Brandon’s softball team had built a good deal of momentum toward the end of the season and into the playoffs.
However, the Blackhawks could not get past Livonia Ladywood in a Division 2 regional semifinal matchup June 5 at Brandon. Ladywood held the Blackhawks to three hits and defeated Brandon 1-0 to capture the regional crown.
Brandon’s season ended with a record of 25-15.
Ladywood scored its run on three singles in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brandon pitcher Jill Perry threw a four-hitter to keep the Blackhawks in the game, but the Brandon offense could not get untracked, as Meridith Dura, Annmarie Solley and Chelsea Wengren tallied the lone Brandon hits.
‘They played their hearts out,? Brandon coach Don Peters said of the Blackhawks. ‘We were pretty positive afterward. We played hard and it didn’t go our way. The girls did the best they could.?
The Blackhawks earned their way into the regional final with a 3-0 win against Birmingham Seaholm in the regional semifinal earlier that day.
Chelsea Wengren came through for Brandon with a clutch two-run double in the third inning. The Blackhawks tacked on another run in the inning, and never looked back.
Wengren went 2-for-3 in the game, while Perry struck out seven Seaholm batters to pick up the win.
The Blackhawks figure to use this year’s experience to benefit them in the future, as Brandon is losing only three seniors to graduation, Mallory Martin, Nicole Flood and Jessica Stone.
Returning next year are juniors Dura, and Katie Flood, sophomores Ashley Brady, Jessica Liebner, Perry, Brooke Schaefer, and Solley, and freshmen Lauren Ross and Wengren.
‘Hitting will be a real priority for us in the offseason,? Peters said. ‘We started a strength and agility program last year, and we’ll continue with that. We’ll always be working on specific skills.?