Brandon’s varsity softball team battled from behind to win their season opener Apr. 4.
The Blackhawks spotted visiting Birmingham Seaholm three runs in the top of the first inning and rallied to defeat the visiting Maples 5-4 during a blustery and cold afternoon at Brandon High School.
After Seaholm scored their three runs in the first, the Blackhawks trimmed the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first inning. Annemarie Solley led off the first inning with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch, the first of two runs she scored on the game.
Brandon tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third inning, as Chelsea Wengren drove in Solley and Asaiah Lowe. The Blackhawks took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Megan Anzures drove in Wengren and Jennie Sherman with a single.
The Maples tried making one last-ditch comeback, scoring a run in the top of the seventh, but the Blackhawks held on for the win.
After giving up three runs in the first inning, Brandon pitcher Jill Perry settled down to strike out seven and earn the win for the Blackhawks.
The game was the first in what has the potential to be a significant season for the Blackhawks.
In Coach Carl Gabrielson’s first season at the helm of the Blackhawks? program last year, Brandon went 30-10-1 and won district and regional championships. The Blackhawks are returning 10 players from last year’s squad.
In an interview before the start of the season, Gabrielson said the Blackhawks should be a well-rounded team, with strong pitching and a team capable of a .350 team batting average. He also said the Blackhawks committed just 33 errors in 41 games last season.
One area which the Blackhawks hope to improve upon from last season is winning one-run games. Gabrielson said the Blackhawks lost six games last season by one run.
‘We want to improve our intensity to win big games when they’re on the line,? he said. ‘We don’t get the key run or hit when the game is on the line.?
As far as this year’s Flint Metro League race is concerned, Gabrielson said Fenton, which has two quality pitchers, will be Brandon’s toughest opponent ‘without a doubt.?
Gabrielson said the Blackhawks have the potential to make a state championship run this season, and are so far displaying the necessary cohesiveness and work ethic to make that happen.
‘Everybody pretty much understands what they need to do to make this a state championship team,? he said. ‘They’re working diligently in practices. In the long run, I think we have as good a team as you can have to accomplish what we want to. We just need to put it all together.?