Crusaders Softball Falls to Big Reds

Everything was fine for the Crusaders' softball team until the sixth inning.

The Chippewa Valley Big Reds defeated 7-0 in a Macomb Area Conference crossover game Friday night. L'Anse Creuse North is now 7-0 in the blue division (11-7 overall) and Chippewa Valley is 4-3 in the red division (11-8).

Sparked by a single from Chippewa Valley High School's Tiffany Misch, then a beautiful bunt single from Alyssa Maron, the Big Reds proceeded to score six runs in the sixth inning to run away with the game that had been 1-0 up until that point.

The heart of the Big Red's lineup continued with a sacrifice bunt from junior Taylor Roberts to advance the runners. The Crusaders then opted to walk Kate Hojnaki to try to force the double play.

With the bases now loaded, LCN pitcher Jordan Bennett walked Jenny DiGiovanni and another run was scored. The next batter, Jennifer Ricken, surprised the field with a perfectly executed safety squeeze and was rewarded with a base hit and an RBI. 

To finish the inning, Chippewa's Nicole Caicedo added a single and junior Leah Fifer smashed a triple over the right fielder's head to clear the bases. It was back to the top of the order, and Misch hit her second single of the inning to score Fifer. 

"I thought that our girls played real well," said L'Anse Cruese North softball coach Mark Mignot. "It was a 1-0 ballgame going into the sixth and then we kind of fell apart. They had a couple of key hits and a few real nice bunts. If you make mistakes against a team like Chip, they will make you pay."

Ashley Dunford, Monica Michalski, Marisa Provencher and Haily Thompson all had singles for the Crusaders.

The Big Reds scored their first run in the third inning which started on a double by Caicedo hit over the left fielder's head, then a sacrifice bunt from freshman Rene Finn and a fielder's choice at-bat from Fifer.

"We played well and I was very pleased with our defense," said Chippewa Valley softball coach Dave Prestininzi. "It took us a little time to get moving, but Tiffany led off that last inning and we got a couple of nice bunts down."

Freshman pitcher Stephanie Adamczyk took the win for the Big Reds, while Bennett accepts the loss for LCN.