Brook Buchan delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Reeths-Puffer softball team a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Clinton over the weekend in the Michigan Challenge Tournament in Canton.
The Rockets fell behind early but stayed within striking distance, thanks to contributions from multiple hitters, including Aubrey Clark, who drove in three runs, and Kyleigh Bilek, who had three hits.
R-P tied the game with a big fifth-inning rally and completed the comeback in the bottom of the sixth when Buchan delivered her game-winning hit.
R-P's Brook Buchan, who had a walk-off hit in a win over Clinton.
Madison Snyder started in the circle and battled through five innings, while Lainey McDaniel closed it out and earned the win.
The victory was one of two for the Rockets in the five-game, two-day tournament, which featured high quality teams from different parts of the state.
The Rockets came home with an 18-10 overall record, and will resume O-K Green conference play with a road doubleheader against Muskegon on Tuesday.
Linden 5, Reeths-Puffer 3
Reeths-Puffer opened the tournament against a tough Linden team and fell 5–3 in a competitive game.
The Rockets took an early lead with runs in the first and third innings, thanks in part to a strong game at the plate from Bilek, who went 2-for-3 with all three RBIs. Lainey McDaniel was dominant early in the circle, striking out 11 in five innings, but a rally by Linden in the fifth inning, aided by walks and timely hits, doomed the Rockets..
Lakeland 7, Reeths-Puffer 4
The Rockets took an early 4–2 lead, scoring in both the first and second innings with clutch hits from Tessa Ross and Abbie Critchett. However, a big third inning from Lakeland, highlighted by a three-run home run, flipped the game.
Snyder pitched well overall, allowing just one earned run over four innings. After the early scoring burst, the Rockets were quiet at the plate and couldn't mount a comeback.
Reeths-Puffer 11, Midland Dow 4
The Rockets broke open a close game with a five-run fourth inning, capitalizing on Dow’s defensive mistakes and showing aggressive baserunning with seven stolen bases.
McDaniel threw a complete game with eight strikeouts and just one walk. The offense was balanced, with multiple players — including Bilek, Buchan and Ava Gibbs — each driving in a pair of runs. Snyder also had a perfect game at the plate, going 2-for-2.
Walled Lake Western 5, Reeths-Puffer 0
The final game of the tournament saw R-P’s offense stall against a strong Walled Lake Western pitching staff.
McDaniel turned in another solid outing, allowing just three earned runs and striking out seven, but the Rockets couldn’t provide any run support. RP managed just three hits — singles from Bilek, Ross and Kenzie Jacobs.