Click the AUDIO buttons to hear the radio replay of the game, and post-game comments from Braves Coach Scott Herioux.
CHEBOYGAN---In a one-run high school softball game between the two top teams in the State of Michigan, little things mean a lot. The top-ranked Clare Pioneers did just enough to beat the second-ranked Gladstone Braves, 1-0, in a MHSAA Division Three quarterfinal Tuesday evening at Cheboygan High School.
But while the Braves did not do the little things at the times when they needed them, a controversial call that favored Clare stuck with the Braves as they headed back to the Upper Peninsula empty-handed Tuesday night.
In the fifth inning, Clare’s Pam Allen appeared to foul off a pitch as she squared around to bunt with a runner on first base. But after a moment, the umpires met and decided that she had been hit on the wrist by that pitch, giving the Pioneers two runners on with no outs.
Braves pitcher Tia Schone was able to strike out the next batter, but then Addison McMillian doubled home what turned out to be the game’s only run. Braves Manager Scott Herioux argued the call, but to no avail.
“I felt it hit the knob (of the bat), and they (umpires) thought that it hit her after she started pulling back, as if she wasn’t offering,” Herioux said. “From where we were standing, it looked like she was contacted, as she was offering. There’s a certain amount of luck in this game.“
Herioux was not blaming that call for his team’s loss, however, noting that the Braves had plenty of chances to get on the scoreboard.
“It was a really competitive game,” Herioux said. “All those little baserunning issues, those things matter. You’ve got to take an advanced base when you get an opportunity to advance a base. You’ve got to put the ball in play when you’ve got a runner in scoring position. We had runners in scoring position but weren’t able to scratch one across.”
The best chance was the top of the fourth inning when Lauren Pare led off with a walk, and with one out, Maddie Sundquist got a bunt single to put two on. Alli Larson also bunted, and the throw to third base was late, giving the Braves a golden opportunity with the bases loaded.
But Malia Quigley hit one back to the pitcher for what turned into a 1-2-3 double play, all of a sudden ending a great scoring chance.
It was that tight. Schone allowed only four base hits, walked three, and struck out nine batters in what turned out to be a losing effort. Clare pitcher Kyley Wyman allowed three hits and three walks, striking out eight batters, and keeping the Braves hitters off balance, especially early.
Herioux also pointed to a play where Lauren Sundquist hit a hard line drive in the fifth inning after Emma Trombley singled to start the inning.
“That was probably a run-scoring shot there,” Herioux said. “But to their credit, their shortstop (Tessa Kelly) snagged that one there. A couple of inches here or there, the whole game falls differently. We’ve seen that many, many times. Hats off to Clare. They’re a solid, solid team.”
And while the Pioneers head to MSU for the state semifinals, the Braves headed home, knowing that they played hard.
“This was like a state final game,” Herioux said. “We preached just being competitive. The kids do that. They show up and they compete every time. You really can’t ask for more. The effort was great. Things just didn’t fall our way.”
CHEBOYGAN---In a one-run high school softball game between the two top teams in the State of Michigan, little things mean a lot. The top-ranked Clare Pioneers did just enough to beat the second-ranked Gladstone Braves, 1-0, in a MHSAA Division Three quarterfinal Tuesday evening at Cheboygan High School.
But while the Braves did not do the little things at the times when they needed them, a controversial call that favored Clare stuck with the Braves as they headed back to the Upper Peninsula empty-handed Tuesday night.
In the fifth inning, Clare’s Pam Allen appeared to foul off a pitch as she squared around to bunt with a runner on first base. But after a moment, the umpires met and decided that she had been hit on the wrist by that pitch, giving the Pioneers two runners on with no outs.
Braves pitcher Tia Schone was able to strike out the next batter, but then Addison McMillian doubled home what turned out to be the game’s only run. Braves Manager Scott Herioux argued the call, but to no avail.
“I felt it hit the knob (of the bat), and they (umpires) thought that it hit her after she started pulling back, as if she wasn’t offering,” Herioux said. “From where we were standing, it looked like she was contacted, as she was offering. There’s a certain amount of luck in this game.“
Herioux was not blaming that call for his team’s loss, however, noting that the Braves had plenty of chances to get on the scoreboard.
“It was a really competitive game,” Herioux said. “All those little baserunning issues, those things matter. You’ve got to take an advanced base when you get an opportunity to advance a base. You’ve got to put the ball in play when you’ve got a runner in scoring position. We had runners in scoring position but weren’t able to scratch one across.”
The best chance was the top of the fourth inning when Lauren Pare led off with a walk, and with one out, Maddie Sundquist got a bunt single to put two on. Alli Larson also bunted, and the throw to third base was late, giving the Braves a golden opportunity with the bases loaded.
But Malia Quigley hit one back to the pitcher for what turned into a 1-2-3 double play, all of a sudden ending a great scoring chance.
It was that tight. Schone allowed only four base hits, walked three, and struck out nine batters in what turned out to be a losing effort. Clare pitcher Kyley Wyman allowed three hits and three walks, striking out eight batters, and keeping the Braves hitters off balance, especially early.
Herioux also pointed to a play where Lauren Sundquist hit a hard line drive in the fifth inning after Emma Trombley singled to start the inning.
“That was probably a run-scoring shot there,” Herioux said. “But to their credit, their shortstop (Tessa Kelly) snagged that one there. A couple of inches here or there, the whole game falls differently. We’ve seen that many, many times. Hats off to Clare. They’re a solid, solid team.”
And while the Pioneers head to MSU for the state semifinals, the Braves headed home, knowing that they played hard.
“This was like a state final game,” Herioux said. “We preached just being competitive. The kids do that. They show up and they compete every time. You really can’t ask for more. The effort was great. Things just didn’t fall our way.”
