On Thursday, May 27, the Rockford varsity softball team traveled to Lowell to compete in the 15th Annual Mindy Tichelaar Memorial Softball Tournament. The tournament is in memory of a Lowell softball player who was killed in an automobile accident shortly after her sophomore season in 1995.
Lady Ram Lauren Pasciak drops down a bunt.
For the sixth time overall, and for the third consecutive year, the Rams walked away with the trophy after defeating Grandville 2-0 in the opening game and the blanking Lowell 4-0 in the championship game.
Tricia Graham again was amazing, allowing just one hit while striking out 10 against Grandville, and then striking out 13 Red Arrows and again allowing just one hit in the finale. Just three opposing base runners made it as far as second base throughout the two games, and nobody reached third against her.
Offensively, the Rams scored their only runs against Grandville in the third inning, when senior outfielders Morgan Ruchty and Lauren Pasciak led off with singles, and then with two outs, Graham drew a walk to load the bases. Shortstop Alli Hickox came through with a clutch single to break the scoreless duel, and Kayla Tykosky followed with a walk that forced in the second run of the inning and the final run of
the game.
Against Lowell, the top of the order did the damage. Leadoff hitter Pasciak singled and scored twice, and Karli Showers, the number two hitter, singled and had a key sacrifice bunt to set up the first run. Peyton Wells, the number three hitter in the lineup, had two hits and drove in two for the Rams. Tykosky drove in Wells with the final run of a three-run sixth inning that was more than enough insurance for Graham and her defense.< br clear=left>
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