SHELBY — In a battle between two of the West Michigan Conference
Rivers' top teams, Shelby and Holton split two close games Tuesday. The
Tigers' comeback effort fell short in game one, a 6-3 loss, but Shelby
rebounded to win a dramatic nightcap 8-6 in eight innings.
The
Tigers (13-3, 1-3 WMC Rivers) rallied in the second game as well after
falling behind 6-4 in the fourth inning, scoring twice in the sixth to
tie it. Jordan Wolting knotted up the score with a clutch two-run
single, cashing in a Holton error and a single by Emma Stovall.
Jayna
Burmeister, who came on in relief during the game, kept the game tied
by striking out three straight batters in the bottom of the sixth inning
after the first two batters reached base.
In the eighth,
Holton intentionally walked Burmeister with a runner on third base and
one out - she parked two home runs during the opener, hence the
hesitation to pitch to her. Shelby made the Red Devils pay for that
decision. Wolting drew a walk to load the bases, and Holton then threw
two passed balls in the same at-bat, allowing baserunner Allie Stovall
and Burmeister to score what turned out to be the winning runs.
Shelby's Daniella Zarraga slides into second with a double as Holton's Victoria Vallejo awaits a throw during Tuesday's doubleheader at Shelby.
Jaedyn
Allen had a pair of doubles in the game for Shelby, and Stella Springer
and Wolting also each had two hits. Burmeister pitched 3 2/3 innings of
shutout relief in game two, allowing only one hit and striking out
eight.
The comeback win was redemption for the Tigers after
being unable to complete a similar attempt in the opener. Holton scored
five times to grab a 6-2 lead in the fifth. Shelby got one run back in
the sixth when Burmeister hit her second home run of the game, and the
Tigers were in position for more when Daniella Zarraga led off the
seventh with a double, followed by a walk from Brynlee Myers. Springer
attempted to bunt the runners ahead, but Holton made a good defensive
play and not only got Springer out at first but was able to throw home
for a tag play at the plate to get Zarraga. The home plate umpire did
not immediately make a call on the play at the plate, but after
discussion with the other ump working the game, Zarraga was ruled to be
out. Holton then recorded a strikeout to seal the win.
Burmeister's
two home runs, both solo shots, were the offensive highlight for Shelby
in the opener. Wolting also had two hits. Burmeister allowed three
earned runs on seven hits and struck out 10.
