ONSTED, Mich. — Aly VanBrandt has consistently hit above .600 for the past three seasons for the Whiteford Bobcat softball team.
But she seldom is intentionally walked.
Coaches might start to rethink that strategy against the University of Indiana signee.
VanBrandt had a pair of two-out doubles that drove in four runs Saturday to help Whiteford sweep the Division 3 regional at Onsted and advance to next week’s quarterfinals.
Whiteford (35-4) takes on Algonac at Wayne State University on Tuesday.
VanBrandt reached base in every at-bat except her first one of the day on Saturday as Whiteford beat Clinton 12–5, and then handled Grass Lake 5-1 in the regional championship game.
In her next to last at-bat against Clinton, the Redwolves finally intentionally walked her.
“I think that was only the second time I’ve been intentionally walked all year,” VanBrandt said. “I’m glad they don’t, because I love to hit. I just went up there to do what I could for my team.”
With the steady VanBrandt hitting away at the plate, Unity Nelson was her usual consistent self in the circle for Whiteford, although she had to work out of a couple jams.
In the finals, Grass Lake twice loaded the bases, but Nelson turned the heat up and got out of innings with minimal damage. She struck out 14 in her 11 innings pitched on the day. In the seventh inning, she got the Warriors’ top three hitters out in succession.
“They were both really good teams,” Nelson said. “They didn’t just give it to us.”
Clinton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the regional semifinal, but Whiteford came back with four runs in the second and six in the third to pull away.
Patrina Marsh hit a home run for the Bobcats and had a double to the fence against the Redwolves.
Clinton’s season ended at 28-13.
“I was sort of pitching outside of myself a little bit,” Nelson said. “I was kind of amped up and then I got into the flow of the game more once we took the lead.”
Nelson had solid defense behind her as well.
In the finals, Marsh made a great throw to get a runner out trying to get to third base. Second baseman Shay Alexander made two outstanding plays to cover first base on Warriors bunts.
“It was hard to get the ball in play against her,” Grass Lake coach Roger Cook said. “They are a great ball club. They’ve had a great season.”
Grass Lake’s season comes to an end at 33-6.
Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said the Bobcats learned a few things heading into Tuesday’s quarterfinal against Algonac.
“There’s no quit in our girls, in our pitchers or our catchers,” he said. “Everyone was outstanding. It was a great day.”
The regional title is Whiteford’s third straight, but first in Division 3. The Bobcats played in the Division 4 finals last year.
First Published June 10, 2023, 11:27 p.m.
