Spartans fall to Onekama in softball doubleheader

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.

ONEKAMA — The Mason County Central varsity softball team dropped both games of a nonleague doubleheader to Onekama on Tuesday evening, falling 7-4 in the opener and 12-5 in the nightcap.

In game one, Payton Cory pitched five innings for the Spartans, striking out four, walking one and allowing 10 hits.

Offensively, Jordyn Melvin and Cory each went 2-for-3. Melvin scored one run, while Cory added an RBI and scored once. Andrea Lopez, Lacie Salander and Charlee Budreau each collected a hit. Ellen Norman drove in a run, Graycee Kalush was hit by a pitch, and Aubrey Chye scored a run and stole a base.

MCC stayed competitive throughout the contest, but Onekama’s defense helped secure the victory.

In game two, the Portagers completed the sweep with a 12-5 win.

Aubrey Chye started in the circle for MCC, pitching 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts, four walks, one hit batter and seven hits allowed. Cory pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one walk.

Andrea Lopez paced the Spartans offensively, going 2-for-2 and being hit by a pitch. Graycee Kalush went 2-for-3 with a walk, while Ashlyn Lewis finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Chye added a 2-for-4 effort and scored twice.

Ellen Norman, Jordyn Melvin and Lacie Salander each added a hit. Melvin also drove in two runs.

MCC interim coach Denise Cory said she was encouraged by improvements on defense and production throughout the lineup.

“We played a lot better defense than we have over our past few games, I was excited to see this tonight,” Cory said. “Our bats were alive throughout the entire lineup tonight as well. Onekama has a solid defense and we came up short tonight.”