The Knights first defeated the Broncos 11-5 then the Rockets 10-0.

“People don’t realize these aren’t that easy to come by,” said Knights coach Robert Bal. “I’m not going to lie, I was very nervous when I woke up this morning.”

Kali Stanchina pitched both games for Norway. In the title contest, she fanned eight Rockets at the plate allowing just three hits for zero runs.

Offensively, a four-run third inning propelled Norway to the lead and there was no looking back.

Todd Rose | Escanaba Daily Press The Norway Knights celebrate after defeating Rapid River Rockets in the the MHSAA Division 4 District 99 Title game Friday in Bark River.

“I can’t say enough about (Kali Stanchina),” said Bal. “She pitched lights out both games. … I (told her) ‘Kali, if they both go seven innings, you’re pitching both games.”

“Like they say, ‘You dance with the one you brought.'”

Backing up Stanchina’s pitching was a solid defense that featured a slick double play and a diving snag in center field by Donna VanHolla.

“Donna had the diving catching in centerfield and then that double play; a grounder to our pitcher and she turns and throws it to short … there’s not many double plays in high school softball because it’s just a short field,” said Bal. “To get it, that’s huge. That’s a momentum lifter for us and a momentum defeater for them.”

Pitching for the Rockets was Natalie Belanger, whose high school and future college career Bal held in high regard.

(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Norway’s baseball team celebrates around senior Gannon Bray, holding the trophy, after winning the MHSAA Division 4 District 98 championship over Bark River-Harris, Friday afternoon at the Bark River Sports Complex. Norway defeated the Broncos, 8-6.

In her final high school softball game, Belanger struck out six Knights batters. She also made an impressive play — similar to one earlier in the season — to catch Taylor Adams on her way to score for the out. The ball — off the bat of Hannah Burkland — was scooped up by Belanger who pump-faked to first then turned around to tag out Adams midway between third and home.

“Hats off to Natalie, too,” Bal said. “I talked to her after the game, and she said, ‘Some days it’s not your day.'”

“I said, ‘I’ll see you next year at Bay. I’ll come down and watch you.’ She’s a great kid. I think all the world of her.”

The 10th Knights run — in the fifth inning — sealed the victory for Norway via the mercy rule.

VanHolla hit a fly ball that dropped in play to usher Stanchina across the plate for the game-winning run.

The district title was one of two for the Knights Friday as the Norway baseball team — moments after the conclusion of the softball match-up — won their game against Bark River-Harris to take home a trophy as well.

For the Rockets, the season comes to a close.

“Norway’s making diving catches in centerfield, turning in double plays when we finally got a runner on … they were definitely the better team today,” said Rapid River coach George Kanyuh. “They deserve to win.

“We were optimistic coming in today that we’ve improved some, and I still think we have. But, the girls never got on track … The long and short of it was they played a better game.”

Notching hits for the Rockets were Belanger, Cecilia Pilon and McKenzi Schram.

While the scoreboard might not have reflected it, Kanyuh said the team had become better throughout the season.

“We did not show it today. But, I’m not lying when I say we are better than we were two months ago. But, I’m sure every team can say that,” he said. “It was an uphill battle all year long for us and I guess today we just didn’t get quite to the top of the hill like we thought we could.”

In the opening contest of the day, it was the Bark River-Harris Broncos on the losing end.

Like Rapid River, the Broncos also grew throughout the year said Bark River coach Rob Arndt.

“It was great to get out there on the field,” he said. “I know the girls were all excited … Just to see the looks on the kids’ faces, to go out there get some victories, just get out there, play some ball and have some fun, it was nice.”

Ortman’s

double keys

late rally

By MATT “SWEETS” McCARTHY

Sports Writer

BARK RIVER — Norway freshman Alex Ortman cracked a 2 RBI double in the top of the seventh inning as part of a three-run inning for the Knights as they captured the MHSAA District 98 baseball District championship Friday afternoon, defeating host Bark River-Harris, 8-6.

Ortman also drove in a run in the fourth inning, as the visiting Knights put up five runs on the scoreboard. Carson Chartier and Brent Lagina also had RBI’s for the Knights in the fourth inning.

“In all honesty, we were a JV team to start the season,” said Norway head coach Tony Adams. “We have so man young players, and we showed glimpses of what I thought we could be. What I am most happy about, is we didn’t fall apart tonight, we held the lead.”

The Knights were accustomed to having one bad inning in several games throughout the regular season.

“I am very proud of the kids, we all rowed the boat in the same direction. We supported each other,” Adams stated. “The boys earned this today.”

Norway’s lone senior Gannon Bray toed the mound for five innings, fanning six, while only walking one batter. Bray gave up four runs, two of them earned and eight hits.

“Gannon did what he normally does on the mound, give us what we need to succeed,” Adams added.

Bark River’s Nick Javurek started on the mound, striking out nine batters, walking one and allowing five runs, with three earned.

“Our pitcher (Javurek) pitched great,” said Broncos head coach Al Botwright. “They (Norway) played a better defensive game than we did, and that was the difference. Our errors were very costly in the two innings that they scored all their runs in.”

The Broncos got on the scoreboard first, plating two runs in the bottom of the third, after Norway put up three scoreless innings to start the game. Johnnie Robinette drove in a run on a double in the inning.

Bark River-Harris plated two more runs in the home half of the fourth inning, via Zach Robinette’s RBI single, and a wild pitch, to tighten Norway’s lead to a single run. BR-H tied the game at 5-5 going into the final inning, on an error by a Knights outfielder.

The Broncos last two runs in the game came off of Norway junior Nolan Amundson, who picked up the win in relief of Bray. However, the left handed hurler was able to close the door on Bark River to clinch the Knights a trip to the Regionals.

“Bark River is a great team, they’re well coached,” Adams added. “I know how they feel right now being on the losing end of a game like this, but hats off to them.”

Botwright praised his team, despite the loss. “This was a great group of kids and a great group of seniors to work with, a pleasure. I wish them all the best of luck going forward.”

There were a couple of key defensive moments for the Knights in the game. The first was a nifty catch by Chartier at second base on an infield flyball in the third inning.

The other two moments came in the fifth inning. Amundson made a catch in center field and threw a dart to catcher Chase Carlson, who dove back to successfully tag out Bark River’s Carter Zawacki at home. The other, Knights first baseman Michael Peterson scooped a throw out of the dirt, in time for an out to end the Broncos threat in the inning.

Norway will return to the Bark River Sports Complex on Wednesday for a MHSAA Regional 49 semifinal, as they take on Ironwood at 5 p.m. Eastern time. The winner of Wednesday’s semifinal game will advance to Pellston, which will be the site of the regional final and the quarterfinal game on June 12.

Norway 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 — 8/9/3

BR-H 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 — 6/11/5

WP: N. Amundson; LP: Mack