Pickford claims 1st softball district championship

NEWBERRY — Pickford softball achieved a first in school history Friday.

The Panthers brought home their first district championship, prevailing 10-7 over Rudyard and 13-3 over Brimley in Division 4 District 100.

Pickford (21-13-2) advances to the Div. 4 regional semifinal to face Hancock at 10 a.m. at Norway on Saturday, June 11.

Pickford continues a standout sports season in which it won a district in volleyball, won a regional in basketball and now earned its first softball district title.

“Our group of five seniors has provided outstanding leadership,” Pickford coach Matt Hudecek said. “It’s only my second year as coach, but when I came in the seniors already had a goal of contending for districts. 

“I remember running into my former baseball coach (Sault High’s) Tony Nertoli this past November. He would always ask how the team looked and if we were going to have a shot at districts. The tournament has always been the goal for teams I’ve been involved with, and it was no different when I starting coaching.”

In the semifinal, the Panthers faced five-time defending district champ Rudyard. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-4 lead.

But the Panthers rallied with six runs in the bottom of the sixth and went on to the win.

Finley Hudecek finished 3-for-4 with a double, two singles and three RBIs. Kennedy Guild added a double and single, while Lucy Bennin, Lizzie Storey and Morgan Fox had one hit each. 

Hudecek pitched seven innings for the win, allowing seven runs on 12 hits, while striking out five and walking two.

“We knew Rudyard has controlled this district for awhile and it was going to be a fight against them,” Hudecek said. “Even though Rudyard was rebuilding this year, we knew they were dangerous. All the kids know each other, so it makes it that much more interesting as a rivalry.” 

Rudyard finishes 8-18. Eve Cheney pitched for Rudyard and gave up 10 runs on eight hits, while striking out five and walking seven.

Meagan Postma was 3-for-3, while Cheney was 2-for-3 from the plate and had a triple, single, and three RBIs for the Bulldogs. Kirsten Martin and Emma Mitchell also had two hits each, while Karlee Mayer, Summer Smith and Jaelyn Clark had one hit each.

Brimley beat Newberry 15-5 in the other district semifinal. In the district championship game the Bays scored one run in the first inning and one in the top of the third against the Panthers.

Pickford got its bats going however, scoring three in the third and fourth innings, four in the fifth and three more in the sixth to end it.

Lucy Bennin went 2-for-4, including a home run and four RBIs. Chloe May had a single and double, while Laura Bush and Hudecek also added two hits each. Storey, Kennedy Guild, Madison Thurmes and Ahna Prucha had one hit each.

Hudecek pitched six innings for the win, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out one and walking one.

“We had to sit and wait before playing Brimey and they were coming right off their win over Newberry,” coach Hudecek said. “Brimley played a good game and they were ready to go. We had to refocus and eventually we got back into a groove.”

Sadie McGuire hit two doubles, while Ceara LeBlanc was also 2-for-3 for the Bays’ offense. Vivian Carrick, Carlie Keyser and Jillian Galarowic had one hit each.

Contact Sports Editor Rob Roos at rroos@sooeveningnews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @rroosTEN.