ALPENA – July 2, 2005 - The West Branch Junior League softball team won two of three games last week to advance to a District 8 semifinal that will be played on West Branch’s home field.

West Branch defeated Roscommon 12-0 and Huron East 26-1 before falling to Huron Shore 7-3 on Saturday, July 2.

“We hit the ball very well on Thursday and Friday,” said West Branch coach Todd Thompson. “We hit the ball pretty well against Huron Shore, too, but just hit it right at them.”

Kate Dombrowski threw a shutout in the opener against Rosco. Emily Sheltrown, Jacie Lucas and Ashley Thompson each had three hits. Sheltrown, Lucas, Thompson and Ashley Hebert each scored three runs.

In the 26-1 victory over Huron East (Tawas and Oscoda), Sheltrown scored four runs and hit an inside-the-park home run. Kathy Erickson and Cara Crawford also scored four runs apiece for West Branch. Erickson was also the winning pitcher.

In Saturday’s loss to Huron Shore (Alpena), errors proved costly to West Branch. Dombrowski pitched for West Branch, while Thompson and Angela Carollo had two hits apiece.

West Branch is scheduled to host the district semifinals on Tuesday, July 12 and are tentatively scheduled to play the top seed out of the Gaylord pool at 7:00 p.m.