Mariners softball, baseball teams win home openers

Both the Mariner softball and baseball teams won their home openers with victories over the Carlton Bulldogs. They each scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to come away with two run wins. The girls won 3-1 and the boys prevailed 8-6.

The baseball team was also playing their first game of the season as was Carlton. It was a typical opening game with lots of walks and it took over two and a half hours to complete. A four-run third inning gave the Mariners a 6-4 lead. After the Bulldogs tied it up in the top half of the sixth, the Mariners replied with two of their own in their half of the sixth. Jonah Koehler led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a ground out to the right side by Cody Larson. After Daniel Wilson scored Koehler with another double, Duresky drove in Wilson for an insurance run. Wilson picked up the victory going the distance with 11 strikeouts. He gave up six hits and walked eight.

In the softball game, Carlton took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the third inning. After Brooke Camps led off the inning with a walk, a bloop single from Alana Groth put runners at first and second. Following a force at third, another walk loaded the bases with one out. A single thru the infield from Hannah Benson made it 1-0 and things looked bleak for the Mariners until Phoenix Lillis caught a liner and doubled the runner off third to end the inning.

The Mariners promptly tied it up in their half of the third. Marina Carter doubled with one out and scored on a Brittany grounder.

The Mariners entered the bottom of the sixth with the game still tied at 1-1. Rachel Dilley led off the inning with a single. She advanced to second on a ground out by her sister Rebecca and scored on a line drive single from Lillis to give the Mariners the lead for the first time in the game. Lillis reached third on the play when an outfielder misplayed the ball and scored on a Shay Viola single to make it 3-1 Mariners. Taylor Guzzo put down the Bulldogs 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game in favor of the Mariners. She struck out the last two batters she faced to give her five as she gave up six hits.

Seven out of the nine Mariner batters had at least one hit. Every Mariner batter had at least two great at bats as the Mariners hit the ball well but too often right at somebody. Both teams played very well defensively. Carter, Rebecca Dilley, and Lillis each finished the game with two hits.

Tags: silver bay,  mn, sports