The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Brandon softball team swept host Lapeer East in a doubleheader May 19, winning the opener 6-1 and the nightcap 6-3.
The sweep improved Brandon’s overall record to 28-5, and the Blackhawks wrapped up their league season with an 11-1 record, which tied them for the Flint Metro League championship in their first year in the league. The league title is the Blackhawks? fourth in a row, with the previous three coming in the Oakland Activities Association.
Jill Perry notched the win for the Blackhawks in the opener, while Michele Hojnacki had three hits and a run scored and Jessica Leibner and Brooke Seffens added two hits apiece.
In the nightcap, Jackie Wojtkowicz hurled the Blackhawks to the win. Courtney Wright went three-for-four, including a home run, to pace the Brandon offense. Seffens went two-for-four and scored two runs.
The team visited the land of the maize and blue May 15-16 to compete in the University of Michigan Tournament.
The Blackhawks opened the competition in rousing fashion, earning a 5-1 win against Jenison, ranked fifth in the state in Division 1. Coach Don Peters called it ‘a great win? for the team.
Perry struck out seven to lead Brandon to the win. The Blackhawks scored once in the first inning and twice in the third, which would prove to be all the offense they needed. Seffens, Hojnacki and Wright led Brandon’s offense with two hits apiece.
Brandon made it two-for-two in the tournament with a 7-2 win against Howell, as Wojtkowicz notched the win on the mound. Katie Flood led the charge for the Blackhawks, going four-for-four at the plate with four RBI, while Berryl Pappas added three hits. Hojnacki and Meredith Dura added two hits apiece.
The Blackhawks suffered a setback in their next game of the tourney, losing to Lapeer West 10-0. Dura was the only Brandon batter to get a hit in the game, while Perry took the loss on the mound.
However, Brandon rebounded in the next game of the tournament to defeat Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 7-0. The Blackhawks struck early and often, scoring one run in the first inning and five in the second inning to take command of the game.
Wojtkowicz notched her second win of the tourney on the mound, as six different Brandon batters notched a hit apiece on their way to the win.
The Blackhawks wrapped up the tournament with a 2-1 loss to East Kentwood. Dura was the lone offensive bright spot for Brandon, going three-for-three in the game and scoring Brandon’s only run.