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Big hits lead red-hot Hurons past Oscoda

News Photo by James Andersen Rogers City's Krysten Altman delivers a pitch during the second game of a softball doubleheader against Oscoda on Tuesday in Rogers City.

ROGERS CITY–When the Rogers City softball team makes contact at the plate, good things usually happen and it usually makes for a long day for the opposition.

Oscoda became the latest opponent to find that out on Tuesday as the Hurons took two games from the Owls in a North Star League doubleheader, 14-4 (five innings) and 10-6.

Kayla Rabeau hit two home runs and the Hurons mashed five in the twinbill to win their second league doubleheader in as many days.

“I think as a unit we’re hitting the ball well,” Rogers City coach Karl Grambau said. “Everybody’s working hard at finding their niche and I think whoever is up there, we’re confident they can do something with it.”

The Hurons (27-1, 14-0 North Star League) hit two home runs each in the third and fourth innings of the nightcap to keep the Owls at bay. Jayna Hance led off Rogers City’s turn at the plate in the third with a solo shot to right field and three batters later, Hannah Fleming hit a two-run shot.

Hannah Dittmar added an RBI single before the end of the inning to put the Hurons ahead 6-1.

In the next inning, Rabeau sent a two-run home run to left center field and two batters later Taylor Fleming sent a ball over the right field fence to increase the Hurons’ lead to 10-2.

The Owls tried to rally with a four-run fifth inning, which included a two-run home run from Lanaya Hoover who also finished the day with two home runs.

Katie Cox had a two-run double early in the inning to kickstart Oscoda’s rally and two batters later Hoover hit a home run to center field to make it 10-6.

The Owls were retired 1-2-3 in the sixth inning to end any hopes of a come-from-behind win.

“I think Oscoda’s program is on the rise. I think they’ve got some great athletes. They’re young and I think their coaches do a nice job with them,” Grambau said of the Owls. “I think you’re going to see them get better each year.”

Briannah Conly and Hoover each had two hits for the Owls and Hoover also scored twice.

Jazmyn Saile, Hannah Fleming and Hance each had two hits for Rogers City and Hannah Fleming scored three runs. Kyrsten Altman earned the win, allowing six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

An eight-run third inning sparked the Hurons in the opener. Rabeau had a two-run home run and Amanda Wirgau had a two-run double as Rogers City sent 13 batters to the plate. In all, six different players had at least one RBI and the scoring burst put Rogers City ahead 12-2.

Hoover hit a solo shot in the second inning, but the Owls were held relatively in check the rest of the way. After scoring once in the fourth inning, the Owls tacked on two more runs in the fifth on a two-run double.

Rabeau’s two-run double helped stake the Hurons a 4-0 lead after one inning and Dittmar added a sac fly. Rabeau and Linnea Hentkowski had back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth inning to complete Rogers City’s scoring.

Rabeau finished the game with four hits, five RBI, three runs scored and was a triple short of the cycle. Hannah Fleming had two hits and an RBI; Dittmar had a hit and two RBI and Wirgau had a hit and two RBI.

“I think the girls are doing a nice job at the plate when they’re up to bat. We work a lot on hitting and they just continue to work hard at it and we get pretty good results from it,” Grambau said. “I’m really pleased with how we’re hitting right now.”

Hance earned the win, allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Rogers City hosts Cheboygan at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday.

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.

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