Varsity Softball: Ludington rebounds to split at Holland Invitational, finishes 2-1

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas.

HOLLAND — Ludington’s varsity softball team rebounded from a lopsided opening loss to win its final two games and finish 2-1 at the Holland Invitational on Saturday.

The Orioles dropped their first game to Grosse Pointe South, 19-5, before responding with decisive wins over Holland, 24-6, and Loy Norrix, 23-8.

Madison VanSickle started in the circle in the opener, pitching five innings while allowing 13 hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Annika Heemstra worked the final inning in relief, issuing seven walks. Charlie Morse recorded Ludington’s lone hit in the game.

Ludington turned things around in Game 2, rolling past Holland behind a complete-game effort from VanSickle. She allowed four hits and four walks, hit one batter and struck out five over five innings.

The Orioles’ offense broke out with a balanced attack. Jacee Cole led the way, going 5-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs. Noelle Brooks finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Eva Flores went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Morse added a 2-for-5 performance with three RBIs. Heemstra and Kaelyn Cole each collected two hits and two RBIs, with Heemstra adding a triple. Madelyn Kenyon also contributed a hit and an RBI.

Ludington carried that momentum into Game 3, defeating Loy Norrix 23-8 in a mercy-shortened contest. Heemstra started in the circle, pitching 3 1/3 innings while allowing one hit and 10 walks with five strikeouts. VanSickle closed out the final 2/3 inning, striking out two and walking one.

At the plate, the Orioles again produced across the lineup. Brooks went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Morse finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Heemstra was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, and Taylor King went 2-for-4. Flores added a hit and three RBIs, Braylynn Lange had a hit and two RBIs, and Peyton Evans drove in the game-ending run to trigger the mercy rule.

Ludington improved to 7-7 on the season.

“We had one bad inning in the first game that allowed Grosse Pointe South to really break things open,” Ludington coach Sierra Holmes said. “Other than that we played pretty well defensively. We hit some balls hard in the last two games and ran the bases better than we have so far this season. Overall, it was a pretty good day.”