Softball: Chargers defeat Chemics 1-0 to capture Chemical City Classic

by Jason Wolverton

Saturday’s tournament didn’t start too well for the Dow High varsity softball team.

It ended a whole lot better, though.

After losing to Marquette 4-3 in the day’s opening contest, the Chargers rattled off a pair of impressive victories to reach the championship game where they defeated Midland High 1-0 to win the 2008 Chemical City Softball Classic at the Redcoat Softball Complex in Midland.

The three wins and one loss puts Dow’s season record at 17-4-1 and came on a day where windy conditions and prom could have made concentration a little bit harder to come by.

“Today they proved that they’re ballplayers,” said Dow coach Jason Gehoski. “I didn’t hear anything about prom or anything like that until after the game was over. They were focused on the game and that makes them true ballplayers.”

Lindsey Allen’s RBI single in the bottom of the first inning of the championship game scored Allison Hamilton for the contest’s only run. Both pitchers took over from there.

Courtney King went the distance in picking up the win for Dow as she struck out eight, allowed only two hits, and did not walk a batter. After allowing a single to Genni Kohoyda in the first inning, King retired 14 straight Chemics until Heather Stoney singled off her in the sixth.

“Courtney pitched a great game and the girls played strong,” Gehoski said. “They knew what they had to do. “

Jami Shafley suffered the tough-luck loss for Midland, striking out six in six innings of work.

“We just couldn’t string the hits together,” said Midland coach Christina Griffis. “We got on base intermittently, but just could not get them around the bases.”

Midland had no problem getting anyone around the bases in its trio of games to start the day as the Chemics won all three contests and outscored their opponents 24-5. Shafley earned the 2-1 victory over Bullock Creek in the day’s second game while Amber Gerstacker picked up wins in 10-0 and 12-4 drubbings of Traverse City Central and Davison, respectively.

Perhaps the biggest story for Midland, though, was the play of Emily Bentley and Melissa Rathbun. Bentley had seven hits, slugged two home runs, and drove in six runs in the three games, while Rathbun added five hits off her own on the afternoon.

“Our pitching and hitting were great,” Griffis said. “Gerstacker and Shafley were both outstanding and very composed on the mound. Bentley and Rathbun really started hitting, too.”

Dow also started hitting after a disappointing loss to Marquette in game one. Lauryn Wilson took the loss in that game, striking out seven in seven innings of work. She allowed four runs, only one of which was earned.

“Our biggest thing was errors,” Gehsoki said of the loss to the Redettes. “I think once we woke up a little bit they started playing within themselves and not getting down and just realizing we had to play fundamental softball.”

King took the mound in game two and led the Chargers to an 8-1 win over Detroit Country Day. She struck out 11 and allowed six hits and two walks. Allen was 3-for-4 with two runs driven in, while Abby Lerner also went 3-for-4. Delainey Doughty had a hit and an RBI.

That hit and RBI for Doughty came after a 2-for-3 performance in game one, but both paled in comparison to what the senior first baseman did in game three against Gibraltar-Carlson. Doughty turned in the stat-line of the day in that game with a grand slam, two doubles, and nine RBIs to pave the way to tournament MVP honors.

Dow will return to action Monday when it hosts Saginaw Arthur Hill.

As for the Chemics, they will also return to action Monday when they host Flint Northern. Griffis’ team will head into that game with a 13-7 season record and renewed confidence after Saturday’s strong performance.

“I think bottom line they can take away the fact that they played four outstanding games today,” Griffis said. “The girls are coming along, we looked great and I look forward to seeing Dow again.”

For photos from all 13 Chemical City Classic games, click here.