The Brandon softball team won a district championship by the slimmest of margins.
Brandon’s Meridith Dura scored on a fielding error by Farmington Hills Harrison in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Blackhawks a 1-0 win in the district title game Saturday, June 5 at Brandon.
Pitcher Jill Perry made sure that lead stood up, allowing only three hits while striking out 11. Dura went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Blackhawks.
Brandon hosted a regional contest Saturday, June 12.
The Blackhawks advanced to the title game with a 9-0 win against Auburn Hills Avondale in the district semifinal earlier on June 5.
Dura again sparked the Brandon offense from her perch in the leadoff spot, scoring Brandon’s first run of the game in the first inning on an error. Dura went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, two walks, and two runs scored.
Brandon opened things up in the ensuing innings, scoring four runs in the third inning and three in the fourth inning to distance themselves from Avondale.
Lauren Ross drove in three runs for the Blackhawks, while Brooke Schaefer had two hits.
In the other district semifinal, Harrison defeated Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 3-1.
The Blackhawks tuned up for district action by defeating visiting Utica 4-0 in a June 3 contest.
Perry limited the Chieftains to one hit while striking out seven. Jessica Liebner keyed the Brandon offense by going 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Dura scored two runs and stole two bases. Mallory Martin also scored two runs for the Blackhawks.