1977 Baseball, Softball Finals Full of Firsts
June 5, 2017
By Ron Pesch
Special for Second Half
This season’s MHSAA Baseball and Softball Finals will be played in two weeks, June 15-17 at Michigan State University.
As we begin to turn our attention to that grand finale for the school year, MHSAA historian Ron Pesch takes on a recollection of the diamond championships in both sports from 1977.
That season’s baseball playoffs were the seventh under MHSAA sponsorship, while softball was in its third season as an MHSAA tournament sport.
BASEBALL
CLASS A – Four of coach Pat O’Keefe’s Grand Ledge baseball teams have advanced to the final game in the MHSAA’s top division since the start of tournament play in 1971. A standout athlete at Standish-Sterling High School, Central Michigan University and in the minor leagues in the Houston Astros organization, O’Keefe has led two Comets squads, the 2001 and the 1993 teams, to MHSAA runner-up finishes. Grand Ledge grabbed Class A championship honors in 1995, but it was the first title, earned in June of 1977, that caught everyone by surprise.
After opening the season with three victories and a single defeat, Grand Ledge dropped their next four games in a row before rallying to a 14-6 regular-season mark and a third-place finish in the Capital Area Conference. Behind solid pitching, O’Keefe saw his team’s bats come alive in the postseason. Tim Skinner had three hits, scored twice and had a pair of RBI in District games with Owosso and Brighton. With six straight tournament wins, Grand Ledge advanced to Saturday morning’s Semifinal contest at Valley Field in Grand Rapids against Sterling Heights and its pitching ace, Rick Lemanski, who was unbeaten in 12 games. Ranked No 2 in the state by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association, Sterling Heights loaded the bases with two out in the fourth inning, but a pop up to first baseman Scott Kemp ended the rally. With one out, the Stallions threatened again in the fifth with runners at second and third, but the rally ended when a missed sign on a suicide squeeze resulted in a strikeout and a tag out at third, ending the inning. Following a one-out double to center, junior Mike Dyer scored the game’s only run on a play at the plate in the eighth inning to win the contest. Craig VanDerSteen picked up the win for Grand Ledge, striking out 11.
Against top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central, the unranked Comets scored twice in the second inning, three times in the fourth and once in the fifth. Craig Dukes struck out two and scattered seven hits to secure the victory for Grand Ledge, while Dyer drove home three runners, scored, and sparkled defensively from the shortstop position.
“He played like a major leaguer, and he comes through in clutch spots like nobody I’ve ever seen.” said O’Keefe. Entering the 2017 season, his 49th as skipper at Grand Ledge, O’Keefe stood atop the MHSAA’s career coaching wins list with 1,221 victories against 208 defeats and a single tie.
CLASS B – In Class B, Gibraltar Carlson pounded out a 7-1 victory over No. 1-ranked Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher. Played at Stanley O. Broome Park in Flint and delayed until Monday due to rain, the game saw the Marauders score twice in the first inning. Southpaw Craig Smith, who struck out eight in a four-hit performance, singled and then scored on Kirk Williams’ triple. Williams scored to give Carlson a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Kelly Mousseau. The Marauders scored again in the second inning when Gary Southerland singled then scored on a Brett Kahn triple. Williams notched his second triple of the game in the third, scoring the first of four runs in the inning. Following a Mousseau walk, Mark Shallhorn singled to drive in both runners. Another single by Southerland drove home Shallhorn, and following a groundout, he scored on a single by Kahn.
“This was undoubtedly the finest season in his 24 years of coaching for (John) LeFevre,” stated The Associated Press when it named him Class B all-state Coach of the Year. “He led Gibraltar-Carlson to a 28-7 record which were personal bests for most wins and winning percentage.”
CLASS C – Like O’Keefe, Blissfield’s Larry Tuttle began his coaching career in 1968. Number two on the all-time baseball win list, a mere seven wins back, Tuttle and his Royals earned their first Class C MHSAA baseball crown in 1973, then grabbed their second in 1976. At Marshall High School in 1977, Blissfield became the first Class C baseball team to repeat as champions, downing Center Line St. Clement by a score of 4-2. Trailing 2-1 headed into the fifth inning, Blissfield’s Jim DeVantier singled, stole second and third base, then scored on a wild pitch to knot things up. A bases-loaded walk to Bud Friess followed to give the Royals the lead. An insurance run in the seventh, scored by Steve Cannon on another wild pitch, gave Dave Pagel the win. Pagel, a two-time all-state selection headed to Central Michigan University, struck out seven and allowed four hits on the day. Friess also pounded out a two-run triple in Blissfield’s 5-0 win over Sanford-Meridian in the morning’s Semifinal. Mike Burgermeister went the distance for the Semifinal victory. The Royals finished the year with a 28-2 mark. St. Clement, Class C champion in 1972 and 1974, ended with a 28-8 record.
CLASS D – Mark Kelley struck out 15 in leading Ann Arbor St Thomas to a 4-3 win over Frankfort in a Class D Semifinal, then in the title game pitched the final two innings in relief to earn the win in St. Thomas’s come-from-behind 10-9 clincher over top-ranked Potterville. The games were played at Alumni Field in Mt. Pleasant. Trailing 7-4 headed into the top of the seventh inning, the Irish scored six runs on five hits, including a two-run single by Tom Dishman and a two-run double by Mike Stork to take a 10-7 lead. Potterville scored twice in its final at bat to pull within one run of the lead. With the bases loaded and one down, Kelley managed to retire the next batter with a pop-up to short, then struck out the final batter for the victory. Starting pitcher Gary Farmiloe, ousted from the title game after two innings, went 2 for 3 and scored the winning run in the Semifinal game versus Frankfort, then went 3 for 4 at the plate against Potterville with two singles and a double. St. Thomas, 5-11 at one point during the season, finished with a 15-12 record.
SOFTBALL
CLASS A – Senior Karen Searles tossed a two-hitter in Portage Central’s 10-0 victory over Temperance-Bedford in a Class A Semifinal, then allowed five hits in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Flint Carman to clinch the championship. The Mustangs opened a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run single by Kim Barnes. Searles, who finished the year with a perfect 20-0 record, gave up three walks and a pair of hits in the sixth, including a two-run single by Kim Lancaster as Bedford rallied to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh, an error allowed Karen Frank to reach first base with one out. Sacrificed to second, she scored on Sandy Surch’s third hit of the game. The Final was hosted at Memorial Field in East Detroit.
CLASS B – At Henry Robinson Park in Ionia, Roxanne Abramouski picked up her 31st victory without defeat as Grosse Ile downed South Haven, 5-3, for the Class B title. Grosse Ile opened a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Shawn Perry reached first on an error and scored following a double by Ann Perrault. A single by Allison Smith scored Perrault, while Smith later scored on another error. Patty Silye singled home a pair of runs in the fifth, expanding the lead to 5-0, before South Haven cut the margin to two with three runs in the sixth inning. A semifinalist in 1976, Grosse Ile finished the year with a flawless 33-0 record and 0.75 ERA. Abramouski continued her playing career at Ferris State, where she still ranks among the school’s pitching leaders in various categories.
“I would say it has been a pretty good year for girls athletics at South Haven,” said coach John Yelding. Earlier in the year, the Rams also finished Class B runner-up in volleyball.
CLASS C – DeWitt’s Cindy White fired a four-hitter, then went 4 for 4 at the plate to lead coach Debbie Boyd’s Panthers to a 12-5 thumping of Center Line St. Clement in the Class C championship played at Ella Sharpe Park in Jackson. White drove in five runs in the contest, notching a triple, a double and a pair of singles as DeWitt picked up its first MHSAA championship in any sport. St. Clement took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Panthers exploded for five runs in the third, two in the fifth and five more in the sixth for a 12-1 lead entering the seventh. DeWitt downed Niles Brandywine, 7-1, earlier in the day to advance to the title game. The championship was especially sweet for Coach Boyd, who had announced prior to the tournament that she would step down after five years at the helm.
CLASS D – Allendale senior Ruth Crowe tossed a pair of two-hitters as the Falcons downed Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 10-0, in the morning’s Semifinal, then defeated Custer Mason County Eastern, 8-0, at Fink Field in Fowler. Allendale, top-ranked in Class D, scored early and often, tallying six runs in the first inning as Mason County Eastern allowed 11 hits and five unearned runs on the day. Deb McBurnett doubled to right-center in the second inning and scored on a Weez Stelland single for a 1-0 lead. Three errors, a walk and a bunt single by Crowe pushed the margin to four in the third inning. Another run on errors came in the fifth, and with two out in the sixth inning, five consecutive singles combined with errors allowed three more runs to score. Allendale ended the year with a 22-2 record, while Mason County Eastern wrapped up the season at 19-3.
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTOS: (Top) The Lansing State Journal on June 19, 1977, touted Grand Ledge’s first MHSAA baseball championship. (Middle) The DeWitt softball team won its first MHSAA title in any sport that spring. (Top photo courtesy of the Lansing State Journal, bottom photo from MHSAA archives.)
Preview: Softball Finals Filled with Opportunities for Unforgettable Finishes
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 12, 2024
Admittedly, we say this a lot. And we do so because every championship weekend has the potential to be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
But this weekend’s MHSAA Softball Finals at Michigan State are just about guaranteed to make the list.
Unionville-Sebewaing is playing to tie the record for most consecutive Finals championships, and Gaylord is playing to repeat in Division 2 and continue one of the most dominating runs we’ve seen outside of USA in some time.
But the runners-up in both of those divisions are back as well, as are the runners-up in Division 3 from the last three seasons. And Division 1 features a recent champion and its returning ace against a team that played at Secchia Stadium last year, and No. 2 vs. No. 1 in the other Semifinal.
Division 1 – Thursday
South Lyon vs. Lake Orion - 10 a.m.
Hudsonville vs. Farmington Hills Mercy - 12:30 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday
Gaylord vs. Milan - 3 p.m.
North Branch vs. Vicksburg - 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Ottawa Lake Whiteford vs. Clare - 10 a.m.
Evart vs. Buchanan - 12:30 p.m.
Division 4 – Friday
Hillman vs. Holton - 3 p.m.
Unionville-Sebewaing vs. Mendon - 5:30 p.m.
FINALS – Saturday
Division 1 – 10 a.m.
Division 2 – 12:30 p.m.
Division 3 – 3 p.m.
Division 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $11 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. One ticket is good for all baseball, softball and girls soccer games at MSU’s Old College Field that day. All Semifinals and Finals will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv, with free audio broadcasts on the MHSAA Network.
Below is a glance at all 16 teams taking the field (with statistics through Regional Finals):
Division 1
FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY
Record/rank: 38-1, No. 1
Coach: Corey Burras, fourth season (130-11)
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2016, runner-up 2002.
Players to watch: Charlie Lambert, jr. SS (.449, 43 R, 8 HR, 38 RBI); Kaitlyn Pallozzi, jr. P/1B (.396, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 28-1 pitching, 0.44 ERA, 399 K/173 1/3 IP); Sophia Chaput, soph. CF (.459, 53 R, 7 HR, 31 RBI); Kat Burras, sr. C (.520, 12 HR, 43 RBI).
Outlook: Corey Burras’ four seasons leading this program have included four league and District titles and three Regional championships, the only loss this spring coming during a split with reigning Division 2 champion Gaylord. Mercy downed No. 7 Allen Park a second time this spring in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal, and the Marlins also defeated honorable mention Livonia Stevenson during this run and No. 3 South Lyon, No. 4 Grand Blanc, No. 5 Saline and No. 6 Macomb Dakota during the regular season. Pallozzi is a returning all-state first-teamer, and Kat Burras earned honorable mention in 2023. Seven regulars hit .350 or higher, and Evelyn Miller (.425, 9 HR, 42 RBI) is another power bat in the middle of the lineup. Burras will continue at Sacred Heart in Connecticut.
HUDSONVILLE
Record/rank: 40-0, No. 2
Coach: Tom Vruggink, 43rd season (1,196-290)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2012).
Players to watch: Megan Beemer, sr. OF (.573, 72 R, 14 2B, 31 RBI, 60 SB); Elly Koopman, sr. P/1B (.448, 30 R, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 16-0 pitching, 0.89 ERA, 108 K/87 IP); Tessa Heffelbower, soph. SS (.477, 56 R, 44 RBI, 24 SB); Ava Snip, sr. P (18-0, 0.42 ERA, 191 K/116 IP).
Outlook: Hudsonville is making its second trip to the Semifinals in three seasons and has won at least 32 games all of the last four under Vruggink, the fifth-winningest coach in MHSAA softball history. Beemer and Koopman made the all-state first team last season, and junior outfielder Ava Gardner (.491, 45 runs, 42 RBI) earned an honorable mention. Freshman Lauren Luchies (.408) and junior Autumn Dennis (.380, 32 RBI) also help fill a lineup that has scored double-digit runs in 24 games. Hudsonville needed eight innings to get past honorable mention Midland in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal and also has defeated honorable mentions Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Jenison during this run. Beemer has signed with Michigan.
LAKE ORION
Record/rank: 37-5, No. 10 (tied)
Coach: Joe Woityra, 15th season (408-121-2)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Rylee Limberger, jr. P (22-4, 2.15 ERA, 210 K/153 IP, .375, 35 RBI); Ellie Britt, sr. SS (.330, 32 R, 30 RBI); Grace Luby, sr. OF (.423, 42 R, 47 RBI); Addy Dukus, jr. OF (.493, 60 R, 27 2B, 32 RBI).
Outlook: Lake Orion is making a return trip to the Semifinals after falling to eventual Division 1 champion Hartland last year. The entire starting hitting lineup is back from that team, with Limberger, Britt and senior second baseman Sydney Bell (.302, 41 runs) having earned all-state honorable mentions in 2023. Limberger is joined in the circle by junior Jada Lopez (14-0, 2.15 ERA, .387, 32 RBI), and seniors Alexis Hazen (.302), Anna Gardner (.301, 38 runs) and Maddie Eckert (.298, 27 RBI) also are returning starters. This Dragons’ run has included a pair of 5-4 championship wins – over No. 6 Macomb Dakota in the Regional and No. 9 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in the District.
SOUTH LYON
Record/rank: 33-6-1, No. 3
Coach: Dave Langlois, third season (88-25-1)
League finish: First in Lakes Valley Conference
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2021.
Players to watch: Isabelle Nooe, jr. SS (.449, 45 R, 14 2B, 34 RBI); Maggie Badrak, jr. OF (.320, 23 R); Ava Bradshaw, sr. P (.398, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 27-4, 0.66 ERA, 368 K/189 2/3 IP); Olivia Simeone, sr. 2B (.328, 12 SB).
Outlook: South Lyon won its championship with Bradshaw in the circle as a freshman and will attempt to win another as she closes her career. She missed last season with a knee injury but has returned at full power and signed with Duke along the way. The Lions shut out reigning champion Hartland 6-0 in the Quarterfinal – their fourth shutout in five tournament games – and have also defeated No. 10 Northville and No. 5 Saline during the postseason after emerging from a league that included No. 8 Walled Lake Northern.
Division 2
GAYLORD
Record/rank: 36-4, No. 1
Coach: Ron Moeggenberg, first season (36-4)
League finish: First in Big North Conference
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2023.
Players to watch: Aubrey Jones, jr. P/SS (.425, 61 R, 24 HR, 77 RBI, 19 SB, 13-0 pitching, 0.61 ERA, 110 K/69 IP); Jayden Jones, sr. SS/P (.467, 63 R, 17 2B, 13 HR, 54 RBI, 12-2 pitching, 1.49 ERA); Taylor Moeggenberg, sr. C (.380, 12 HR, 52 RBI); Braleigh Miller, sr. OF (.492, 60 R, 27 RBI, 24 SB).
Outlook: A run that began with back-to-back trips to the Semifinals in 2021 and 2022 can now add a repeat championship as Gaylord brings back almost the same team that won it all last season. Taylor Moeggenberg and the Jones sisters all made the all-state first team last season, and Miller, senior Alexis Shepherd (.406, 67 runs, 55 RBI), senior Hali Lenartowicz (.352, 36 runs), junior Kennedy Wangler (.479, 41 RBI) and senior Addison Wangler (.305, 35 runs) also started last year’s Final. The team’s 399 RBI heading into this week rank fourth in MHSAA history for one season, and its 68 home runs rank second. Jayden Jones has signed with Virginia Tech, Aubrey Jones has committed to Oklahoma State, Shepherd has signed with Toledo, and four more seniors will play collegiately as well.
MILAN
Record/rank: 27-7, honorable mention
Coach: Kirk Davis, fourth season (83-33)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2011.
Players to watch: Mariah Stines, sr. P (18-4, 1.98 ERA, 182 K/137 1/3 IP, .298, 11 HR, 34 RBI); Leila Daniels, jr. C (.529, 14 HR, 41 RBI); Reese Knox, soph. SS (.438, 41 R, 11 2B, 43 RBI); Georgia Linzell, fr. OF (.434, 33 R).
Outlook: Milan is making its second trip to the Semifinals after outscoring its five postseason opponents by a combined 54-9, its only single-digit output coming in Tuesday’s 4-0 Quarterfinal victory over honorable mention Carleton Airport. That and a Regional Final win over Chelsa avenged late regular-season losses, and Big Reds also have tested themselves against Mercy and Ottawa Lake Whiteford among others. Four of the top six hitters in the lineup are seniors – including as well Hailey Knox (.363, 33 runs) – but those are the only four seniors on the team as several younger players contribute including sophomores Virginia Heikka (.390, 23 runs) and Mackenzie Chrysler (.376, 29 runs, 28 RBI).
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 15-19, unranked
Coach: Alyssa Welling, seventh season (132-79-1)
League finish: Fifth in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Alana Deshetsky, sr. P (10-7, 2.95 ERA, 225 K/152 IP, .495, 31 R, 39 RBI); Brookelynn Franklin, sr. SS (.310, 20 R); Cate Welch, sr. 1B (.486, 6 HR, 39 RBI); Ella Swoish jr. LF (.309, 30 R).
Outlook: Taking into account just its overall record, North Branch would be considered the surprise of this tournament. But the Broncos have won eight straight games including a Regional Final victory over No. 7 Goodrich, and its District Final win over Imlay City avenged a regular-season sweep. That District title was the team’s second straight and fourth under Welling. Deshetsky was a volleyball all-stater and standout on the Division 2 championship team in the fall, and all five seniors on this team start including catcher Gabby Polly (.316) as well.
VICKSBURG
Record/rank: 36-7, No. 4
Coach: Paul Gephart, 11th season (331-101-1)
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2023 and 2016.
Players to watch: Brooklyn Ringler, sr. OF (.453, 54 R, 19 2B, 50 SB); Peyton Smith, sr. 2B (.423, 44 R, 34 RBI); Maddison Diekman, sr. SS (.577, 73 R, 11 2B, 26 SB); Delaney Monroe, sr. P/3B (.447, 33 R, 16 2B, 70 RBI, 15-4 pitching, 1.90 ERA).
Outlook: Vicksburg returns all but its pitcher from last season’s Finals lineup, and Ringler, Diekman, Smith and Monroe all made the all-state first team last season. As a team, Vicksburg is hitting .407 this spring, with sophomore Kayla Chisholm (.393, 47 runs, 49 RBI) another of nine regulars hitting at least .331. Monroe and senior Audrie Dugan (16-3) have split most of the pitching starts. Vicksburg earned wins over Division 1 honorable mention Jenison and Division 3 No. 3 Buchanan toward the end of the regular season, and defeated honorable mention Edwardsburg and No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian on the way to East Lansing. Diekman has signed with Central Michigan.
Division 3
BUCHANAN
Record/rank: 35-5, No. 3
Coach: Rachel Carlson, seventh season (179-47)
League finish: First in Lakeland Athletic Conference
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2021.
Players to watch: Caitlyn Horvath, jr. CF (.504, 58 R); Hannah Herman, sr. SS (.504, 51 R, 48 RBI); Camille Lozmack, sr. 3B/P (.476, 45 R, 55 RBI, 15-1 pitching, 2.04 ERA); Hailee Kara, sr. P/IF (.375, 41 RBI, 19-4 pitching, 3.18 ERA, 145 K/141 IP).
Outlook: Herman, Lozmack and Kara were in the starting lineup as freshman for Buchanan’s first championship game and will try to lead the Bucks to their first title as seniors. Herman, Kara and Horvath were all-state first-team selections a year ago, and Herman has signed with Michigan State and Kara with Western Michigan. Buchanan defeated No. 5 Ravenna in the Quarterfinal to advance. Four more regulars entered this week hitting at least .358, with senior Faith Bartley (.444) and sophomore Aspen Berry (.397, 54 runs, 10 home runs, 46 RBI) nearest the top of the list.
CLARE
Record/rank: 36-5-1, No. 8
Coach: Shane Kelly, third season (86-28-2)
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Alissa Brandon, jr. 2B (.439, 60 R, 14 2B, 38 RBI, 18 SB); Madison Jones, jr. P (.345, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 26-4 pitching, 1.86 ERA, 250 K/188 2/3 IP); Morgan Campbell, jr. 1B (.410, 34 R, 34 RBI); Tessa Kelly, jr. SS (.403, 42 R, 11 HR, 56 RBI).
Outlook: Clare is playing in its first Semifinal since 1986, and with only two seniors may be on the verge of an extended run among the elite. The Pioneers defeated honorable mentions New Lothrop and Standish-Sterling on the way to East Lansing and are on an 11-0-1 run heading into this weekend. Freshman Breez Yarger (.415, 25 RBI) and junior Addison McMillan (.397, 55 runs, 17 doubles, 45 RBI) are also among leading hitters for a lineup averaging .366 overall.
EVART
Record/rank: 35-4, No. 4
Coach: Shaun Gray, first season (35-4)
League finish: Tied for first in Highland Conference
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Kyrah Gray, soph. P (.391, 54 R, 11 3B, 36 RBI); Allyson Theunick, sr. C (.354, 51 R, 10 HR, 41 RBI); Katelyn Gostlin, sr. OF (.339, 35 R, 31 RBI); Mattisen Tiedt, soph. IF (.383, 32 R, 36 RBI, 6-0 pitching).
Outlook: Evart is back at the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons, thanks to a Quarterfinal win over honorable mention Gladstone. The Wildcats also have recent sweeps of No. 5 Ravenna and Division 4 top-ranked Unionville-Sebewaing and an early sweep of Clare to their credit, and they split the Highland Conference title with Division 4 No. 8 Beal City. Theunick earned an all-state honorable mention last season and was part of the 2022 championship game lineup along with Gostlin and seniors Kayanne Tiedt and Brooklyn Decker.
OTTAWA LAKE WHITEFORD
Record/rank: 29-5-1, honorable mention
Coach: Matt VanBrandt, fourth season (138-15-1)
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1987), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Unity Nelson, sr. P/IF (.429, 26 RBI, 18-2 pitching, 0.82 ERA, 260 K/127 2/3); Shaylin Alexander, sr. C/OF (.369, 38 R); Karlei Conard, sr. 1B/P (.418, 11 2B, 28 RBI, 9-3 pitching); Koralynn Billau, soph. 2B (.381, 30 R, 16 SB).
Outlook: Whiteford finished runner-up in Division 3 last season and Division 4 in 2022, and brought back all-state first-teamers Nelson and senior catcher Kaydence Sheldon this spring. The Bobcats have defeated No. 9 Leslie and honorable mentions Clinton and Algonac during this tournament run after navigating a regular-season schedule filled with strong larger opponents – and defeating Division 1 No. 5 Saline and Division 2 No. 9 Trenton and honorable mentions Milan and Carleton Airport among others. Junior Brooklyn Mills (.359, 35 runs) and sophomore Addeson Cousino (.333) bolster the lineup. Nelson will continue at North Dakota.
Division 4
HILLMAN
Record/rank: 40-3, No. 7
Coach: Jason Weiland, first season (40-3)
League finish: First in North Star League Little Dipper
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1996.
Players to watch: Cassidy Benac, sr. 1B (.449, 52 R, 26 2B, 47 RBI); Nicole Barbeau, sr. SS/P (.586, 87 R, 27 2B, 12 HR, 78 RBI, 27 SB, 14-0 pitching, 1.16 ERA, 107 K/72 IP); Gretchen Weiland, soph. P/3B (.484, 65 R, 21 2B, 47 RBI, 17-3 pitching, 1.38 ERA, 166 K/108 1/3 IP); Aubrey Weiland, fr. 3B/P (.448, 63 R, 10 3B, 50 RBI, 22 SB, 8-0 pitching, 1.02 ERA).
Outlook: Hillman has emerged after Quarterfinal trips in 2021 and 2022, paced by the most productive offense in MHSAA history. After opening the season losing 4-0 to Mendon, the Tigers have put up 561 runs – an average of 13.4 per game, and 18 more total than the previous record set by Taylor Light & Life Christian in 1993. Barbeau made the all-state first team last season, with Gretchen Weiland, Benac and senior outfielder Saige Flaugher (.313, 31 R, 20 SB) earning honorable mentions. Junior Hannah Crane (.448, 57 runs, 37 RBI, 26 stolen bases), freshman Madelyn Oswald (.433, 60 runs, 16 doubles, 47 RBI, 27 stolen bases) and junior Autumn Lis (.424, 33 runs, 32 RBI) give the team seven regulars hitting .400 or higher.
HOLTON
Record/rank: 28-12-1, No. 5
Coach: Kirk Younts, 10th season (276-77-2)
League finish: Second in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Abbie Fowler, sr. SS/P (.437, 62 R, 11 3B, 30 RBI, 29 SB, 6-2 pitching, 1.59 ERA); Ryann Robins, sr. 1B/P (.440, 47 R, 18 HR, 58 RBI, 9-4 pitching, 2.40 ERA, 116 K/84 1/3 IP); Kenzie Greene, jr. P/1B (.457, 56 R, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 12-6 pitching, 2.74 ERA, 148 K/99 1/3 IP); Grace Thompson, jr. C (.402, 39 R, 21 RBI).
Outlook: Holton just missed making the championship game in 2021 with a nine-inning Semifinal loss to Rudyard, and Robins and Fowler were in the lineup that day and have earned another opportunity at history. Those two and Thompson made the all-state first team last season, while Greene earned an honorable mention, and they make up the majority of the top of a lineup that advanced with a 12-9 Quarterfinal win over No. 8 Beal City and has scored double-digit runs in four of five postseason games. The win over the Aggies avenged a 10-4 regular-season defeat.
MENDON
Record/rank: 38-4, No. 3
Co-coaches: Steve Butler & Mike Smith, seventh seasons (172-45)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2023, Class D runner-up 1992.
Players to watch: Jadyn Samson, soph. SS/P (.574, 87 R, 42 RBI, 54 SB, 5-0 pitching, 1.50 ERA); Kaidee Gonser, jr. C (.444, 34 R, 48 RBI); Brielle Bailey, jr. 3B (.487, 56 R, 18 2B, 64 RBI); Rowan Allen, soph. P/LF (.449, 67 R, 50 RBI, 23 SB, 17-2 pitching, 1.37 ERA, 187 K/111 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Mendon was a 5-4 loss away from unseating USA last season, and the Hornets will bring seven starters back to MSU this weekend. After having only two seniors on the roster last year, Mendon doesn’t have any this time but does bring seven sophomores to go with four juniors and two freshmen. Allen earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and four more regulars join those listed above hitting at least .380: sophomore Cienna Nightingale (434, 20 doubles, 55 RBI), juniors Ally Butler (.391, 42 runs, 42 RBI) and Abby Butler (.389, 37 runs) and sophomore Taya Bingaman (.381, 39 runs, 35 RBI). Ally Butler also is 13-2 in the circle.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 29-11, No. 1
Coach: Marc Reinhardt, second season (63-21)
League finish: Tied for first in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Gabriella Crumm, sr. C (.513, 39 R, 22 2B, 11 HR, 55 RBI); Rylie Betson, sr. P/3B (.411, 34 R, 29 RBI, 15-6 pitching, 2.59 ERA, 140 K/116 IP); Ella Neumann, sr. SS (.432, 40 R, 31 RBI), Olivia Green, soph. P/1B (.406, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 11-5 pitching, 1.51 ERA, 163 K/92 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Unionville-Sebewaing has won the last four Division 4 championships, stretching five years (because of COVID-canceled 2020), and a fifth straight this weekend would tie the record set by Kalamazoo Christian from 1996-2000. USA has brought back five starters from last season’s finale and again packed the schedule with larger opponents to prepare for a run that’s included wins over No. 4 Plymouth Christian Academy and honorable mention Marlette. Crumm, Betson and senior outfielder Jenna Gremel made the all-state first team last season, and sophomore Erin Jubar (.416, 37 runs) adds a fifth .400-or-higher hitter to the lineup.
PHOTO Gaylord's Alexis Shepherd makes a play at second base during last season's Division 2 Final against Vicksburg.