By DOUG DONNELLY 

OTTAWA LAKE – Not everything about a softball game shows up in the box score. 

A couple of key at-bats helped Whiteford open the state tournament Tuesday with a 10-0 victory over Blissfield in a game that went five innings. 

In the fourth inning, Kaydence Sheldon battled at the plate against Royal pitcher Bella Treloar, fouling off pitches and taking a couple of close calls to work the count full, then hit a double to bring around a couple of runs with two outs. 

In the fifth inning, Patrina Marsh did much the same thing, hitting one foul ball over the fence, fouling off three more until finally crushing a ball that landed on the top of the outfield fence. She got a double out of it, driving in the run that ended the mercy-rule win.

“That at-bat was great,” Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said. “(Patrina) had a great at-bat. She swung and missed a few times, fouled a couple off and then hit a game-winning double.” 

When it left her bat, it appeared it would go foul. However, it not only stayed inbounds, but it just missed a homerun by inches. 

“I thought it was going foul,” VanBrandt said. “Sometimes you don’t talk about the 10th run in a game like this, but that was big.” 

Marsh and Sheldon each had two hits, as did Shay Alexander and Alison Spradling.  

“The last two games we’ve left a lot of runners on base,” VanBrandt said. “We’ve talked about putting the ball in play when you have two outs and make the defense make a play. Nobody is going to give it to us. We have to take it.” 

In the circle, Unity Nelson was in complete control, giving up just one single in which the Blissfield hitter tapped the ball over the Bobcat infield. Of her 15 outs, 12 were by strikeout, upping her season total to 236.  

“Nelson was throwing well,” VanBrandt said. 

Nelson, a junior, is 17-0 this season. The University of North Dakota Commit said she felt good despite the heat, which was well above 80 degrees for the 5 p.m. start. 

“It kind of helps us stay looser,” Nelson said. “In the cold, your muscles tend to get tighter. When it’s hot out you can stay loose longer.” 

Whiteford reached the Division 4 state finals last season but are in Division 3 this year. Tuesday’s win was their first ever Division 3 district softball win, although they did win some district games in the early 1980s in Class C. 

No matter what class or division, Nelson said she brings the same focus to the circle. 

“I think I pitched pretty good,” Nelson said. “I had the one inning where I allowed a couple of people to get on base, but overall, I think I did pretty good. 

“I try to bring the same mentality to every game,” she continued. “I have to bring my best. I understand my teammates are behind me and they have my back. I’m pretty comfortable at this point.” 

Whiteford is the host of the Division 3 district Saturday. The Bobcats will play Ida at 10 a.m. Erie Mason and SMCC play at noon and the finals are at 2 p.m.  

The last time Whiteford played Ida in the post-season was 1983.