Gibraltar Carlson's emotional win lets Briggs continue coaching career

GIBRALTAR – Steve Briggs recently announced that this will be his final season as Gibraltar Carlson’s girls soccer team.

The girls made sure Wednesday that he sticks around for at least one more game.

Freshman Josi Farago scored twice off corner kicks, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Marauders slipped past Airport 3-2 in an opening-round game of the Division 2 district at Trenton.

More: Soccer, baseball, softball teams begin state tournaments in districts

“I was crying on the sidelines,” Briggs admitted. “Thirteen years is a long time to coach at team.”

It would take a major upset to extend Briggs’ coaching career beyond Thursday night.

The 5-12-3 Marauders are scheduled to play the host school, which overwhelmed Jefferson-Erie Mason 8-0 Wednesday, in a 4:30 p.m. district semifinal at Trenton. Carlson is likely to be shorthanded because it is also the date of the school’s prom.

“We’ll probably be without seven or eight girls,” Briggs said. “As a coach, I’d like to have all 25, but I get it.”

Farago, who is tied for the team lead in goals with Anika Irwin and Lillian Raines, bumped her first goal in off her hip. The second was on a header.

, bumped her first goal in off her hip. The second was on a header.

Irwin, who usually handles the corner kicks for the Marauders, like to look for Farago on the far side of the goal box.

“She has a way,” Briggs said. “She is better at directing the ball with her head than anyone else on the team.”

“I was really excited,” Farago said of the game-winning goal.

She stands just 5-3, but has a knack for getting to the ball.

“You just have to be ready,” she said. “I just stay on the back side.”

Raines scored Carlson’s other goal on a free kick from about 30 yards out.

Payton Toth logged a goal and an assist for Airport while Lena Lozon-Liggett netted the other goal and Olivia Bucki had an assist.

The Jets finish with a 12-8 record.

“I think that’s the first time we’ve ever had a winning record,” coach Harold Mendez said. “It was a great team effort. These players have grown so close together.”

PREP SOFTBALL

Airport nips champs

CARLETON – Airport’s softball team stumbled Monday, allowing Milan to clinch the Huron League championship.

The Jets put that behind them quickly, bouncing back to nip Milan 1-0 in eight innings Wednesday.

The only run scored when Hailey Boitnott singled, then scored when a bunt by Peyton Zajac was mishandled.

“It’s a great day to be a Jet,” Airport coach Jessica Irwin said.

The unearned run ended a terrific pitching duel. Airport’s RaeAnn Drummond allowed just two hits and Mariah Stines gave up three for Milan.

Cousino ends slugfest

MONROE – Callie Cousino’s RBI double in the eighth inning allowed St. Mary Catholic Central to walk off with a 21-20 win over Flat Rock Wednesday.

“We chased runs every inning and my girls didn’t give up,” SMCC coach Dani Emery said. “We kept chipping away.”

Tori Busen carried the biggest bat for the Kestrels. She went 5-for-6 with two doubles and two triples and drove in five runs.

Hannah Williams and Faith Dean each added four hits with Dean clubbing her first home run. Camryn Gee and Olivia Piepsney chipped in three hits apiece. Gee homered for her 100th career hit.

Sarah Giroux went 3-for-5 with four runs and five RBI for Flat Rock. Ryen Clair, Addy Roussey, Avery Mack and Jaclynn Motyka all contributed three hits and Roussey drove in four runs.

Whiteford perfect again

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford’s seniors completed their careers with a 44-0 record in the Tri-County Conference as the Bobcats swept Sand Creek 3-0 and 13-2 Wednesday for their fourth straight undefeated season in the league.

Sand Creek came into the day with just one league loss.

Unity Nelson threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 in the first game. Shay Alexander drove in two runs and Keira Griffith doubled.

Winning pitcher Karlei Conard helped her own cause in the second game with two doubles and a triple. Brooklyn Mills added two hits for the 22-5-1 Bobcats.

PREP BASEBALL

Airport handles Milan

MILAN – Seth Jones stroked two doubles and picked up the pitching win as Airport cruised past Milan 13-4 Wednesday.

Jack Mills, Nolan Zajac, Sean Langton and Jayden Harper-Lewis added two hits apiece. Mills homered, Langton drove in four runs and Harper-Lewis rang up three RBI for the 23-6 Jets.

Whiteford wins TCC

OTTAWA LAKE – Logan Tammerine racked up 15 strikeouts in the first game and finished with five hits for the day as Whiteford swept Sand Creek 10-1 and 4-2 Wednesday to clinch the Tri-County Conference championship.

Tre Eitniear also logged five hits and Logan Keane pitched well in the second game for the Bobcats, who are 23-6 overall and 12-0 in the league.

Yancey blanks SMCC

FLAT ROCK – Jayden Yancey scattered six hits in tossing a shutout and Evan Szalay, Ty Bergeron, Mike Giroux and Jaycob Piepryzk notched two hits each for Flat Rock in an 8-0 victory over St. mary Catholic Central Wednesday.

“We were aggressive at the plate today,” Flat Rock coach Josh Godfrey said. “We put the ball in play and good things happened for us. Jayden Yancey was very good today. He pitched a whale of a game.”

Drew Bylow had two hits for SMCC

Summerfield scores 39

PETERSBURG – Summerfield had a 12-run inning in each game to bury Morenci 15-0 and 24-1 Wednesday.

Keegan Sieler, who picked up the win in Game 2, led the offense with three hits, including a double.

Other standouts were Reece Kalb, Rylee Schiffler and Brenden Myshock. Jacob Wadsworth won the first game for the 10-15 Bulldogs.

PREP SOCCER

Woelkers scores four

FLAT ROCK – Megan Woelkers scored four goals and assisted on the other as Flat Rock tripped Ida 5-0 Wednesday in a Division 3 district game.

Lily Klein scored the other goal as the Rams moved advanced to the semifinals of the Grosse Ile district with their sixth straight win. They will play Canton Prep, which nipped Dundee 2-1 Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. May 28.

Seniors Leah Ferguson, Reagan Horn, Lana Nowak and Rilee Weatherholt played their final game for Ida.

“I am very proud of how hard our girls worked this season,” Ida coach Tim Allen said.

SMCC moving on

RIVERVIEW – Nora Kinsey scored all three goals as St. Mary Catholic Central rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to beat Riverview Gabriel Richard 3-1 Wednesday.

The Kestrels advance to the semifinals to play host and top-seed Plymouth Christian at 4:30 p.m. May 28.

FRESHMAN BASEBALL

Bullard goes 4-for-4

TEMPERANCE – Evan Bullard went 4-for-4 to lead Bedford past Dexter 8-7 Wednesday.

The Mules finish the season at 24-10.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Carlson lets tearful leader continue coaching career