Saints Baseball and Softball Teams Beaten in Twinbills
By David Latva

Lewie Mullins

St. Ignace baseball and softball teams opened their season on the road, dropping a pair of doubleheaders to Posen and Harbor Light Christian Monday, April 16.

The Saints baseball team fell to Posen 10-3 and 4-3 Monday, April 16. The Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning before St. Ignace settled down for the remaining six innings.

S h a w n Cowell scored one run on a double. Dan Olsen added one hit and scored one run, Lewie Mullins scored one run, and James Peterson chipped in one hit.

During the nightcap, the Saints led 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and last inning and a t w o - s t r i k e count on the Posen hitter, but could not stop a Vikings tworun, last inning rally.

"I called for the big hook (curve ball) from Jeffrey Gamble and the sophomore put the ball in Tyler Oja's catchers mitt," said Saints Coach Lou Grondin, "but on two pitches, we didn't get the call [third strike], and the Vikings went on to score to two runs to post the win."

Peterson led the Saints with two hits and scored two runs, Mullins added two hits and one run, Oja chipped in two hits, and Gamble and Olsen each had one hit.

James Peterson

St. Ignace scored single runs in the second, fourth, and sixth innings, while Posen generated runs in the second, fifth, and two in the sixth.

"I was pleased with our overall effort, especially after not being able to get on the field," said Coach Grondin, speaking of bad field conditions this spring owing to late snow.

St. Ignace's boys baseball team could not break its losing streak, as it lost a twinbill against Harbor Light Christian 8-1 and 7-3 Thursday, April 19.

Steve Bielat recorded two hits, Olsen added one hit and scored one run, and Peterson had one hit in the first of two games.

During the second game, Mullins led the Saints with two hits and scored one run, Peterson had one hit and scored one run, Olsen scored one run, and Seth Tamlyn and Derek Rountree each had one hit.

The Saints led 2-1 after the third inning before the host Swordsmen rallied with four runs in the fourth to post the win.

The Saints' home opener is against Vanderbilt Wednesday, April 25.

Saints Girls Softball Team

Laura Rickley

Drops Double-header

Gene Massey began his head coaching career for the St. Ignace Saints girls softball team against a strong Harbor Light Christian team, losing a double-header 6-0 and 9-4 Thursday, April 19. The Saints lost another double-header to Posen the following day in Posen.

Coach Massey has taken over the head coaching job after eight years as an assistant coach. He is joined on the bench by eight-year assistant Chum Frazier, along with Fred Strich, Bill Pechta, and Craig Therrian.

In the opener, Laura Rickley had one hit and recorded three stolen bases, while Alyssa Pechta chipped in one hit.

Marcie Rickley had two hits, two runs batted in (RBI), and scored one run; Katie Stelzer and Cally Klimczak each had one hit and one RBI; Laura Rickley had one hit, scored two runs, and stole four bases; Misti Gamble had one RBI; Alyssa Pechta added one hit, and Emily Sposito scored one run.

During the n i g h t c a p , Harbor Light Christian scored eight runs in the third inning, while the Saints scored one in the first inning and three runs in the third.

At Posen, the Saints fell 9-3 and 13-2.

Marcie Rickley

Laura Rickley led the Saints in the opener with one hit, one run, and two RBIs; Marcie Rickley earned one hit and one RBI; Jamie Krug had one hit and one run; and Alyssa Pechta scored one run.

In the nightcap, Marcie Rickley had one hit, one RBI, and one run; Laura Rickley had one hit and one run; Katie Stelzer recorded one RBI; and Mallory LaLonde had one hit.

"We were aggressive at the plate and didn't quit," said Coach Massey. "Overall, I was pleased with the effort."

The Saints lost the services of Ashly Peterson, who was hit on an index finger. She suffered a stress fracture, and could miss up to one week of softball.