McAuliffe silences Plymouth’s bats, propels Rocks to district semis

Hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely is challenging enough.

Completing the task when the ball that leaves Salem junior pitcher Shannon McAuliffe’s hand is moving around like it’s had a little too much caffeine adds to the degree of difficulty.

McAuliffe brought her A game to Tuesday’s MHSAA Division 1 District opener against Plymouth, limiting the Wildcats to just three singles and a walk in the Rocks’ 8-1 triumph.

“Shannon has some great spin and movement on her pitches, and her speed just leaves them stunned,” noted Salem Head Coach Bonnie Southerland. “Not much rattles Shannon, which also makes her effective.”

Semifinal clash

Host Salem advanced to Saturday’s MHSAA District 27 semifinal match-up against Livonia Stevenson. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m. on the Rocks’ home diamond.

The second semifinal features state-ranked Northville (No. 7 in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association’s final regular-season poll) and Canton.

The two semifinal winners will move on to the 2 p.m. championship game.

The district is one of the most talent-loaded around, with three schools (Salem, Northville and Stevenson) having eclipsed the 25-win mark this spring.

Early on, Tuesday’s game was shaping up like the last time McAuliffe squared off against hard-throwing Plymouth hurler Skylar Weil on May 14, when the Wildcats prevailed 1-0 in an extra-inning thriller.

Roberts was the catalyst

Salem lead-off hitter Mikayla Roberts opened the game with an infield single, but Weil escaped trouble when her stellar infield keystone combination of shortstop Emma McAvoy and Hannah Simko turned a smooth 6-4-3 double play.

The Rocks — cruising defensively thanks to McAuliffe’s seven strikeouts over the first three frames — struck first in their half of the third when Joslyn Dawley reached on an error.

One out later, Erin Torok roped a shot that appeared headed to left field until McAvoy’s diving attempt kept the ball in the infield, putting runners on first and second for Roberts, who pounded a line drive up the right-center field gap, scoring Dawley and Torok.

After tacking on one more run in the top of the third, Salem put a strangle-hold on the outcome by plating five fourth-inning runs thanks in part to run-producing doubles off the bats of Torok and Charlie Lindstrom.

Rally falls short

Plymouth attempted to piece together a mini-comeback in the bottom of the fourth when All-Conference second baseman Hannah Simko reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Sylvia Ditmar’s single to close the Wildcats’ deficit to 8-1.

Both pitchers blanked their foes over the final three innings.

McAuliffe finished with 11 strikeouts and capped her brilliant performance by ending the game by securing Mia Amore’s soft pop-up between the mound and first base.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.