Raider Softball starts season with 5-0 record

At the end of the first week of their 2024 season, the Portland High School softball team is off to a 5-0 start. Over five games the Raiders have scored 69 runs while allowing only 22 runs.

The Raiders started the season off traveling to Bath on Tuesday.

Game One: Portland 11, Bath 7

The Raiders tallied 13 hits in the win over the Bees.  Senior Jayden Townsend and junior Autumn Reffitt led the Portland offense with three hits each.  Juniors Bailee Fish and Anastasia Seidelman each had two hits and sophomore Claire Lyon had a home run.

Sophomore Bella Spitzley pitched the full game for Portland striking out seven Bath batters.

Game Two: Portland 13, Bath 7

The Raiders tallied nine hits in the second game of the night.  Fish and Reffitt led Portland with two hits each. 

Townsend pitched for the Raiders in this game striking out five.

On Saturday the Raiders hosted the Jack Anderson Invitational Tournament that included Ovid-Elsie, Swartz Creek, and Petoskey.

Game One: Portland 12, Ovid-Elsie 0

The Raiders opened the tournament with a run limit five inning win over the Marauders.

Fish and Lyon (two doubles) led the Portland offense with three hits each. 

Spitzley struck out nine and held Ovid-Elsie to just three hits.

Game Two: Portland 15, Swartz Creek 5

The Raiders defeated the Dragons in a run limit five inning game. 

Townsend got the win on the mound striking out three.

Townsend also led the Portland offense going four for four at the plate with three RBIs.  Spitzley and Lyon added three hits each.  Reffitt and junior Anna Morris had two hits for Portland. 

Game Three: Portland 18, Petoskey 3

The Portland offense was hot in the third and final game of the tournament, and defeated the Northmen in four innings to secure the tournament championship.  The Raiders tallied 18 runs on 12 hits.

Spitzley got the win for Portland holding Petoskey to just six hits.

Fish led the Portland squad offensively going three for three at the plate.  Lyon went two for two with a home run.  Spitzley and sophomore Rylee Mille each added two hits.

Saturday also included the induction ceremony of the 2024 class of the Portland Softball Hall of Fame.  The class included sisters Julie Anderson and Kristen Anderson.  You can find more about the inductees HERE.

Pictured left to right, Julie Anderson Bowers, Jack Anderson, and Kristen Anderson Fellows.

Next week the Raiders open league play hosting Ionia on Tuesday before traveling Bailey Park in Battle Creek on Saturday to compete in the Gull Lake Tournament.