Holt fends off Waverly comeback to advance in Hall of Fame Softball Classic
The second day of the Greater Lansing Hall of Fame Softball Classic kicked off with a matchup between CAAC Blue members Holt and Waverly.
And after the teams split their league matchup earlier this season, it was Holt that prevailed as the teams met at Ranney Park with a spot in the Softball Classic semifinals on the line.
Kaelyn Rozycki had a strong performance, going 3-for-3 at the plate and adding a home run while helping send Holt to a 9-8 win.
"It's an unexplainable feeling to know that I can step up and help my team and I can help put them ahead and kind of light that fire and be that person for them," said Rozycki, who earned player of the game honors.
The Rams piled on their nine runs in the first four innings through a flurry of base hits highlighted by two homers — a two-run blast from shortstop Sadie Laubenthal followed one out later by a solo shot from Rozycki. Waverly answered Holt's hot start with a big fourth inning, adding four runs in a rally started by outfielder McKenna Bensinger's two-run homer and finished with a sacrifice fly by shortstop Bella Rodriguez.
Waverly got another big hit from Rodriguez, who plated in the sixth as part of an inning when the Warriors drew closer.
But Holt ended up getting a strikeout from Kara Sandberg to get out of the inning and then shut the door in the seventh to hang on for the victory and earn a spot in Wednesday's semifinal. Waverly stranded the bases loaded in the seventh.
"We knew they were always a tough team and I'm just proud of us for not faltering under pressure," Holt coach Kim Reichard said. "The flexibility and adjustments that we made defensively were awesome."
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Holt fends off Waverly to advance in Softball Classic
