Winning district championships has become habit-forming for Sarah Barns, Kristie Cole and Christina Saindon.
The three Goodrich softball players have been on the varsity team their entire careers, and have been part of four district championship teams, one under former coach Dan Sellers and three under current coach John Doerr.
Their most recent district crown came June 2 when they defeated Durand 15-2 in five innings. Goodrich (25-8) advanced to the district championship game with a 10-2 win against Lake Fenton earlier in the day.
The Martians advanced to take on Swan Valley in the regional semifinals June 7 at Lake Fenton. The regional championship game will be held later that day.
‘They’re happy, but the whole team is working hard and feel they have a lot more to accomplish,? Doerr said after the win.
The Martians scored twice in the first inning and once in the second before lighting up the scoreboard for nine runs in the third inning. The highlight of the third was Cole’s bases-loaded triple, which accounted for three of her four RBI.
Julie Owen went two-for two with two RBI, while Emily Doerr and Jessica Morgan had two hits apiece. Barns stole two bases for the Martians.
Morgan also picked up the win on the mound for Goodrich, striking out five while allowing two hits and two earned runs.
Doerr went the first four innings in the district semifinal, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight. Erin Christiansen went the rest of the way, allowing one hit and one run in three innings of work.
Goodrich scored twice in the first inning, three times in the second and five in the third to pick up the win. Barns went two-for-two with three stolen bases, while Saindon went two-for-four with a triple and two RBI, as well as a stolen base. Jaclyn Brothers also had two hits for Goodrich.
The host Martians swept Bendle in a May 28 doubleheader, winning the opener 10-0 in five innings and the nightcap 19-0 in three innings.
The Martians scored in the first inning of the opener and then broke the game open with five runs in the second inning. Christiansen struck out four and allowed only one hit to get the win in the opener.
Owen went two-for-four with two RBI, while Saindon went three-for-three, including a triple, with two stolen bases and one RBI. Alisha Bergeron went two-for-three, including a double, and Cole went one-for-three with two RBI.
Goodrich’s offense exploded even more in the second game, as the Martians scored three runs in the first inning, seven in the second and nine in the third before the game was halted due to the mercy rule.
Morgan picked up the win for Goodrich, allowing only one hit in three innings while striking out seven.