Softball Game Preview: Charlevoix Rayders vs. Ellsworth Lancers

The Charlevoix Rayders will look to take advantage of their home field for the first time this season as they take on the Ellsworth Lancers at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.

Charlevoix will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up one run on Saturday, then bounced right back against Houghton Lake on Monday. The Rayders put the hurt on the Bobcats with a sharp 17-4 victory.

Maryrose Halberg made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits. Halberg was also big at the plate, scoring four runs while going 2-for-3.

In other batting news, Ayla Kemp was a standout: she scored three runs and stole two bases while going 4-for-4. Lauralee Rhode was another key player, scoring four runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.

Charlevoix always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .514. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Houghton Lake only posted an OBP of .360.

Meanwhile, Ellsworth gave their fans exactly what they wanted out of a home opener on Friday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Central Lake a 15-0 shutout.

The team relied heavily on Delaney Johnson, who went 2-for-5 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Aaliyah Huppert, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4.

Charlevoix beat Ellsworth 14-9 in their previous meeting back in April of 2023. Do the Rayders have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Lancers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.