In a clash of titans, Airport’s softball team proved they can stand tall against the best in the state. The Jets, ranked No. 3 in Division 2, traveled to Saline on Saturday, May 2, to face the top-ranked team in Division 1. They came away with a split, dropping a heart-stopping 3-2, eight-inning opener before roaring back with a dominant 5-0 shutout in the second game.
“Our girls showed incredible grit today,” said Airport coach Jessica Irwin, whose team now stands at 16-4.
Sophomore sensation Julia Dyson was the star of the second game, firing a three-hit masterpiece with 16 strikeouts. She was backed by a balanced attack: Olivia Tilley, Brenna Baker, Brityn Duffy, and Jillian Baker each collected two hits. In the first game, Brooklyn Martin took a tough-luck loss but led the offense with two hits of her own.
Elsewhere in the region, Monroe’s Cecelia Aulph was simply untouchable. She earned both pitching wins with a pair of two-hit shutouts over Westland John Glenn, winning 10-0 and 15-0. Olivia McMahon drove in four runs, while Aly Lewis, Hayley Overton, and Delaynee Miller each knocked in three. Soffia Elmer doubled twice. “It was nice to get the wins and the girls were having fun today,” Monroe coach Mickey Moody said.
Gibraltar Carlson’s Addison Burgei and Kennedy Warren each racked up three hits in a 17-7 win over Plymouth. Lauren Dunwoody homered, and Kiley Lewandowski, Taylor Konkus, Addison Skinner, and Emilee Konkus each had two hits. Carlson dropped its second game 4-0 to Salem despite 10 strikeouts from Skinner. In their third contest, the Marauders were tied 7-7 with Canton when the game was halted by a time limit. Burgei went 3-for-4.
On the baseball diamond, Monroe’s Carson Liedel crushed a home run as part of a 2-for-2 day with four RBIs in a 17-2 rout of Dearborn Heights Annapolis. The Trojans scored 11 times in the first inning to take the second game 16-1. Dalen Cosby and Jaydin Hoppert each had two hits for the 9-8 Trojans.
Dundee’s Jack Foor went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs during a 12-4 win over the host team in the Quincy Tournament. Angelo Graves and Bryce Ostrander added two hits apiece.