Macomb Dakota’s Julia Salisbury makes contact versus Utica on Tuesday.
It was a tough way to start softball pre-district play Tuesday afternoon at Sterling Heights Stevenson for both Utica and Macomb Dakota.
The Chieftains entered the tournament as the four-time MAC White champions, and the Cougars had won their second straight MAC Red Division title with a perfect record (10-0).
The game also featured two of the best pitchers in the area: Sami Torongeau of Utica and Kendahl Dunford of Dakota.
Kelcie LaTour and the Cougars’ hard-hitting lineup was too much for the Chieftains in a 9-1 victory for Dakota.
Dakota improved to 32-2 and faces Stevenson on Friday at 1 p.m.
Dunford went the entire seven innings, posting nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits.
“She was moving the ball around and keeping them off-balance,” said Dakota coach Rick Fontaine.
“She got the change-up working today, which really helped. When she’s on and the ball is moving, she’s tough to hit. She has a good defense behind her, and I think it was a great team game. If we can just keep teams from swinging at the ball and keep our defense going we’re going to be good.”
In each of the past two years, the Cougars had lost in the first game of the playoffs.
With Dunford, a sophomore, on the mound, the Cougars look to having their fortunes change.
“I couldn’t have done it without the girls behind me today,” said Dunford. “I always try to get in front of the batters, but if I don’t I try not to get frustrated with the umpires. I try to make sure I throw a pitch they aren’t expecting.”
Dakota struck first in the bottom of the second, when Kelsey Ramus ripped a single up the middle with two on and one out to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Torongeau ran into trouble in the bottom of the third when two walks and a single by Julia Salisbury loaded the bases with one out.
The Chieftains dodge one bullet when they got a bounce-out, catching the runner at home.
Samantha Bunk came through with a two-out, two-run single as the ball glanced off Torongeau and into centerfield to make it 3-0.
A wild pitch made it 4-0 as Torongeau just missed tagging out the runner at the plate.
Utica got on the board in the top of the fourth on a single by Natalie Happel, a wild pitch, a sacrifice and a bounce out to make it 4-1.
Dakota’s heavy hitters kept slugging away in the bottom of the fifth, when LaTour smacked a two-run homer over the leftfield fence to make it 6-1.
“Kendahl came out strong today,” said LaTour. “I did it for my team and it helped us get the win. I just think if we continue to play this way we give ourselves a chance.”
Corbin Hison’s double in the bottom of the fifth made it 7-1, and Sarah Fringer’s sacrifice fly made it 8-1.