By Jim Goorman
Local Sports Journal
The Holton Red Devils softball team rode the strong right arm of Rachel Younts in the championship game of the GMAA Tier 2 tournament and defeated North Muskegon 4-0 on Saturday.
The Red Devils defeated Oakridge 2-1 and Ravenna 11-1 to gain the final-game opportunity at Mona Shores High School. It was a brilliant two-hit masterpiece for Younts as she only allowed Ann Osborn two singles.
North Muskegon (7-2), which was missing four starters due to school commitments, survived earlier games with Muskegon Catholic (14-4) and Montague (8-0).
Katie Hendrickson pitched a solid game for the Norse as she only allowed two hits.
Younts had one of those and figured two of the innings in which Holton scored.
Younts had a bunt single and came around on a bunt by Morgan Sundberg in the second inning.
The Red Devils (12-4) also scored two runs in the fourth without a hit as Younts struck out, but reached base after a throwing error by the catcher and later scored on another suicide bunt by Sundberg.
The final run came on a wild pitch. Katie Flores was the only other Holton player to get a hit as she doubled in the sixth inning.
Holton head coach, Jeremy Hartwick, said that “his team played the best three games this season on this tournament day and are starting to execute.
“To win this (tournament) was huge for the girls,” said Hartwick. He also lauded the efforts of Yount’s pitching prowess.
“Rachel has probably thrown 1500 pitches this year,” said Hartwick.
“We played hard and it was difficult to play without four of our usual starters,” said Norse coach Larry Witham. “Don’t take anything away from Holton because they played well. They played small ball today and they should be proud of their kids.”
