The weather was almost perfect for the day-long Leelanau County Classic Softball Tournament at Hancock Park in Leland Saturday.

St. Mary was crowned champion of the Leelanau
County Classic softball tournament Saturday.

The results were even more perfect, at least from the perspective of St. Mary.

The tourney pitted Leland, Glen Lake, St. Mary and Suttons Bay, with St. Mary winning the championship in a tight game over Glen Lake, 3-2. Leland defeated Suttons Bay, 13-5, in the consolation game held prior to the championship.

The finals featured the county’s top two pitchers in Eagle Susan Herman and Laker Cori Kahler. Herman struck out 18, had no walks and limited Glen Lake to 5 hits in earning the win. Kahler had 4 strikeouts.

St. Mary coach Ed Merica was pleased with his team’s effort, though there are areas needing work. “We had too many errors,” he said.

The Lakers had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when they had runners on third and second. “But, we didn’t get the hit or walk we needed to get the tying run across home.
Both teams played fairly well,” said Glen Lake coach Gary Galla.

Suttons Bay celebrates its title in the Leelanau
Classic Invitational.

St. Mary scored its first run in the second inning when Tiffany Moore doubled, advanced to third a wild pitch, and scored on a base hit from Emily Schaub.

Glen Lake held a 2-1 advantage into the sixth when Moore again scored after a single from Anne Kuznicki. The go-ahead run came in the top of the seventh when Ashley Herman walked, reached second on an error and scored on Bradi Pasch’s single.

For Glen Lake, Hannah Therrien had 3 hits and Katie Drzewiecki had 2 hits. For St. Mary, Moore had a single and a double; Emily Schaub had 2 singles; and Allison Korson, Ashley Herman and Pasch each had a single.

St. Mary and Suttons Bay opened the day with the Eagles winning, 10-0. Susan Herman dominated on the mound, fanning 11 Norse batters and allowing 2 walks and one hit.

Laureen Schmidt of Suttons Bay
fires a pitch during the Leelanau
County Classic.

Mary Lingaur had a double and a single for St. Mary; Moore had a triple and a single; Susan Herman and Emily Schaub each had 2 singles; Samantha Herman had a double as well. For Suttons Bay Laureen Schmidt threw 2 strike outs with Christa Nesky hitting a single.

“Laureen and the infield played an excellent game for us early on. They had a solid first inning and thing kind of fell apart later on,” said Norsemen coach Jen Kloosterman.

In the second game of the day, Glen Lake downed Leland, 7-3. Kahler threw 6 strikeouts and allowed 3 hits in her winning effort from the mound. Leland stayed close to the Lakers into the fifth inning. Glen Lake was up 3-2 when they scored four runs to take command.

Lauren O’Brien had 2 hits, 2 RBI to lead the Lakers. Megan Thurettle had 2 hits and Katie Drzewiecki added 2 RBI. Comet pitcher Dena Popp had 9 strikeouts and allowed 9 runs. Rhiannon Hildebrandt, Molly Harrison and Popp each had a with freshman Megan Flohe getting 2 RBI.

Leland won the consolation in a come-from-behind win. Down 4-0 in the third inning, the Comets scored three runs before Popp hit a triple to score Haley VerSnyder and Kaleigh Stinson to take a 5-4 lead. Popp had 2 singles, a triple and 2 RBI; VerSnyder had a triple, a single and 2 RBI; and Harrison and Flohe each had a hit and 3 RBI. Popp had 6 strike outs and allowed nine hits in her winning effort.

For Suttons Bay Schmidt had 6 strikeouts and hit 3 singles. Kelly Ruthkowski and Kaitlyn Smith each hit a single while Taylor Metnzer had 2 singles and 2 RBI.

Susan Herman was named the MVP for the tournament. Making the All Tournament Team were: Ashley Herman, Allison Korson, Bradi Pasch, Emily Schuab of St. Mary; Cori Kahler, Katie Drzewiecki, Hannah Therrien, Glen Lake; Dena Popp, Haley VerSnyder, Leland; and Laureen Schmidt of Suttons Bay.