As their district opener approaches June 5, the Brandon softball team is showing signs they will be a quality foe in playoff competition.
Brandon swept Imlay City in a June 1 doubleheader, taking the opener 8-1 and the nightcap 7-5. The Blackhawks improved to 21-14 on the season.
Jill Perry shut down Imlay City in the opener, striking out 14 and allowing four hits. Lauren Ross had three hits and three RBI, while Annmarie Solley contributed three hits.
In the nightcap, Katie Flood sparked the Brandon offense with two hits.
The Blackhawks traveled to Adrian May 29 for the Adrian Classic tournament, and earned a 2-1 record in the event, defeating Addison 7-0 and Adrian 1-0 before losing 3-0 to Temperance-Bedford in the championship game.
Perry shut out Adrian in picking up the win in that game, striking out 11 and allowing only three hits.
Against Addison, Ross and Brooke Schaefer keyed the Brandon offense. Ross had two hits and three RBI, while Schaefer contributed two hits and two RBI.
After the equivalent of a Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 15-round heavyweight boxing match, the Blackhawks finally delivered the knockout punch in the first game of a twin bill against host Fenton May 27.
With two out in the top of the 18th inning, Ross doubled, driving in Meridith Dura and Jessica Liebner to lead the Blackhawks past the Tigers 2-0.
Perry went the distance on the mound and picked up the win for the Blackhawks, while Dura and Liebner led the Brandon offense with two hits apiece.
Brandon had an easier time of things in the second game, scoring five runs in the fourth inning to defeat the Tigers 9-0.
Dura again ignited the Brandon offense from her leadoff spot in the lineup, going 2-for-5 with a run scored. Chelsea Wengren also went 2-for-5, and drove in two runs.
Nicole Flood earned the win on the mound for Brandon.
The Blackhawks hosted Auburn Hills Avondale in their district opener Saturday, June 5 at 10 a.m. Results were not available as of press time.
The winner of the Brandon-Avondale matchup took on the winner of the game between Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Farmington Hills Harrison for the district championship later that day.