It was in the third inning of a tight game with number one USA that the unfortunate incident occurred. With the game tied 0-0 with two outs in the third inning, a line drive off the bat of the USA catcher caught Tawas pitcher Abby Gentges square in the face mask, dropped her to the ground and ripped the mask from her face.

Although she was alert and aware following the incident, she was stabilized and transported to Covenant Hospital as a precautionary measure. She was able to return to the ball fields with her parents later in the day after being diagnosed as sustaining only a minor concussion as a result of the accident.

Following the departure of the ambulance, the game resumed. But it was immediately apparent that the Tawas team’s heart was just not in it. USA went on to score six unearned runs on the way to posting an 8-0 win.

Tawas was able to collect only three hits in the game with Ivy Schaaf, Christie Cooper and Jenny Ross tallying a single each. Annie Righetti replaced Gentges on the mound and took the loss allowing two earned runs on seven hits. Annie struck out two and walked one.

Following the loss to USA, Tawas had to immediately play the host Hemlock Huskies. With Tawas still unable to keep their emotions in check, the Huskies notched an easy 11-1 win, scoring only four earned runs.

In the game, Righetti pitched the first four innings for Tawas giving up six runs (none earned) on five hits. She struck out one and walked three. Shelby Alda came on in relief and pitched the final two innings allowing five runs (four earned) on two hits. She struck out two and walked four. Leading hitters for Tawas were Ivy Schaaf with a single, double and one RBI; Amber Yates with two singles and Rachel Adaline, Shelby Alda and Annie Righetti with one hit each.

With the return of a healthy Gentges prior to the start of the third game, the Tawas team’s spirit improved considerably. They played hard but ultimately dropped a 7-5 decision to Frankenmuth.

Righetti took the loss for Tawas allowing three runs (none earned) on one hit. She struck out two and walked two in one inning of work. Shelby Alda pitched the remaining five innings in relief allowing four runs (only three earned) on four hits. She struck out three and walked five.

Addie Loftus got the win for Frankenmuth allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. She struck out six and walked none.

Trailing 5-0 after two innings, Tawas pushed four runs across in the top of the third to get back in the game. Consecutive singles by Schaaf, Cooper and McKenzie resulted in one run while back to back doubles by Yates and Jenny Ross produced three more.

Tawas knotted the score at 5 each with a single run in the fourth on a two out single by Schaaf. She scored when Cooper was safe on a three base error.

But Frankenmuth came back with an unearned run in their half of the fourth and a single run in the fifth to claim the win.

Leading hitters for Tawas were Jenny Ross with two doubles and two RBI; Ivy Schaaf with two hits; Katie McKenzie and Amber Yates each with one hit and one RBI, and Christie Cooper and Richelle Payea with one hit each.

For Frankenmuth, Jordan Skiba and Ashley Houl each had one hit and one RBI while Loftus, O’Connell and Heidi Reinbold had one hit each.

Although disappointed with the three losses, the entire Tawas coaching staff considered the day a big win with the safe return of their starting pitcher. “It’s a solid testament to the benefit of wearing the safety face masks,” Tawas coach Rick Collins said. “Without that mask, she would have surely suffered a more severe injury.”