Sabers, Portagers split doubleheader

by MATT WENZEL, Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor
Published: Tuesday, May 18, 2010

ONEKAMA — Manistee Catholic Central and Onekama split a West Michigan D League doubleheader on Monday, with both teams taking advantage of the other’s miscues.

In the opener, the Sabers rolled to a 15-1 mercy-rule win in five innings, while the Portagers took the nightcap, 8-5.

“We went out aggressive, hit the ball hard, were smart on the bases and made good plays on defense,” MCC coach Mike Roberts said of the opener. “The second game, we were too anxious and way ahead of the ball, popping it up. They were playing like they were already up 14-1.”

Onekama coach Phil Sedelmaier also saw a difference in the two games. “The first game, we committed a lot of errors,” he said. “It seemed like we settled in a little more the second game. They did a lot better at the plate and were more selective.”

MCC broke open a 5-1 game in the opener with seven runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Haley Doyle went 4-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the Sabers (10-11, 9-3 WMD), Jordan Barnett had two hits and three RBIs, while Mimi Modjeski had two hits and drove in two runs. Also for MCC, Holly Gamache had two hits, while Alex Barnett, Brooke Etheridge and Danielle Edmondson each had a single.

Modjeski picked up the win on the mound after allowing one run on three hits and three walks to go with six strikeouts.

Elizabeth Bergren had a double to lead the Portagers (7-13, 6-4 WMD), while Emily Bergren had a hit and drove in a run and took the loss on the mound while striking out four.

“We hit the ball fairly decent, but it was right at Alex Barnett,” Sedelmaier said. “She ate everything up. She played an outstanding game.”

The second game played out much different as Onekama never trailed.

Onekama catcher Brooke Sedelmaier (right) tags out Manistee Catholic Central’s Brooke Etheridge at home plate during the second game of a doubleheader on Monday. (Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)

Both teams scored twice in the first inning before Brooke Sedelmaier broke the tie for good with a two-run home run over the leftfield fence to give the Portagers the lead for good.

Sedelmaier is the only Onekama player to hit a homer over the fence at the current field and has done it in back-to-back series.

“She’s starting to pick it back up,” Phil Sedelmaier said.

Onekama added four more in the fifth and held off MCC down the stretch.

Katie Prielipp went 2-for-3 at the plate while Nikki Slater had an RBI double. Elizabeth Bergren picked up the win on the mound after recording four strikeouts.

Etheridge led the Sabers at the plate with three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs, Alex Barnett had two hits and drove in a run, Modjeski had an RBI single while Doyle and Michalina Hansen each had a hit. Modjeski recorded nine strikeouts on the mound.

The Sabers, who took advantage of Onekama errors in the first game, allowed the Portagers to turn the tables on them in the nightcap.

“When you start throwing the ball around, it makes it tough,” Roberts said. “You can’t give up easy runs and expect to compete with anybody.”