MCC earns sweep against Onekama

Posted by Matt Wenzel, Manistee News Advocate

MANISTEE — After being blanked in their last game and mustering two hits, the Sabers didn’t waste time breaking out the bats on Tuesday.

Manistee Catholic Central pounded out 13 hits in a 10-1 win to open a non-league doubleheader against Onekama, but needed to rally late for a 4-2 victory and series sweep.

“I talked to the girls and we have to figure out how we can come prepared for both games and not just one,” said MCC coach Dave Lijewski. “It seems like we’re up on the first and down on the second for some reason. … Hopefully we can be a little more aggressive all the way through.”

Like MCC (20-4), Onekama (9-13) left happier with one performance over the other.

“It was a pretty solid game for us,” Onekama coach Rob Johnson said of the nightcap. “That’s what we need to see each time we take the field.”

The Sabers, who were coming off a league split with Brethren on Monday, jumped on the Portagers from the start in the opener with four runs in the first inning, then three more in the third and fourth frames.

“You can’t take anything away from a team that comes out swinging like that,” Johnson said. “They had a good warm-up game the night before. We came out a little flat and they took advantage.”

Maegan Sorenson led MCC with three hits, including a double, and four RBIs.

“We got a great performance out of Maegan Sorenson,” Lijewski said.

Courtney Sorenson finished with two hits and drove in two runs, Jodi Janowiak had three hits, Mimi Modjeski tripled, singled and drove in a run while Jordan Barnett had two hits and an RBI.

Modjeski got the win after allowing one unearned run on seven hits to go with nine strikeouts.

“The first game was pretty good,” Lijewski said. “I was pleased with their batting performance.”

Elizabeth Bergren led the Portagers with two hits and an RBI, Nicki Slater had two hits and Tawny Kott doubled.

Onekama had a couple chances to get on the scoreboard before its lone run in the fifth, but couldn’t drive in runners in scoring position and even ran into outs at home and second on the same play following back-to-back hits in the fourth.

“That was just coaches trying to make something happen,” Johnson said. “At that point, we didn’t have a whole lot to lose. The momentum was on their side 100 percent and we were trying to get about 50 back.”

The Portagers were never out of the second game and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning that held up until the Sabers scored two in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Emily Bergren, who also pitched the first game for Onekama, allowed six hits and struck out three. The Portagers had six hits, led by Slater’s triple.

“I’m proud of the girls being able to bounce back,” Johnson said.

Modjeski led the Sabers at the plate with a double, inside-the-park home run and two RBIs while Barnett and Courtney Sorenson both singled in a run.

“We put the bat on the ball,” Lijewski said. “(The Portagers) were making some good plays in the second game. What else are you going to do? They were coming around hitting the ball, but they were hitting it right at the defense.”

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