Salo Leads D.C. Junior Girls Into State Title Game

TAYLOR, Mich.---The Delta County Junior Girls (age 13-14) aren't doing anything the easy way. But at least they're doing it. The girls won two more heartstopping state tournament games on Saturday, and will play for a state championship on Sunday.

Delta County scored a run in the sixth inning to edge Croswell-Lexington, 2-1, to finish pool play with a perfect 3-0 record.

And then the Escanaba/Gladstone combined team scored three runs in the seventh inning to turn back Sand Creek, 4-1, in the semifinal.

Delta County will face Beaverton in the state championship game on Sunday. The girls beat Beaverton, 1-0, on Friday, in a game that saw both teams manage just one base hit.

Gabi Salo continued her strong performance in the pitcher's circle. Against Cros-Lex, she scattered five hits and struck out 13 batters. And against Sand Creek, Salo allowed just one base hit and fanned 14 batters. That's 27 strikeouts in 14 innings, in one day.

The semifinal game against Sand Creek was scoreless for four innings even though Delta County had plenty of baserunners. They had the first two girls on base in both the first and second innings, but couldn't bring anyone home. But Salo was overpowering during that time, at one point, striking out seven straight batters.

Delta County took the lead when Alyson Sommers came off the bench and got a base hit to lead off the fifth inning. She went to second on an overthrow and was bunted to third by Natalie Hansen. Pinch runner Serina Sinnaeve scored on a Syd Herioux ground out.

But Sand Creek tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Sam Goodson was hit by a pitch. She went to second on a passed ball, and scored on a solid base hit to right-center by Katie Hewitt.

It was the only base hit Sand Creek would get, but it was good enough.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Delta County girls rallied. Andi Balenger led off with a single, and advanced to second base when the left fielder overran the ball.

With one out, Herioux's infield hit moved pinch runner Jenna Tardiff to third base. Then Maddy Griffin came through with the base hit to put DC ahead, 2-1. Salo then helped her own cause by smoking one to the fence for a two-run double, making it 4-1.

Salo struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game.

Griffin and Heather Bergstrom both had three base hits to lead the DC girls.

Earlier in the day, the Delta County girls had a war with the Croswell-Lexington Pioneers. It was just the latest battle between the District Ten and District Seven softball programs, going back many years, and at several different age levels.

This game was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when Heather Bergstrom led off with a single. Pinch runner Tardiff stole second, and then Hannah Sharon came off the bench for a clutch RBI base hit to put Delta County into the lead, 1-0.

But Cros-Lex tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Taylor Bussey led off with a walk. Pinch runner Madie Wright stole second, and scored on a two-out, two-strike hit by Kyra Silverthorn. Delta County responded, however, momenths later.

In the sixth inning, Herioux led off with a base hit, and Cros-Lex replaced Lexi Willing in the circle with Paige Levitt. Griffin had an infield hit, and they intentionally walked Salo. The go-ahead run came in on an infield error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Levitt reached on her second bunt single of the game.

She stole second and third, but the inning ended when Abbey Fagan popped up a bunt attempt on the third base side. Bergstrom made a diving, sprawling catch for the out.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cros-Lex threatened again, although a win over Delta County would not have been enough to get them into the semifinals.

Haley Matthews singled, and runner Wright went to second on a passed ball and stole third base.

Salo struck out the final two batters to end the game.

So, Delta County advances to the state championship game on Sunday against the District One Champions from Beaverton. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos, and listen to interviews with Heather Bergstrom, Hannah Sharon, and Andi Balenger, from Saturday's games in Taylor.

ESCANABA SENIOR GIRLS CRUISE---The Escanaba Senior Girls (age 15-16) rolled to two more state tournament wins on Saturday in Lake Linden. Escanaba beat Keweenaw, 13-0, and blanked Melvindale, 19-0. Both games ended on the mercy rule. Escanaba has outscored its opponents 66-1 this weekend at the three-team state tournament. The girls wll face Keweenaw again in Sunday's title game at 10:00 a.m.

ESCANABA 10/11 BOYS WIN SECTIONAL---A trio of three-run innings led the Escanaba 10-and-11 year-old boys All-Stars to a 9-4 win over the Marquette All-Stars Saturday night at Dickson Field. Escanaba scored three runs in each of the first two innings to take a 6-0 lead, but Marquette battled back to within 6-4 in the fourth inning. Escanaba scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to put the game away. The Esky boys advance to the state tournament, set for next weekend in Petoskey.

NORWAY JUNIOR BOYS WIN TITLE---The Norway Junior Boys (age 13-14) won the District Ten championship on Saturday, beating Kingsford, 15-2, in the championship game in Gladstone. Earlier in the day, Kingsford eliminated the Escanaba All-Stars, 13-4. Norway advances to next weekend's state tournament in Gladstone. Sault Ste. Marie will be the other U.P. team at the eight-team tournament.