Broncos go 2-of-3 at invite
ESCANABA — The Bark River-Harris Broncos recovered from a slow start in time to win 2-of-3 softball games in the Escanaba Invitational here Saturday.
After dropping their opener to the Millington jayvees 11-1 in five innings, the Broncos bounced back in a 27-3 rout of Marquette, then defeated Kingsford 9-5.
“We didn’t hit the ball real well in the first game,” said BR-H assistant coach Rob Arndt. “We played much better in the second game and in the third game we were solid all the way through, I thought.”
Riley Arndt scored the Broncos’ first run on a groundout to second by Tatiana LaFave in the opening frame against Kingsford.
A three-run single to left field by Bay College recruit Eden Oswald gave BR-H a four-run cushion and Lexie Berg’s single to right made it 5-0 in the second.
“This was a good test for us,” said coach Arndt. The second inning was definitely a confidence builder for our pitcher (Oswald). We have a good program going out there. We’re looking forward to (Division 3) districts.”
After Kingsford scored its first run in the third, BR-H answered with three runs for an 8-1 advantage in its half of the inning.
The Flivvers trimmed their deficit to 8-2 on Teagan Petschar’s double to left-center, scored their third run on an error and Danika Varda made it 8-4 on a fielder’s choice.
Bonnie Cortinas then gave the Broncos a 9-4 cushion on a triple to right in the fifth.
Petschar concluded the scoring on an error in the seventh before Oswald struck out the final two hitters.
Oswald tossed a three-hitter, fanned 16 and walked three. Emily Curtis, who took the loss, whiffed five, walked one, hit a batter and surrendered 11 hits.
Arndt collected three hits while Oswald and Ally Richer added two each. Petschar had a pair for the Flivvers.
BR-H’s Sierra Debelak went 3 for 3 against Marquette. Oswald also had three hits and Arndt added two.
Oswald’s single in the first provided the Broncos with their lone run against Millington.
The Broncos host Munising in a doubleheader for Parents’ Night Wednesday.