Bellaire softball, Frankfort baseball fall short

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Record-Eagle/Keith KingFrankfort's Nolan Nye gets the out as Rudyard's Caleb Salo makes the attempt to steal second base Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at Traverse City West High School. Record-Eagle/Keith King/Keith King

June 13, 2012

Bellaire softball, Frankfort baseball fall short

Eagles finished year 25-13; Huskies' run end with 19-20 mark

BY MIKE ECKERT meckert@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Wed Jun 13, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — The season didn't get off to a great start for either Frankfort baseball or Bellaire softball.

And while both were eliminated from the Division 4 playoffs in Tuesday's quarterfinals at Traverse City West, a final setback didn't overshadow the major strides both programs took over the last few weeks.

"This does not take away from the terrific season we had," Bellaire coach Katie Verellen said. "Most of us didn't think we'd even be here today. Finishing 25-13 in my book isn't too bad, from where we started the season. Yeah, we lost today, but I don't feel defeated. I really don't. We lost to a great team."

Rapid River beat the Eagles 10-0, while Rudyard knocked off Frankfort, 6-0.

"We struggled hitting the ball," Panthers coach Mike Zimmerman said. "We made some mistakes, gave them an opportunity and they capitalized. It just wasn't our day."

Frankfort closed out the year with a 19-20 record, but won eight of its final nine games, including a fifth straight regional title. The Panthers only lose two seniors in four-year player Talon Bigley and first-year player Caleb Starkey.

"It's been an unbelievable transformation," Zimmerman said. "They went from a team that seemed to be close, but would be a play or two away, or a hit or a ground ball away from winning. We couldn't get over that hump. Then before districts, we got over it. Not only did we get the game experience of the tournament, but we also got a couple extra weeks of practice that other schools don't. That's gotta help."

Rudyard scored a run in the first inning and then five more in the second off R.J. Kennis. None of the runs were earned.

Bulldogs pitcher Jake Harrison fanned six and only allowed two hits — a single from Nolan Nye and a double by Owen Stratton.

"He did a nice job," Zimmerman said. "He kept us off balance, and our inexperience and youth showed up a little bit. But it was a great learning experience for our kids. Now they know what it's like to put together a tournament run."

It was a similar situation in softball, where Bellaire was held to three hits — singles from Katie Thornton, Mackenzie Verellen and Ali Lampman. Rapid River pitcher Heather Sanderson struck out nine with two walks.

"I lose three seniors, we have some youth coming up, we're only going to be stronger next year," Verellen said. "This is a building block for next year."

The Rockets capitalized on six Bellaire errors. They scored four runs in the third inning, added another in the fourth and then broke it open with five runs in the seventh inning.

Mackenzie Verellen took the loss with four strikeouts and six walks.

Reaching the quarterfinal was quite a turnaround for the Eagles, who struggled in the early part of the season. That included a 31-22 win over Ellsworth in the first game of the year. Katie Verellen said she never would have believed after that first game that her team would be a quarterfinalist.

"Not even into the second, third or fourth week of our season did I think we'd be here," Verellen said. "We had some struggles. We got to a point in our season where we decided it's about high school kids coming out and having a positive experience from something and learning from something. Halfway through the season, I said, 'You know what girls, let's just relax, have fun and play ball. You're getting all jacked up about stuff and it's not doing us any good.' It carried us until today."