The Gladstone Braves and Rapid River Rockets are both returning to Michigan's cherry capitol for some softball playoff action.
Both Delta County teams won regional championships again on Saturday, and advance to the state quarterfnal rounds in Traverse City, just as they both did last year
Gladstone beat Tawas, 8-0, and then topped Traverse City St. Francis, 6-2, to win the Division Three regional. Rapid River outlasted Posen, 2-1 in nine innings, before slipping past Rogers City, 6-1, to win a Division Four regional.
For Gladstone, it was Alison Austin (pictured) who handcuffed the Tawas Braves in the semifinal. Gladstone had lost to Tawas in a regular season game in that downstate city earlier this season, but not this time.
Then, in the championship game, Gladstone, ranked #3 in the state in Division Three, turned back the TCSF Gladiators as Christine Sharon pitched.
Rapid River had an intense semifinal game against the Posen Vikings, kind of like last year's regional semifinal win over Onaway.
This time, the Rockets, ranked third in the state in Division Four, rode the pitching of Heather Sanderson to post the extra innings win. Then, in the game against Rogers City, the Rockets grabbed an early 3-0 lead on a Sanderson RBI double and Neena Brockway home run. Sanderson won both games on the mound, allowing two runs in 16 innings.
Gladstone will face Reed City in the Division Three quarterfinals Tuesday at 12:00 at Traverse City West High School. Then, Rapid River will take on Bellaire in a Division Four quarterfinal at 3:00, also at T.C. West.
Both games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on rrnsports.com. Coverage begins at 11:45 Tuesday morning.
Both Delta County teams won regional championships again on Saturday, and advance to the state quarterfnal rounds in Traverse City, just as they both did last year
Gladstone beat Tawas, 8-0, and then topped Traverse City St. Francis, 6-2, to win the Division Three regional. Rapid River outlasted Posen, 2-1 in nine innings, before slipping past Rogers City, 6-1, to win a Division Four regional.
For Gladstone, it was Alison Austin (pictured) who handcuffed the Tawas Braves in the semifinal. Gladstone had lost to Tawas in a regular season game in that downstate city earlier this season, but not this time.
Then, in the championship game, Gladstone, ranked #3 in the state in Division Three, turned back the TCSF Gladiators as Christine Sharon pitched.
Rapid River had an intense semifinal game against the Posen Vikings, kind of like last year's regional semifinal win over Onaway.
This time, the Rockets, ranked third in the state in Division Four, rode the pitching of Heather Sanderson to post the extra innings win. Then, in the game against Rogers City, the Rockets grabbed an early 3-0 lead on a Sanderson RBI double and Neena Brockway home run. Sanderson won both games on the mound, allowing two runs in 16 innings.
Gladstone will face Reed City in the Division Three quarterfinals Tuesday at 12:00 at Traverse City West High School. Then, Rapid River will take on Bellaire in a Division Four quarterfinal at 3:00, also at T.C. West.
Both games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on rrnsports.com. Coverage begins at 11:45 Tuesday morning.
