Prep Softball: Bedford tickled pink with two wins for ailing coach
TEMPERANCE – Kendra Dunlap, an assistant coach for Bedford’s softball team, is battling breast cancer.
That probably comes as a shock to many of the fans who attend the Mules’ games.
“She’s a trooper,” Bedford head coach Marla Gooding said. “You would not know that she has it. That’s just who she is.”
Bedford’s players know and they had a surprise for Dunlap Monday. The planned a special pink-out game.
“The girls wanted to do it as a surprise,” Gooding said. “They’ve been planning it for a while, but kept it secret. She was really surprised.”
The Mules wore special pink uniforms and put pink touches on almost everything.
“They painted our spirit rock pink, decorated the dugout, had pink eye black and pink glitter in their hair,” Gooding said.
Then Bedford gave Dunlap an even better gift – two wins.
The Mules swept Ann Arbor Pioneer 4-0 and 11-1.
Aubrey Hensley added to her school record by launching her 19th home run of the season, Kaitlin Kwiatkowski stole five bases to push her season total to 38, and Nyah Mullins doubled twice to give her 18 for the season.
Ashytn Batey went 3-for-3 in the first game and Alexia Moussaed tripled to support the pitching of Adrianna Kester.
Hensley was 3-for-4 in the second game and Batey, Kwiatkowski and Payton Pudlowski added two hits each. Wryley Danielson earned the pitching win.
“The girls are doing well,” Gooding said of her 24-8 team. “We’re driving the ball a little bit more, putting it in play and playing some small ball.”
Mason 4, Toledo Cardinal Stritch 2
ERIE – Freshman Raelynn Lay tossed a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts as Erie Mason earned its first win of the season.
“It is nice to see our hard work as a team pay off with a win,” Mason coach Angie Gerber said of her 1-15 team. “We are focused on becoming better every day and being in control of our attitude and effort.
“We are learning how to communicate on defense and be disciplined hitters at the plate. I couldn’t be more proud of the way our team persevered and stayed focused from start to finish tonight.”
Lay, Alexa Chesney, Maddie Moore, and Faith Jones led the offense with two hits each.
Monroe 2-8, Lincoln 1-14
WILLIS – Allie Hall ripped a two-run double to score Maci Willey with the tying run in the sixth inning of the first game, then Jenna Ruettinger’s squeeze bunt scored Karlee Smithers with the winner in the seventh.
That gave the win to Alana Aulph, who tossed a two-hitter.
“Alana pitched as well as I've ever seen her pitch today and we played great defense behind her,” Monroe coach Jim Davis said.
Natalie Kelley and Ava Chapman added two hits each.
The Trojans (14-11) wasted a 6-3 lead in the second game.
Hall hit a two-run homer, but she had a three-run shot taken away on a controversial quick-pitch ruling. Avery Leach contributed two hits and two RBI for the 14-11 Trojans.
Huron 15, Riverview 0
RIVERVIEW – New Boston Huron needed just three innings to secure the win.
Rylie Greggo tossed a perfect game with four strikeouts.
Marissa Jackson had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
Airport 15, Jefferson 12
Jillian Baker went 3-for-3 to lead a potent Airport attack.
Brenna Baker, Payton Zajac, Kameryn Krzeman, and Olivia Tilley added two hits each. Brenna Baker drove in three runs and Zajac homered.
“We continue to struggle defensively,” Jefferson coach Chad Liptow said. “We outhit them 20-11, but out-errored them 8-3.”
Emmi Liptow, Rylee Dunn, and Julia Perry collected four hits apiece for Jefferson.
Milan 3, SMCC 1
MILAN – Milan showed its extra-base power.
Madison Gray and Mariah Stines both clubbed solo home runs and freshman Madison Spencer ripped an RBI double.
Tierra Ronayne led the defense at third base and Mariah Stines scattered five hits.
Alayna Pinkelman pitched well for SMCC.
Carlson 15, Edsel Ford 1
DEARBORN – Halie Furkas went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple and drove in three runs to lead Gibraltar Carlson in a rout of Dearborn Edsel Ford.
Taylor Konkus, Addison Skinner, and Addison Butt added two hits each and Kiley Lewandowski drove in four runs.
Butt and Skinner combined on a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts over five innings.
Whiteford 3-4, Trenton 0-5
TRENTON – Unity Nelson threw her third consecutive no-hitter with 15 strikeouts and one walk in the first game.
Aly VanBrandt and Shay Alexander led the offense with two hits each.
Trenton got the final out in the second game with the bases loaded.
Kaydence Sheldon recorded two hits and two RBI for Whiteford.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Prep Softball: Bedford tickled pink with two wins for ailing coach
