EAST LANSING – The Inland Lakes softball team found itself ending its year on the final day of the season for the first time in program history Saturday.
Despite coming up on the wrong end of a pitchers duel in a 1-0 loss to defending state champion Unionville-Sebewaing Area, the Bulldogs are bringing home the Division 4 state runner-up trophy.
“They have nothing to hang their heads about. We’re extremely proud of them,” Inland Lakes coach Krissi Thompson said. “They had an amazing season and every single one of them will be back next year with a vengeance, so we look forward to coming back.”
Saturday’s title game was scoreless through five innings, as Cloe Mallory and USA’s Nicole Bauer worked their way opposing lineups.
Marisa Morton finally broke the game’s seal in the top of the sixth with an RBI sacrifice bunt, scoring Kayla Gremel for the game’s only run.
Makayla Henckel’s single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth broke up the Stanford-bound Bauer’s no-hitter. But that would be all that Inland Lakes would get at the plate, as Bauer concluded the day by surrendering just the lone hit while striking out 11 and walking one.
Mallory would allow six hits and one earned run while fanning four and walking four.
The Bulldogs end the season at 31-4.
Inland Lakes is set to return its entire lineup next season, including eight rising seniors.
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