Whiteford pitcher Unity Nelson fans 43 in three tournament games
CANTON – The Michigan Challenge brings together many of the top softball teams in the state to compete over three days.
Whiteford pitcher Unity Nelson proved she belongs among the top players in the state.
The senior pitched in three games against strong competition and rang up 43 strikeouts.
She tossed a one-hitter with 16 whiffs Friday against a South Lyon team ranked No. 3 in Division 1, fanned 14 in a 4-0 shutout of Airport to avenge an earlier loss and racked up 13 Ks in a 6-1 victory over Pinckney.
The Bobcats also beat Lakeland 6-3 and fell 10-7 to Clinton to finish with a 3-1-1 record in the tournament.
Nelson carried a hot bat as well, logging three hits against Pinckney and going 2-for-3 with three RBI against Clinton.
Nelson batted .600, Avy Wood .444 and Kaydence Sheldon .400 in the tournament.
“We had a great week of competition, starting Tuesday night with a big win against Saline (No. 5 in Division 1) and then finishing with a couple good wins Sunday in Canton,” Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said.
Monroe (15-14) fell 3-0 to Bloomfield Hills, 4-3 to Woodhaven and 14-0 to Walled Lake Northern before bouncing back Sunday to clip Livonia Churchill 10-5 and Canton 9-1.
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Alana Aulph and Ava Chapman each hit a pair of home runs against Churchill and Aulph went 4-for-4. Avery Collett added two hits and earned the pitching win.
Aulph stayed hot against Canton, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a double. Alexa Haefler went 3-for-4 to support winning pitcher Eloisa Reyes, who allowed four hits.
PREP TRACK AND FIELD
Sweeney breaks record
ADRIAN – Beth Sweeney’s winning time of 46.38 in the low hurdles broke the Erie Mason school record set by Jen Hurst in 2002.
Sweeney set records in the high hurdles (15.25) and high jump (5-4) earlier this season.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Clark wins again
FORT WORTH, Texas – Summerfield graduate Derek Clark lowered his earned-run average to 3.05 in a 7-2 win over Texas Chrisitan Friday.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Sieler, U-M fall in finals
STILLWATER, Okla. – Monroe High product Ellie Sieler and her Michigan teammates fought back after losing their opening game to reach the regional finals before falling 4-1 to Oklahoma State.
The Wolverines end their season with a 43-18 record.
Sieler went 4-for-14 in four games and wound up with a .373 batting average for the season.
VanBrandt’s season ends
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Indiana and Whiteford graduate Aly VanBrandt ended the season at 40-20 with a pair of regional tournament losses during the weekend.
The Hoosiers fell 8-7 to Washington Friday, then bowed out with a 5-1 loss to Missouri Saturday.
VanBrandt went 2-for-6 in the two games, drove in a run and scored once. She finishes her freshman season with a team-high .369 batting average.
PRO BASEBALL
Mud Hens romp
INDIANAPOLIS – The Toledo Mud Hens scored in six of the seven innings to pound Indianapolis 10-1 Sunday.
Jace Jung, Bligh Madris and Justyn-Henry Malloy all homered for the Hens, who improved to 25-19 and hold third place in the International League West.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Whiteford's Nelson shines; Sweeney sets Mason record
