Brandon junior Jill Perry and her varsity softball teammates started off district competition with a bang May 31.
Perry threw a no-hitter and struck out 11 batters to improve to 17-4 on the season as the Blackhawks defeated the Mustangs 2-0 at Brandon High School.
Brandon (27-9-1) advanced to take on Auburn Hills Avondale in the district semifinals June 4. The winner of that game will take on the winner of the Pontiac Notre Dame Prep-Farmington Hills Harrison semifinal contest for the district championship later that day.
The Blackhawks scored one run each in the first and fourth innings to give Perry all the run support she needed.
The Mustangs? last opportunity to pull even with the Blackhawks came in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Perry issued a walk with one out. However, a strikeout and a pop out to first baseman Chelsea Wengren ended that threat, and Brandon retired Marian in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.
Jenni Sherman went 2-for-3 for the Blackhawks, while Jessica Liebner went 1-for-3 with and RBI.
In their last tuneup before the start of districts, the Blackhawks took two of three at the Adrian Invitational May 28.
Brandon defeated Farmington 10-0, lost to Adrian 6-3, and defeated Huron Valley 10-3 in an eight-inning contest.
In their game against Farmington, the Blackhawks scored four runs in the first inning, two in the third, and four in the fourth.
That was more than enough for Perry, who allowed only one hit and struck out seven in the five-inning contest.
Annemarie Solley, Liebner, and Lauren Ross each had two hits for the Blackhawks. Liebner scored three runs and drove in three more, while Brooke Schaefer had three RBI for the Blackhawks.
Against Adrian, the Maples broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the seventh inning. Wojtkowicz (10-4-1) took the loss for Brandon, allowing 11 hits and four earned runs while striking out eight.
Ross led the Brandon offense with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, including two doubles and two RBI.
Brandon’s final contest of the tourney featured a dramatic finish, as the Blackhawks scored eight runs in the eighth inning to earn the victory.
Ashley Brady went 3-for-4 for the Blackhawks, while Meridith Dura went 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
On the last home regular season date for the Brandon varsity softball team, the Blackhawks defeated Clio 8-0 and 2-0 in a May 25 doubleheader.
Seniors Dura, Katie Flood and Wojtkowicz were honored by the team’s juniors with flowers and balloons.
In the first game, Wojtkowicz struck out 18 Clio batters and allowed only three hits in the shutout win. The Blackhawks scored six runs in the third inning on their way to the win. Solley led the offensive charge with a 2-for-3 performance.
In the nightcap, it was Perry’s turn on the mound, and she struck out 15 batters and allowed three hits in the victory. The Blackhawks broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the sixth inning.