Saints Record Twinbill Victories in Baseball, Softball Over Vanderbilt
By David Latva

Stephen Bielat pitched the Saints to the win over Vanderbilt in its home opener.

Strong pitching and timely hitting were keys to St. Ignace Saints baseball and softball teams' doubleheader, non-conference victories over the Vanderbilt Yellowjackets Wednesday, April 25, at LaSalle High School's Kiwanis Sports Complex.

Saints Boys Baseball

The Saints downed the Yellowjackets 8-3 and 11-1, with pitchers Stephen Bielat and Lewie Mullins picking up the wins.

St. Ignace scored one run in the first inning, five in the second, one in the third, and one in the fifth.

In the second game, the Saints registered 15 hits and scored four runs in the first inning, which included a monster home run by Derek Rountree, one run in the third inning, two in the fourth, and four in the fifth.

St. Ignace stats, Game One: Dan Olsen - two hits, two runs, one double; Shawn Cowell - two hits, one run, one triple; Andy Tamlyn - two hits; Jeffrey Gamble and Rob Robinson - one hit and one run; Stephen Bielat - one run.

St. Ignace stats, Game Two: Derek Rountree - two hits, two runs, one home run; James Peterson, Andy Tamlyn, Dan Olsen, and Shawn Cowell - two hits, two runs; Rob Robinson and Danielson - one hit, one run; Lewie Mullins and Ronnie France - one hit.

Alyssa Pechta slides into home plate to score during the Saints win against Vanderbilt.

Saints Girls Softball

The St. Ignace girls beat the Yellowjackets 15-0 and 22-2, each decided by a three-inning mercy rule. Jamie Krug pitched a shut-out in the first game and Marcie Rickley won the nightcap.

During the opener, the Saints scored three runs in the first inning and 12 in the second.

St. Ignace exploded for six runs in the first inning of the second game and 16 runs in the second inning to post the win.

St. Ignace stats, Game One: Laura Rickley - three hits, three runs, three runs batted in (RBI), one double; Marcie Rickley - one hit, three runs, three RBIs; Alyssa Pechta - one hit, two runs, one RBI; Ashly Peterson - one hit, two runs, one RBI; Cally Klimczak - two runs; Jamie Krug - two runs, one RBI; Samantha Wright - one RBI; Katie Stelzer - one hit, one run; Misti Gamble - two RBIs.

Jim North, CEO at First National Bank of St. Ignace, throws out the first pitch to Saints catcher Tyler Oja during the Saints-Vanderbilt boys baseball game.

St. Ignace stats, Game Two: Katie Stelzer - two hits, three runs, three RBIs; Marcie Rickley - two hits, three runs, four RBIs; Alyssa Pechta - one hit, three runs, three RBIs, Emily Sposito - two runs, three RBIs; Cally Klimczak - two runs, two RBIs; Samantha Wright - one hit, two runs, one RBI: Laura Rickley - one hit, two runs, one RBI; Ashly Peterson - one run; Mallory LaLonde - two runs; Misti Gamble - two hits.

Jim North, CEO at First National Bank of St. Ignace, threw out the first pitch before the start of the first game. First National Bank, in conjunction with the American Legion fund of the St. Ignace Community Foundation, provided new scoreboards at the baseball and softball diamonds.

Both Saints Diamond Teams

Fall to Blue Devils

Jamie Krug fires a hard pitch to the catcher during the Saints' win over the Yellowjackets in their home opener.

The Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils defeated St. Ignace 9-7 and 10-3 during a Straits Area Conference boys baseball doubleheader. Things were not much better for the Saints girls softball team, as they were shut out by the Blue Devils 15-0 and 8-0 during a league softball match-up Monday, April 23.

Saints Boys Baseball

The Blue Devils boys baseball team scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, two in the third, and three in the fifth inning, while the Saints tallied three runs in the second inning, one in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the sixth.

In the nightcap, the host Blue Devils scored four runs in the second inning and three in the third en route to the win.

St. Ignace stats (boys), Game One: Andy Tamlyn - two hits, two runs, two doubles; Shawn Cowell - two hits, one run; Lewie Mullins - two hits, one run; Tyler Oja - one hit, one run; Jeffrey Gamble and Dan Olsen - one run; Stephen Bielat and James Peterson - one hit.

Lewie Mullins, the winning pitcher in game two against Vanderbilt, connects with a pitch for a single.

St. Ignace stats (boys), Game Two: Dan Olsen - one hit, one run; Shawn Cowell and James Peterson - one hit; Ronnie France and Bryant Danielson - one run.

Saints Girls Softball

The St. Ignace girls struggled at the plate as Laura Rickley recorded two hits and Marcie Rickley chipped in one hit during the twinbill at Sault Ste. Marie.

St. Ignace baseball and softball teams will host Rogers City Thursday, May 3, Pellston Friday, May 4, Cheboygan Monday, May 7, Gaylord St. Mary Tuesday, May 8, and Brimley Thursday, May 10.