MELVINDALE SOFTBALL OVERPOWERS EDSEL FORD

Melvindale made the short drive over to Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn on Thursday for the latest Downriver League tilt in softball. Both teams were coming off 11-run defeats at home the day prior. The visiting Cardinals bounced back in a big way, dominating the host Thunderbirds by a final of 23-3. Melvindale (7-2) got off to a hot start by scoring four runs in the first inning. It ballooned to a 6-0 cushion in the third before Edsel (0-5) was able to plate all three of its runs in the game in that home half. The big blow for Melvindale came in the fourth when the squad sent 16 batters to the dish and put up 11 runs, some of which was self-inflicted by Edsel due to free passes issued either via walk or hit batsmen as well as some fielding miscues. The Cards again batted around in the fifth and scored five more times. The top four hitters in the Melvindale lineup delivered much of the damage on Wednesday. Isabella Rodriguez, Jalyn Ramirez, Emily Biggott, and Jennacey Mollins combined to score 13 of the Cardinals' 23 runs. Mollins and Biggott each drove in two runs while Rodriguez and Ramirez each drove in one. Madison Bradburn and Joelle Zarazua each had one RBI as well while Sage Caperton in the 9-spot of the lineup reached base safely three times with two hits and walk, scoring each time as well. Edsel finished with seven total hits as Biggott in the circle for Melvindale kept the T-Birds relatively in check. Victoria Gilbert had an RBI double for Edsel that scored Tabitha Onufrak, who singled in the at-bat prior. Then later in the inning with two outs, Sarah Pertee delivered a two-run double that scored both Gilbert and Melina Micallef, who reached base safely in all three of her plate appearances on two hits and a walk. Both teams were scheduled to play again on Saturday. Melvindale was set for a trip to Ypsilanti Lincoln for a tournament and Edsel was scheduled for a doubleheader at Livonia Churchill.

MELVINDALE SOFTBALL OVERPOWERS EDSEL FORD

ALEX MULLER

Prep Zone | 4/20/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Cardinals Athletics