By Staff
The Niles-Brandywine Girls Softball Association Intensity 12U fastpitch softball team captured its second state championship in as many weeks last weekend in Holland.
Intensity went undefeated in five games to win the title. Intensity won the NSA B State title the prior weekend in Potterville.
The team is comprised of girls from Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan who participate in the Niles-Brandywine Girls Softball Association league. Intensity opened the tournament with an 8-0 win over the Mount Pleasant All-stars. Pitcher Jenna Ignowski went the distance and struck out 11 batters. Ignowski also paced the offense with two singles and a double. Demi Schrader added two singes while Holly Lucas and Kaley Jones each singled.
Intensity followed with another convincing win, defeating the Bellevue Blaze 9-1. Intensity took advantage of four Blaze errors in the first two innings to score eight runs. Alexis Lenox, Jones and Ignowski contributed key hits and RBIs. Schrader was the winning pitcher with relief from Lenox.
Next, Intensity defeated the Reese All-Stars 5-2. Lenox led the offense with two singles while Patty Anton and Maggie Ernsberger each hit run-scoring singles. Schrader went the distance in the circle for the win, striking out four batters.
Intensity then faced an undefeated Beal City All-Star team and came out with a 7-4 victory. A balanced offensive attack was too much for Beal City to handle with Delaina Schroeder and Anna Callahan getting base hits and driving in runs. Jones, Ernsberger, Schrader and Lenox also singled while Ignowski tripled. Schrader was the winning pitcher with relief from Ignowski.
On Sunday, Intensity defeated Beal City once again in the championship game by the score of 10-0. Callahan and Ignowski provided the offense with Callahan's two singles and a double and Ignowski's double and in-the-park home run. Ignowski went the distance in the circle, striking out five for the win. Taylor Watson and Ashton Gordon contributed solid defensive outfield play for the winners.
Coach Dennis Ignowski told his team after the tournament that all its hard work, starting indoors last February, had paid off as demonstrated by the accomplishments this season. The team qualified to attend the ASA World Series in Alabama.