Source: MI Prep Zone

Author: MATTHEW B. MOWERY

Abby Krzywiecki’s fifth-inning, three-run home run against South Lyon East on Thursday put the Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins at the mercy-rule margin to finish the game.

Coupled with an earlier solo shot, it also put Krzywiecki just one shy of the state’s single-season home run record.

The Mercy senior has 17 home runs this season, one shy of joining Romeo’s Madison Jones (2015), Williamston’s Camri Grace (2014) and Pentwater’s Melinda Van Gillis (1979), who currently jointly hold the state record with 18 home runs each.

It also ties the Mercy school single-season record, set by Alex Sobczak in 2013.

Krzywiecki passed Sobczack’s Mercy career record (40) home runs five round-trippers ago, and her current total of 45 sits just four shy of the state record jointly held by Addison’s Erika Underwood (2012-15) and Belding’s Taylor Johnson (2007-10).

The Marlins (32-2) play four times this week — twice against Utica Eisenhower on Tuesday and twice against Walled Lake Northern on Thursday — before opening district play against Farmington Hills Harrison on Saturday.

The No. 2-ranked Marlins went 3-1 on the week, after beating Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Monday for the Catholic League title. Mercy beat South Lyon East 13-2 in five innings and 7-4 on Thursday, then beat Howell, 8-5, before losing to Plymouth, 1-0, on Saturday.

Plymouth’s Jenny Bressler tossed the three-hit shutout on Saturday, striking out 10, while Andrea Elmore gave up just one sixth-inning run on three hits, striking out 13. Krzywiecki got the win against Howell, striking out seven. Cari Padula and Elmore (grand slam) homered in that game.

Padula and Elmore also both homered in the second game against South Lyon East.