Chelsea Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Tecumseh

Chelsea Sophomore Maddie Vasquez slides safely into second base against Tecumseh

On a warm, beautiful afternoon there wasn’t a hint of gray in the sky but there was a big splash of gray on the Chelsea softball field as the Bulldogs unveiled their new gray uniforms. The Bulldogs were looking sharp in their new threads with sparkling gold batting helmets as they opened up conference play and played host to the Tecumseh Indians. The Bulldogs split the doubleheader losing the first game in a heartbreaker in extra innings 10-9 but destroyed the Indians in the nite cap 10-2.

In the first game of the afternoon, Tecumseh jumped out to early 5-0 lead after a big 2nd inning but the Bulldogs struck back with 6 of their own in the bottom of the 4th to take a 1 run lead as they batted through the whole order. The Indians took a 2 run lead in the 6th but the Bulldogs tied it up and took the game into extra innings. In the top of the 8th inning, the Indians scored two runs and Chelsea just got within one run and almost had the tie as the third out was called on a close play at home plate, giving the Indians the victory. Autumn Johnson led the Bulldogs with 3 hits while Hannah Kahler had 2 and Maddie Vazquez had a big pair of rbi doubles.

In the nite cap game, the Indians struck first and fast taking an early 1-0 lead. But the Bulldogs bounced back quickly as Sydnee Liedel led off with a double, followed by a Johnson walk, and then a big 3 run home run blast by Peighton Root. The Bulldogs would score runs in almost every inning giving them a big 10-2 victory behind Johnsons 3 hit performance. Vasquez, Liedel, and winning pitcher Maddie Kemp all had 2 hits apiece.

The Bulldogs are 6-2 on the season and will travel to Ann Arbor Huron on Wednesday for a pair of games starting at 4 o’clock.

Sydnee Liedel chases down a fly ball in center field

Sydnee Liedel throws the ball back into the infield after a big catch

Maddie Kemp connects for the Bulldogs

Autumn Johnson Slides safely into home plate

Peighton Root bats for the Bulldogs

Liedel at bat

Pitcher Peighton Root gatherswith her infielders after a big strikeout

Sophomore Maddie Kemp on the mound for the Bulldogs

Senior Autumn Johnson drives in 2 runs with this big hit

Sophomore Maddie Vasquez rips off a double

Chelsea comes From Behind To Defeat Tecumseh

Chelsea’s Jesse Jacobusse drives the lane in the first quarter

The drive began in the girls district tournament for Chelsea tonight, as they took on the Tecumseh Indians at Columbia Central High School in Brooklyn. Chelsea came from behind and battled back strong in the fourth quarter scoring the last 9 points of the game to defeat the Indians 32-29.

Both teams started slow, possibly nervous it seemed as in the first quarter there was not much scoring at all. Tecumseh played a stifling defense not allowing Chelsea to get their inside game rolling. At the half, it was a very low scoring 13-11 lead for the Bulldogs. In the third, the Indians exploded right away to take the lead on several inside shots. While Chelsea was getting good reads and shots, they just couldn’t get them to fall.

Bulldog senior Jesse Jacobusse hit a big three point shot to keep the Bulldogs close but then the Indians built their lead back up as they hit a shot at the buzzer to take a 6 point lead into the final stanza.

But the Bulldogs played their normal style of strong defense and forced several turnovers and bad shots and they took advantage of them. With 25 seconds left in the game, the Bulldogs sophomore Helena Schultz scored inside and was fouled to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game since the very beginning. After she hit her free throw Chelsea forced another turnover and Tecumseh had no choice but to foul to send the Bulldogs to the line in hopes of getting a missed free throw and rebound.

And that happened as with 5 seconds left the Indians quickly moved the ball upcourt but the long distance 3 was short giving the Bulldogs the hard fought for victory.

Jacobusse led the Bulldogs in scoring with 11 points while Schultz finished the night with 8. Nicole Bareis played a solid defensive game forcing errant passes and shots and finished the night with 8 rebounds.

The Bulldogs will play Columbia Central in round 2 Wednesday at 5:30 in Brooklyn.

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Chelsea Baseball Falls To Tecumseh

Senior Collin Steinhauer Pitches for the Bulldogs

On a beautiful Spring afternoon the 2-5 Chelsea baseball team played host to the 5-3 Tecumseh Indians. Senior Collin Steinhauer started on the mound for the Bulldogs and he set down the first batter he faced with 3 straight strikes. But the Indians took advantage of a few miscues and quickly jumped to a 3-0 lead. Chelsea answered back at the bottom of the inning when Thomas Steele reached first on a single and was able to advance and eventually score on a fielders choice.

Neither team would score again until the third when Tecumseh had 6 hits which led to 3 more runs. Evan Hafley then took the mound for the Bulldogs and kept the Indians off the board but then the Indians added 3 more runs off 5 hits in the 5th inning to take a 9-1 lead. Try as they might the Chelsea bats just couldn’t get anything going.

Senior Matt Kimball finished the game on the mound for the Bulldogs and kept the Indians off the board. With a few minor substitutions in the bottom of the 7th the Bulldogs were able to get some base runners but were not able to take advantage.

Aaron Luci pitched the entire game for the Indians and finished with a 9-1 victory while only allowing 1 run on 2 hits and had 3 strikeouts while giving up 5 walks. Tecumseh host Onsted on Friday.

Chelsea’s only hits of the game came from Steele and Jake Rhodes who had a double. The 2-6 Bulldogs look to get back on the winning track at a quad meet this Saturday at home on Field 3 at 10 a.m.

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