Lakers clinch share of Lakes 8 crown

Sat, May 17, 2008

Spring Lake's softball team took care of business Friday evening at assuring a goal its been gunning for all season.

The Lakers (23-6, 11-1 Lakes Eight) clinched at least a share of the Lakes Eight Conference crown at Spring Lake High School, sweeping visiting Grant, 3-0 and 3-2. Spring Lake can clinch the title outright with one more win over conference foe Fremont in a doubleheader Tuesday.

Sophomore Taylor Keyser continued to establish herself as the team's ace, picking up wins in both games. She struck out an impressive 10 batters in Game 1, while walking none. Grant could muster only one hit in the first inning and another in the seventh.

"She retired 17 batters in a row between those two hits," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said.

Briana Brackett had a two-run single in the third to get the Lakers on the board, and Jordan Coleman accounted for the other RBI. Amanda Douglas and Chelsea Boyer each had two hits for Spring Lake, whose 5-9 hitters in the lineup combined for eight hits.

Spring Lake sweated out the victory in Game 2, as it trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. But an RBI single from Keyser — which drove in Bracket — and then an RBI groundout from Douglas provided the winning runs for the Lakers.

Bracket finished with three hits, while Tiffany Holmes added two.

JUNIOR VARSITY: Spring Lake swept Grant Friday, 12-1 and 9-2. Maureen Mallas had a home run and two singles in the opener, while Sam Weerstra threw seven strikeouts and also had a single and scored two runs in Game 2.

FRUITPORT REACHES 20 WINS

Fruitport's softball team reached a rare mark by winning its 20th and 21st games Friday, as it swept visiting Orchard View, 12-2 and 12-2.

Pitcher Kirstin Hughes improved her season record to 13-6 with a pair of impressive pitching performances. She allowed only three hits and didn't issue a walk in Game 1, then worked relief in Game 2, and kept OV scoreless in four innings.

"When she keeps the ball down, she's a tough pitcher. She forces a lot of ground ball outs," Fruitport coach Bob Dorman said.

Hughes also swung a big bat in the opener, going 2-for-2 with one sacrafice. Lauren LeMieux also went 2-for-2 for the Trojans.

Offensive balance was the key in the nightcap, as Fruitport had five players collect hits and two others tally sacrafice hits.

"Our team motto all year has been 'Player's play and team's win,'" Dorman said. "And that game was truly evident of that."

The Trojans (21-8 overall) battle non-conference opponent Muskegon Catholic Monday, then finish off the Lakes Eight slate with a doubleheader against Newaygo Tuesday.