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Lady Eagle softballers capture fourth straight district crown

  There was bit of a close call in game one of the MHSAA Division 2 District No. 62 last Saturday, however, the Frankenmuth varsity softball team prevailed and went on to win their fourth consecutive district crown last Saturday, hosted by Flint Kearsley.

  The Lady Eagles needed a two-run walk-off single by Payton Schafsnitz in the bottom of the seventh inning to advance to the district title game, 5-4, and once there, ‘Muth defeated fellow Tri-Valley Conference 8 school Birch Run, 7-0, with win the championship.

  Frankenmuth, now 31-6-1 overall, advances to the MHSAA Division 2 Regional No. 16 on Clio’s Borden Field to take on Owosso on Saturday, June 10, at 10am. The lower bracket contest will take place at noon between North Branch and Goodrich. The regional championship game will start at 2pm.

  In the opener against the Mustangs, the contest did not begin well for the Lady Eagles as Clio scored two runs (one earned) in the top of the first inning and two more runs (one earned) in the top of second inning for a 4-0 advantage.

  FHS managed a single run in the second inning as Chloe Compau opened with what Frankenmuth Coach Brad Walraven called a “hustle double.” Emily Worden followed with an RBI single.

  In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs, Kendall Thompson and Chloe Compau belted back-to-back home runs, their sixth homers each this season, to trim the Clio lead to 4-3.

   The Mustangs continued to play pesky offense. FHS pitcher Brooklyn Compau faced the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in the Clio lineup, with one runner on third base; she proceeded to strike them out, stranding the base runner.

  “It was a key moment in the game. We also stranded a bases-loaded situation in the top of sixth inning and the inning ended with a nice running catch by the right fielder to save two runs,” Walraven said.

  Frankenmuth would catch a few breaks in the bottom of the seventh inning. Brooklyn Compau led off the inning and reached base by an error. Tiffany Keller followed with a bunt and the throw to first base went into right field, placing Compau and Keller of third and second base, respectively. Schafsnitz drilled the second pitch to her and it ended up in centerfield for the walk-off win.

  𠇋rooklyn pitched a solid game. After the second inning, Clio only had two base runners for the rest of the game,” Walraven noted.

  Compau went the distance, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks while fanning nine Clio batters.

  Chloe Compau finished a triple away from hitting for the cycle. The freshman singled, double, and homered while batting in two runs and scoring two runs. Worden doubles and singled while Schafsnitz (two-RBI single), Thompson (home run) and Kennedy Crandall (single) had one hit apiece.

  “The girls’ energy was extremely high throughout the whole game. They played to the final out and never gave up,” Walraven stated. “I am extremely proud of them. Clio made some nice plays on us with runners on base. It would have been easy to pack it in but the girls hung tough.”

  Game two started out a bit slowly before Frankenmuth plated three runs in the top of the third inning. A Brooklyn Compau single and an error put runners at the corners, setting up Thompson to blast her seventh home run of the season.

  In the fifth inning, the Lady Eagles scored two unearned runs to up the lead to 5-0 while in the sixth inning, Crandall led off with a single and Keller followed with a double, sending Crandall home. Keller raced home of a double by Schafsnitz to finish the scoring a 7-0.

  The game’s excitement came from Brooklyn Compau, who was one batter over the limit from a perfect game while striking out 17 Panther batters.

  “With the win, Brooklyn has 58 career victories which breaks the previous record of 57 wins held by Emily Coulter. Congratulations, Brooklyn!” Walraven exclaimed.

  Schafsnitz (double, RBI), Thompson (double, homer, two runs scored with three RBI) and Crandall (double) all contributed two hits. Brooklyn Compau, Keller (double, sacrifice, RBI) and Chloe Compau (stolen base) and added one hit.

  “We caught some breaks by scoring some runs on errors but in the post season, you will take them all. The girls have a good attitude and will go right back to work to prepare for Owosso in the first game of the regional,” Walraven concluded.

  Frankenmuth has now won 15 consecutive games and 18 of their past 19 games. With a regional championship, the Lady Eagles would move on to the MHSAA Division 2 Quarterfinal No. 8 at Marysville City Park on Tuesday, June 13, at 7:30pm. The D-2 state semifinals and finals are set for Michigan State University in East Lansing on Friday and Saturday, June 16-17.