LocalSportsJournal
HOLTON — Pentwater’s girls softball team pulled off a huge surprise in the MHSAA Division 4 district championship game against third-ranked Holton on Friday afternoon on the Red Devils’ field.
The Falcons registered a stunning 4-0 upset of the vaunted, and tradition rich Red Devils to keep their season alive and move on to the regional round.
Holding a slim 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, the Falcons received a major boost when eighth grader Charlie Swanger got a single through the infield that drove in a pair to add some insurance.
Star pitcher Mikaylyn Kenney has seldom been better. She had a perfect game going heading into the sixth inning.
Although the Red Devils managed to spoil that bid, Kenney allowed just two hits and one walk. Kenney rang up 18 strike outs. Holton did not have a runner make it to third.
The Red Devils made their closest bid to score when, with a runner on, Aubrey Goyings got around on a Kenney pitch and sent a grounder through the infield.
But the Red Devils suffered an uncharacteristic mistake when the runner charged for second base, only to be cut down for the final out.
In the crucial fourth inning, Sayles got her bat around a Ryann Robins pitch and lined a double. The next batter, Maren Martinsen took first on an error.
Robins drew one out closer to getting out of the jam when she struck out the next batter. But, she couldn’t get past the young Swanger.
In the semifinals on Friday, the Falcons knocked off White Cloud, 6-1 as Kenney pitched a nifty one-hitter with 20 strike outs. The run was unearned.
Kenney also doubled and drove in two runs. Bailee Hasil, Mackenna Hasil and Haidyn Adams each had a hit as well as a RBI.
Holton blew past Mason County Eastern, 19-1 in the other semifinal Friday.
Following a makeup game in the Western Michigan D League with Mesick on Wednesday, the Falcons return to Holton next Saturday for the regionals.
The Falcons are set to face Mesick in the regional semifinals.
