where the Eagles open with a 10 a.m. semifinal against Grand Rapids Catholic Central. GRCC defeated Forest Hills Eastern, 11-3, in its district final.
In the other regional semifinal at Fremont, Allendale and Newaygo square off at noon. The regional final is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Oakridge advanced to the district final with a 10-1 victory over Spring Lake in the district semifinals. Kelcey Osborne pitched a five-hitter with nine strikeouts and only one walk in the complete-game win for the Eagles. Kaelinn Jozsa and Brooklyn Hanson had two hits apiece for Oakridge, which got doubles from Jozsa, Ahria Doornbos, and Rylee Vanderputte.
In the other district semifinal, Fruitport defeated Whitehall, 8-5. The Trojans scored four runs in the decisive third inning. Madyson Prout hit a two-run home run for Fruitport and finished 3-for-4 in the game. For Whitehall, Taylor Ottinger finished with three hits while Annabel Kevwitch and Janie Fagan had two hits apiece.
In the district final, Oakridge led 2-0 in the fifth inning before Fruitport’s Kya Tawney evened the score with a two-run home run. The score remained tied at 2 until the 10th, when Oakridge pushed across four runs on three errors and a couple passed balls.
Osborne and Vanderputte paced Oakridge with two hits apiece in the game. Kylee Willea pitched all 10 innings for the Eagles, picking up the win. She allowed five hits and two earned runs with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
Brooklyn Russell took the pitching loss for Fruitport, allowed six runs (zero earned) on seven hits. She struck out six and walked seven. Prout and Brylee DeWitt led the Trojans (23-15) with two hits apiece.
Photos courtesy of Alisha Pieczynski
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