Notre Dame Prep tops Country Day in 9 innings to win softball district title
PONTIAC — Pontiac Notre Dame Prep won its first softball district since 2016, but it wasn’t easy. In fact, it took two extra innings
The Irish defeated Birmingham Detroit Country Day, 7-6, in nine innings to win the MHSAA Division 2 district title on Monday at Notre Dame Prep. The game started in the bottom of the first inning where it was suspended due to storms on Saturday.
Notre Dame Prep will face Imlay City at noon on Saturday in Richmond in the regional semifinal.
On Monday, the Fighting Irish jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first.
Junior Lauren Koenig started it with a two-out double and then sophomore Elena Schwegman and sophomore Meaghan Orloski each reached base on an error. Ella Easterwood and Sydney Newby followed with RBI singles. The final run of the inning scored as junior Erika Gordy reached base on an infield error.
In the second inning, the Irish added two more runs when freshman Jordan Smith doubled, and scored on another hit by Koenig. Orlowski drove in Koenig and the Irish led 6-0.
Lesser teams might have folded but Country Day stayed with it.
“A lot of heart and competitiveness, sometimes I think we overachieve because our older kids care so much about each other and the team,’’ Country Day coach John Meyers said. “I think that’s responsible for us hanging together. As I just told them, a lot of teams would’ve gotten mercied after that, but they hung in and fought back.’’
The Yellowjackets got on the scoreboard in the top of the third thanks to a double by freshman Nyla Muskovin that drove in Gabrielle Maday and Jessica Garmen. They added three more runs in the top of the fourth when Garmen blasted a three-run homer to the center field fence to close the gap to 6-5.
“That’s a dangerous team, they’ve got some really talented ball players and hitters, we didn’t want to pitch to the one and we did,’’ Notre Dame coach Betty Wroubel said. “She hit that out, that gave them the momentum, they believed in themselves. So we had them down then we gave them a little bit but our kids fight and they played hard the whole game, I’m really proud of them. That was an emotional up and down.’’
The Irish had so much respect for Garmen that she was intentionally walked her next three trips to the plate.
In the top of the sixth, Country Day’s Maday led off with a single, Garmen walked, a sacrifice, a pair of walks and a wild pitch tied the game at 6.
Country Day pitcher Gabrielle Maday went the distance giving up 7 runs on 10 hits, walked 1 and struck out 11. Country Day committed five errors.
“She’s a competitor, really quiet, really heartfelt and strong-minded girl who cares deeply about her team and people,’’ Meyers said.
The Irish started with pitcher Lauren Koenig who was replaced by freshman Jordan Smith with the score tied at 6-6, bases loaded and two out in the sixth. Smith struck out Libby Vermeulen, the first batter she faced.
“(Koenig) was pitching her heart out, out there. Sometimes the ball just slips or the seams are a little different,’’ Wroubel said. “I could just tell she was emotionally drained because she was trying so hard.’’
Koenig also had the best day at the plate with four hits.
“She’s a tremendous softball player, great pitcher, great catcher and did great at the plate,’’ Wroubel said.
With the score tied, both teams threatened but could not get a run across the plate until the bottom of the ninth when Kara Thornton had a 1-out single, Koenig followed with her fourth hit of the day and Elena Schwegman had a game-winning base hit to center field.
“I think our defense was awesome. Our shortstop and third baseman were vacuum cleaners down there and did a great job defensively,’’ Wroubel said. “I can’t be more proud of the team. It’s been a while since we won the districts.’’
It is the 15th district title for the Irish in their 24-year history.
6/3/19