The Pressbox

After two complete innings, it’s still USA 2, SMCC 0.

Unionville-Sebewaing has jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning on a two-run, over-the-fence homer by Katie Rayl.

SMCC did not score in the top of the inning but appears to swinging the bats well. The first two Kestrels were retired on sharply hit balls, then Emma LaBeau laced a double to left. Unionville-Sebewaing worked out of the jam, however

St. Mary Catholic Central is getting ready to begin the Division 3 state softball finals. I will post regular reports here to let you know how they are doing.

We had planned to give inning by inning updates on the SMCC and Summerfield games here, but we were not able to get internet access at the stadium in Battle Creek.

There will be regular updates on monroenews.com, however.

I was surprised to get no responses to my earlier blog praising the success of the Monroe, SMCC and Summerfield softball teams.

I expected a few: Go Trojans! Go Kestrels! or Go Bulldogs!

Making it to the state quarterfinals is quite an accomplishment. Now, two of them have made another step with SMCC and Summerfield winning their way into Friday’s semifinals.

Are the fans getting excited yet? Come on SMCC and Summerfield fans, let’s hear what you have to say about your teams.

I’m excited to make the trip to Battle Creek Friday to see them play. It’s too bad Monroe won’t be joining them, but the Trojans had a great season. They should quickly dry those tears they shed Tuesday and smile at what they accomplished this season.

Saturday was another great day for Monroe County Region softball.

A year after putting three teams in the state finals, three more are headed to the state quarterfinals after Monroe, St. Mary Catholic Central and Summerfield all won Regional Tournaments.

Monroe (as usual) pulled out a pair of close games, SMCC upset the fourth-ranked team in the state in extra innings and Summerfield was dominant in its Regional final.

All three should have an excellent chance to win again Tuesday and advance to the semifinals. Who do you think can win it all?

Monroe softball coach Vince Rossi is always a nervous sort. He sweats all the details.

I was in the Trojan dugout with Rossi between games of the District Tournament Saturday when star pitcher Jessica Irwin came in and asked a teammate to look at her ribs to see if they were bruised. She had been hit by a ball during warmups.

That was Rossi’s worst nightmare. Right before a title game his pitcher gets hurt. I am sure his heart skipped a beat or two, but Irwin is tough.

She shook off the injury to toss a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts in the finals. The only hit off her was a bunt single.

If you haven’t had a chance to see Irwin pitch, you should make it a point to get to Saline for Saturday’s Regional Tournament.  She is one of the greatest pitchers in Monroe County history.

The announcement came early this week that Bedford graduate Krissy Sheets had been named to the Louisville Slugger National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Central Regional softball team. An email and a phone call later, the story was in our sports section, with quotes from Sheets.

It would be nice if the bigger colleges offered such easy access to athletes. We have tried to contact local athletes playing at Michigan or Michigan State with no success. You’d think they were in the Witness Protection Program.