Game 1: Late rally lifts Alpena over Sault 4-3

In a tight opening game, starting pitcher Samp powered Alpena to victory by striking out 13 batters in a complete-game performance. Samp allowed five hits and three runs while walking three over seven innings.

Alpena took the lead late, breaking a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth when Addison Christensen drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring the go-ahead run. Earlier in the game, Claire Jarema put Alpena on the board with an RBI single in the second. Sault Area took a brief lead in the fifth on a two-run single by Kylie Roper, but Poli responded in the bottom half with a solo home run to center field to tie the game 3-3.

Georgia Alberts added another RBI in the sixth with a groundout that helped give Alpena the edge. Ava Rospierski led Alpena at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, while Poli, Jarema, and Alberts each drove in a run. Samp also contributed on the basepaths with two stolen bases.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena's Lilly Rospierski prepares to catch the ball on Saturday in a home game against the Sault Area Blue Devils. Alpena won both games, with scores of 4-3 and 18-8.

Game 2: Poli drives in five as Alpena powers past Blue Devils 18-8

The second game featured a slugfest, and Alpena came out on top, thanks to a breakout performance by Poli, who went 4-for-4 with five RBIs, including her second home run of the day.

Poli drove in runs with sacrifice flies in the second and third, a single in the sixth, and capped her night with a two-run homer to center in the seventh.

“My approach going into these at-bats was that I needed to create a spark for the team and start a rally,” said Poli. “Once everyone’s energy is up, we have a greater chance at winning and proving we are a good squad.”

After a back-and-forth first half of the game, the Wildcats were tied 8-8 going into the sixth. Alpena responded with a massive 10-run surge across the final two innings, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Rospierski, RBI doubles from Jarema and Samp, and Poli’s home run. Maddie Spomer also drove in a run with a base hit in the seventh.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena's Claire Jarema prepares to steal second base on Saturday in a home game against the Sault Area Blue Devils. Alpena won both games, with scores of 4-3 and 18-8.

“We waited for our pitch and drew multiple walks, which led to more energy on the field,” Poli said of the offensive explosion. “Once the rally begins, our opponents have a difficult time shutting us down.”

Rospierski picked up the win on the mound, pitching 4.1 innings in relief while allowing five runs on 13 hits. Samp started Game 2 and struck out four in 2.2 innings. Alpena racked up 17 hits in the win, with Jarema, Samp, Spomer, and Alberts all collecting multiple hits.

Sault Area tallied 15 hits of their own but couldn’t hold back Alpena’s late-game offense. Bergeron led the Blue Devils with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate.

Looking ahead to their matchup with Cadillac, Poli emphasized the team’s focus: “We want to keep disciplining ourselves at the plate and eliminating mental mistakes in the field. We have to start the game off with more intensity and have fun right from the beginning.”

The Wildcats will look to carry this momentum into their next contest against the Cadillac Vikings on Tuesday.

With Saturday’s wins, the Wildcats stand at 16-13 for the season.