Shelby, MCC split softball doubleheader in Scottville

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SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Central Spartans split a West Michigan Conference Rivers Division softball doubleheader with Shelby on Tuesday at Spartan Community Field, rallying offensively in the opener before defensive struggles carried into the nightcap.

Shelby claimed game one 19-17 despite a strong offensive showing by the Spartans. MCC answered several Shelby rallies and battled back throughout the contest, but 10 defensive errors proved costly.

Payton Cory pitched six innings for Central, striking out four, walking one and allowing nine hits and 10 earned runs. Aubrey Chye worked the seventh inning, striking out two and hitting one batter.

Graycee Kalish led the Spartans offensively, going 3-for-3 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch while scoring four runs. Jordyn Melvin went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Ashlyn Lewis finished 2-for-2 with a walk, while Andrea Lopez added two hits. Chye and Addison Copsey each contributed a hit.

Shelby controlled game two for a 15-0 win.

Chye pitched four innings for the Spartans, striking out one, walking three, hitting one batter and allowing nine hits and nine earned runs.

Chye, Kalish and Ellen Norman each recorded a hit for MCC in the second game.

“We came from behind battling back and our bats were really working,” Mason County Central coach Denise Cory said about the opener. “However, our defense fell short with 10 errors in the field. Those fielding errors carried over into game two. We will continue to work on our defense.”