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But what the East Jordan Red Devils finished with last Tuesday was a split.

Dividing a pair of Lake Michigan Conference girls softball games with the Kalkaska Blazers left the Red Devils still hanging in the title race.

But only barely.

East Jordan came into the showdown with the Blazers carrying at least two conference losses.

If they could have taken both games, it would have gotten them closer to the league leading Blazers.

As it is, the Blazers still hold their destiny in their own hands with a 7-1 conference mark.

Both games were close-run deals.

Kalkaska pulled out the first game 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

East Jordan held off another Blazers' rally to win the second game 5-4 and keep within sniffing distance of first place.

Only now the Red Devils will need some help from someone else if they hope to gain a share of the title, while taking care of business themselves.

The two teams locked up in a genuine pitcher's duel in the opener as Shaina Peters went against Kalkaska senior Marissa Taylor.

Neither gave an inch, either.

Peters handcuffed the usually dangerous Kalkaska offense all game, not giving up a hit until the fifth inning.

On the other side, Taylor surrendered only three base hits herself and fanned 11 Red Devil batters.

What batters reached base on walks or errors were often erased on some good defensive plays by both sides.

The Blazers scored their first run in the opening inning on a walk, stolen base, sacrifice and a passed ball.

East Jordan tied it with an unearned run in the fourth, and the Blazers plated the winning run in the fifth on a triple.

Despite striking out 6 times and getting only 5 hits, the Red Devils prevailed in the nightcap.

Kalkaska had the tying run at second base in the sixth before the Red Devils shut the door.

Sweep Trojans

Ê On Monday, April 28, the Red Devils tuned up for their matchup with Kalkaska by handling the Central Lake Trojans 13-0 and 21-2 in a doubleheader.

Peters threw a no-hitter in the first game for the win, and she also hit a home run. She walked eight and struck out seven.

"With eight walks, Central Lake had some great opportunities to score and our defense buckled down and played sharp," East Jordan head coach Meg Kitson said.

Six Red Devils had hits in game one, highlighted by Andi Chew's two singles and one double.

Game two was all East Jordan. The Red Devils roughed up Central Lake's Michelle Edwards for 14 hits and eight walks. Peters pitched another gem for East Jordan. She struck out eight and limited the Trojans to only three hits and three walks.

In the batter's box, Peters had a triple and two doubles. Chew hit a home run and also had a double.

"The offense was great," Kitson said. "The girls were rewarded by swinging at strikes and driving the ball."

Ê Take two from Harbor Springs

Ê East Jordan had an easy time in game one, winning 11-0. Peters struck out 11 for the victory. Ashley Warrington had a triple and a single, and Cassy Crick had a triple.

Game two was a little different. The Red Devils prevailed, 10-9, but not until after some late inning drama.

The Red Devils were up 8-2 in the top of the fifth when Harbor exploded for seven runs to take the lead 9-8.

East Jordan responded in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 9. Peters came in on relief for Randi McFall and pitched a scoreless sixth.

Mel Skrocki, playing in her first varsity game, singled home the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Crick had four RBIs in the game and Mary Gocha had two.

"Wow! What a game," Kitson said. "It felt good to play in a pressure situation, and Mel Skrocki in her first varsity action had the game-winning RBI!"

Last Friday's game against Harbor Light was rained out. The Red Devils hosted Mancelona on Monday and traveled to Boyne City on Tuesday. They host Gaylord St. Mary on May 9 and travel to Glen Lake on May 10.

Ê Chip Corwin contributed to this report.