VOGT LEADS TARS
Anchor Bay starts ‘tough’ MAC Red with victory over Ford
Anchor Bay and Dakota represented the MAC Red Division in the regional round of the state Division 1 softball tournament in 2021.
The Cougars were ranked No. 3 and Anchor Bay No. 6 in the coaches’ 2022 preseason poll.
“The division’s tough all the time,” Tars coach Mike Downey said. “Dakota’s going to be very good again this year.”
Both teams won significant games Tuesday — Anchor Bay 5-1 over Ford in a Red opener and Dakota 2-1 over defending Division 3 champion Richmond.
The seven-team Red had three division games as clubs jumped into conference play only two days after most of them ended spring break.
Ford scored a non-league victory against Rochester Adams and Anchor Bay won a doubleheader from the BWAC’s Armada on Monday, and then they tangled on the Tars’ field.
“It is a little early for a division game,” Ford coach Matt Joseph said. “I’ve always said I think the Red is one of the toughest leagues in the state.”
Allison Vogt struck out seven and the top of the order sparked the Tars’ offense against Ford.
“MAC Red games are always tough to win, especially against a good opponent like Ford, but we pitched well today and played pretty good defense,” Downey said.
“We haven’t had a lot of time outside yet due to the weather and spring break, but we’re starting to come together.”
Kayla Bane, Ryleigh Carraway and Deanna Hyde, the 1-3 batters in Downey’s lineup, drove in a run apiece. Bane and Carraway had three hits apiece to lead the Tars’ 10-hit attack.
Vogt, a senior who scattered three hits, worked all seven innings and threw 87 pitches.
“As a junior, she was honorable mention all-state,” Downey said. “As a senior captain, we expect more out of her. She moves the ball around, changes speeds, spins it really well.
“I think she’s going to have a huge year.”
Bane is a Michigan State recruit.
“A very dynamic player,” Downey said of the shortstop. “Runs very well, hits the ball well. She’s excellent in the field.”
Third baseman Carraway is going to play at IUPUI.
Anchor Bay scored three
runs in the second and two in the fifth.
Ford scored on Jenna Walters’ RBI single in the seventh.
“The biggest thing is playing clean, and today we didn’t play clean,” Joseph said. “You have to make routine plays to win against great competition. They’re a great team, and we didn’t make the routine plays.”
Ford started four sophomores and a ninth-grader.
“We’re a very young team, but with kids that can play,” Joseph said. “I think we’re going to get better as the year goes on.”
Anchor Bay is at Eisenhower for one of three division games being played Thursday. Dakota is at Grosse Pointe North and Romeo at Chippewa Valley in the others.
DAKOTA 2, RICHMOND 1 (8 INNINGS)
Dakota won the nonleague battle of ranked teams. The game was scoreless after seven innings. Dakota’s Grace Maloney had eight strikeouts.