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But the infield wasn't, and the tournament went on as scheduled. Elk Rapids lost both games.

Harrison defeated the Elks in the opening game of the tournament 3-1.

Stephanie Niepoth and Alex Jennings both walked to open the seventh inning for the Elks.

Niepoth eventually scored on a passed ball, with Jennings moving over to third base.

Coach Mike Hoover called for Jessie Spoor to lay down a squeeze bunt with no outs. But Jennings was tagged out at the plate.

Although the next two Elks batters hit the ball well, both times they were directly to Harrison's fielders.

Niepoth, Spoor and Christine Strudgeon had one hit apiece for the Elks. Jennings was the pitcher of record.

In the second game, Lake Leelanau St. Mary's scored four runs in the third and another in the fifth to win 5-1.

Elk Rapids finally broke through against St. Mary's pitcher in the bottom of the fifth.

Claira Freeman started things off with her first varsity hit. Becky Send and Alex Jennings followed with singles as well to load the bases.

Strudgeon drew a bases loaded walk to drive in the only run Elk Rapids was able to score.

Isenhart, the pitcher of record, was the Elks' leading hitter going 2-for-4. Goltz, Alex Jennings, Strudgeon, Send and Freeman each had single hits.

The Elks weren't overwhelmed by Bellaire's 16-1 record coming into a non-league twin bill last Thursday.

Courtney Isenhart allowed the Eagles only three hits and struck out four.

She also had two hits in two official at-bats, while Kacey Anderson rapped out two doubles in three trips.

Jessica Jennings had only one hit, but that was a two-run single in the Elks' 4-1 win.

"It was really a well-played game, offensively and defensively," Hoover said.

Bellaire jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Elks in the second game, but Elk Rapids rallied for a run in the fourth inning to make it 2-1.

Elk Rapids had runners on first and third when Christine Strudgeon ripped a liner to right-center.

Unfortunately, the Eagles' centerfielder was shading toward right at the time, and got a great jump on the ball.

She caught it, juggled it and then finally secured it to deny Strudgeon what would have probably been a two-run single or double.

"That stopped the rally. It was a huge play," Hoover said.

Bellaire scored one more run in the fifth and finished with a 3-1 win to salvage a split.

Elk Rapids finished the game with five hits. Alex Jennings started the game in the pitcher's circle, and was relieved by Jessie Spoor in the fourth.

Spoor came in with the bases loaded and one out. She struck out the first batter she faced, and got the second to groundout to end the inning.

Anderson had a triple to lead the Elks at the plate. Also getting hits were Tiffany Goltz, Isenhart, Jessica Jennings and Alex Jennings.

"I was really happy with the kids defensively," Hoover said. "They just played so well."

Elk Rapids was scheduled to play at Traverse City St. Francis in a Lake Michigan Conference doubleheader on Wednesday before heading for Glen Lake and a non-league twin bill on Thursday (today).