Tuesday's roundup: Foster homers twice in G.P. South softball win

Grosse Pointe South junior shortstop Grace Foster’s two home runs, including a two-run blast in South’s four-run seventh inning, propelled her team to a 6-4 win over St. Clair Shores Lakeview on Tuesday in the first game of the season for both teams.

Foster was 2-for-4, with her other home run — a solo shot — coming in the top of the second, breaking a scoreless tie.

“She was an all-regional player last year,” South coach Bill Fleming said of Foster, a two-year captain who hit .500 last season. “She worked really hard in the offseason to get a little stronger. She really hit the ball hard all four times at bat. She’s the heart and soul of our team and everyone really rallies around her.”

After Foster’s homer in the second, South scored once more in the top of the sixth before exploding for four runs in the top of the seventh, breaking the game open.

Down 2-1 with two outs. Chloe Lobert singled up the middle on an 0-2 pitch. Jyen-ai Jones followed with an infield single, before catcher Kendall Volpe smacked a two-run double, giving South the lead. Foster then sent a 2-1 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field, to make it 6-2.
Lakeview attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but was only able to get two runs back.

Sophomore Adrianna Augusta threw a complete game for South, allowing four runs on seven hits, while striking out four.

“I think she got a little tired at the end,” Fleming said. “She really battled in every inning and was really working her corners well, which kind of kept them off balance. She was tough to get a beat on. She threw a really good game for the first game of the year.”

Fleming said Augusta, who started as a freshman, added a pitch to her repertoire this offseason.

“She plays year-round,” Fleming said. “She worked really hard and added a drop ball. She was getting it over today. It was tough to hit.”

On Wednesday, South hosts Warren Woods-Tower, which beat Sterling Heights 13-4.

Baseball

Sterling Heights Stevenson 5, Birmingham Brother Rice 4: Garrett Navarra went four innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out five and walking two, before giving way to Bryce Budal, who threw the final three innings of one-run ball, giving up three hits and striking out three for Stevenson (2-0). Steve Tamburro (3-for-4) hit the go-ahead RBI double for Stevenson in the top of the seventh inning. Steven Trahey was 3-for-3 with a home run and a double for Brother Rice (1-1).

Woodhaven 10, Novi 0 (5 inn.): Jake Lemelin was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Brad Deboutte threw four one-hit innings for Woodhaven.

Al Willman is a freelance writer

Twitter: @AlWillmanSports