EDWARDSBURG — The softball gods were definitely not smiling on host Edwardsburg in the opening game of the Division 2 regional tournament Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 in the top half of the seventh, Edwardsburg had Rachel Borden at third and Kailee Claire at second with all-state first baseman McKenzie Creed at the plate with two outs.

Creed ripped an Avery Slancik pitch up the middle on what appeared to be a single heading toward center field, which in all probability would have tied the game at 2-2.

But instead of having a tie game, Creed’s ball caught Claire on the foot as she was heading to third for the third out and gave the Bulldogs’ the hard-fought victory.

“That was a tough one,” Edwardsburg coach Randy Brooks said. “We just did not hit the ball. It just wasn’t meant to be. You have got to play better than that to win regionals.”

The Eddies (30-8) outhit Vicksburg 8-6, but it seemed like every time the Bulldogs were in trouble Slanick, a freshman, was able to get Edwardsburg to pop the ball up for the third out.

“I think it was a lack of concentration on our part,” Brooks said. “We were not quite seeing the ball deep enough. She is a good pitcher. She was effective at changing speeds. She pitched outside a lot.”

Vicksburg (30-5) scored the game’s only two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run single by Morgan VanDeWoestyne.

Edwardsburg pitcher Ali Strycker gave the Eddies a solid performance on the mound as she limited the Bulldogs to six hits.

“She did a good job, I can’t complaints there,” Brooks said.

Layne Stinnett led the Eddies with a pair of hits.

 

Division 2 Regional Softball

At Edwardsburg

Semifinals

VICKSBURG 2, EDWARDSBURG 0

Edwardsburg            000     000     0 – 0 8 1

Vicksburg                   000     200     x – 2 6 1

Ali Strycker (L); Avery Slancik (W)

Varsity records: Vicksburg 30-5, Edwardsburg 30-8