×

Historic sweep for Rockets

Prep softball

Mike Mattson | Daily Press Above left: Rapid River catcher Richelle Vandeville makes a throw to first base off a bunt in Tuesday’s opener against Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — Rapid River softball teams accomplished quite a bit over the years — except sweeping a doubleheader from Gladstone.

But the Rockets stayed focused Tuesday and stunned the host Braves 11-1 and 6-4.

“We told the girls between games we’ve split with them in the past but never swept them,” Rockets’ coach George Kanyuh said. “The program has been around since 2006. We told them, ‘Let’s make Rapid River history.’

“They picked up their lunch buckets and went to work. We told them after the game to enjoy it, but don’t gloat. Winning the district title back is what our goal is. This is sweet, but it is still not a district title.”

Rapid River rolled in the first game as freshman Natalie Belanger pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts and two walks. Gladstone’s Hannah Sharon spoiled Belanger’s shutout with a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Mike Mattson | Daily Press Natalie Belanger delivers a pitch against Gladstone.

The Rockets (14-6) started fast with a three-run first inning, sparked by Shelby LaCosse’s two-run single.

Rapid River broke open the game with an eight-run fourth inning, highlighted by Lexi Trombley’s three-run homer and a two-run double by Belanger.

Brittany Schwartz, Trombley and Belanger each had two hits in the Rockets’ 12-hit attack.

“They hit the ball,” Gladstone coach John Nevala said. “My hat is off to them. They came ready to play. They hit some excellent shots.”

Lexi Winling suffered the loss, allowing six runs, six hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Morgan Letteriello (five runs, six hits, one strikeout, no walks) and Maddie Kowalski (one hit, no runs) also saw action in relief.

Mike Mattson | Daily Press Gladstone teammates get ready to congratulate Hannah Sharon (23) after her fifth-inning solo home run against Rapid River Tuesday.

Kaitlyn Hardwick and Sharon each had two hits for the Braves.

In Game 2, the game was scoreless until the fifth when the Rockets scored five runs on three hits.

An RBI triple by Brittany Schwartz and RBI doubles by LaCosse and Jaden Schwartz sparked the uprising.

Brittany Schwartz finished with three hits and Jaden Schwartz had two hits for the Rockets.

Brittany Schwartz pitched the first 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) and seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Belanger came on in relief and tagged out a Gladstone runner trying to score from third base on a passed ball to end the game.

“The place erupted,” Kanyuh said. “It was a climactic finish.”

Winling pitched four innings, allowing five runs and four hits with one strikeout and five walks. Reliever Letteriello worked three innings, allowing one run, two hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Gladstone fought back with one run in the fifth inning and three in the sixth.

Nevala said the Braves (16-4) will regroup quickly for Thursday’s home games against Negaunee.

“(The Rockets) are always ready to play us,” Nevala said about the neighboring school. “George and his staff always have their players ready. I thought our girls were playing good lately. I’m happy the way they fought the last five innings and came back in the second game. We have to build on that and get ready for Negaunee.”

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today