1st-Time Champ Guaranteed in D2
June 15, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – The Escanaba softball team that returned to Secchia Stadium on Thursday may not be too different from those that made trips to the Division 2 Semifinals in 2016 and 2017 as well.
But a couple of notable characteristics have the Eskymos sticking around for a few more days this time.
Even if his hitters start slowly, coach Jamie Segorski said, he knows to remain patient – they will come through. And a few runs frequently are enough with sophomore Gabi Salo in the pitching circle.
Escanaba didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning of Thursday’s 2-0 win over Eaton Rapids. But when the Eskymos struck, Salo made it stand, allowing only four hits to help her team to its first MHSAA championship game in this sport since 2003.
“This year we have a lot more energy in the dugout. We stayed up the whole time, never got down on ourselves,” Salo said. “A lot of people on this team have been here before, and that makes a difference.
“We had a feeling (we’d get back), but you don’t want to get too confident because you never know what’s going to happen. (But) we definitely are excited for Saturday.”
Escanaba (30-3) will play for its first MHSAA softball championship against South Haven at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. A first-time champion is guaranteed; Escanaba was runner-up in its lone championship game run, and South Haven was runner-up in three straight Finals from 1977-79.
Salo, who already has committed to play collegiately at University of Wisconsin, threw three scoreless innings of relief during last year’s trip as Escanaba fell to Richmond in the Semifinals for the second season in a row.
She went the entire way Thursday, striking out seven and walking only one batter.
Eaton Rapids sophomore Grace Lehto was similarly stellar, giving up only five hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
But the first Escanaba hit was a double to the left-field wall by junior Lexi Chaillier, who moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored when Eaton Rapids threw the ball into the outfield trying to double her up on a pop up.
Senior shortstop Taylor Gauthier launched the other significant shot, a triple to right field in the sixth inning, and she was driven home by senior third baseman Madison Griffin.
And that was plenty for Salo.
“She’s mature beyond her years. She doesn’t get rattled,” Segorski said. “They put a couple balls in play, two infield hits and a decent shot to left field. She just pitches through it. She just gets the job done. She’s just so emotionless out there until after the game.”
VIDEO: Taylor Gauthier had a triple in the sixth inning and would score later in the inning.
South Haven 14, Dearborn Divine Child 0 (5 innings)
South Haven’s incredible story just keeps getting better.
After defeating top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore in the Regional Final and previously undefeated No. 2 Spring Lake in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal, the Rams (32-8) unloaded 10 hits in their first Semifinal appearance since 1982.
Senior second baseman Haley Mines was 3 for 4 with three RBI, freshman centerfielder Jordyn Holland drove in two runs and scored twice, and senior pitcher Hayley Kreiger drove in three runs, scored a fourth and allowed only one hit and no walks over five innings in the circle.
“The kids are just really focused on what they want for the end result, and we really wanted to get to Saturday,” South Haven coach Wilma Wilson said. “We’re trying to take it step by step and moment by moment. … The kids were just feeling great today. All the kids in warm-ups were like, ‘I’m hitting good Coach. I feel good today.’
“I think we’re staying loose. I think we are focused and we’re zoning in on what we want to be the end product. We’ve been counting down seven games since we had a team dinner before our Districts. So every time, we go ‘7 … 6 …’ and now we’re on the 1.”
Senior first baseman Kerstin Hamann hit safely for Divine Child (22-10). The Falcons were back at the Semifinals for the first time since 1998.
PHOTO: (Top) An Escanaba hitter connects during Thursday’s Semifinal win over Eaton Rapids. (Middle) A South Haven hitter squares up for a bunt.
Unionville-Sebewaing, Mendon Earn Highly-Anticipated Title Game Rematch
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2025
EAST LANSING — Rain delays usually produce moans and groans for many, but a storm break during Friday’s first MHSAA Division 4 Semifinal seemed to be beneficial for Unionville-Sebewaing.
Before the skies opened up, Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary seemed to have all the momentum, holding a one-run lead with runners on second and third base and one out in the bottom of the second inning.
When play resumed one hour and 15 minutes later, it was all USA.
The Patriots’ dominated from there, rolling to a 4-1 win and continuing their bid for a record sixth-straight Finals title.
“I told the girls that we outdanced them,” quipped USA head coach Marc Reinhardt, referring to the dancing both teams were doing in their dugouts to pass the time during the delay. “It came at a good time. The momentum was all on their side.”
After play resumed, USA pitcher Olivia Green first got her team out of the jam in the bottom of the second with two strikeouts, stranding the bases loaded for a second consecutive inning.
In the top of the third, USA (21-15) implemented a small ball strategy to perfection. A bunt single by freshman Morgan Armbruster and a sacrifice bunt put Armbruster at third base with one out, and then junior Kate Beagle laid down another bunt that scored Armbruster after she beat the throw home.
Green then delivered an RBI double to score Beagle and make it 2-1 USA.
“When we got (batting), we were in a perfect spot to start doing what we ended up doing,” Reinhardt said. “The girls executed like we worked on all year long. I get kids who come in as freshmen and say, ‘I don’t bunt, Coach.’ I say, ‘You will.’ Sometimes it’s necessary.”
The Patriots added a run in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by junior Macy Prime and another in the sixth on an RBI double by sophomore Nataley Harder.
It was more than enough support for Green, who finished with 15 strikeouts and tossed a three-hitter. She didn’t allow a hit after the rain delay.
“I would say it was more of a strategic reset,” Green said of the delay. “I was talking to our coaches about what we should do with the top of their lineup because they had good hitters coming up. It was just knowing how to set up for them and what to throw to them.”
Alley Coffey stuck out 10 batters for Michigan Lutheran Seminary (32-11), which was seeking its first appearance in a championship game.
“We still had an opportunity with the bases loaded,” MLS head coach Seth LaBair said about the scenario when play resumed after the delay. “We needed to come up with a hit, and that probably would have given us more momentum too. The rain delay, maybe it did change things a bit. But that happens. USA had to come back and go through that too.”
Mendon 4, Hillman 2
To win its first Finals championship in school history, Mendon will have to go through the state’s gold standard in USA. But it’s a challenge the Hornets will relish.
“These girls are dying for another opportunity,” Mendon head coach Steve Butler said. “It’s all we’ve thought about for the last year, and they’ve got it.”
Mendon lost to USA in the championship game two years ago and in the Semifinals last year, and will get a crack at the Patriots again after grinding out a win over a Hillman team that also played in the Semifinals last year.
Mendon (35-2) committed two errors in the top of the first inning, which led to a pair of Hillman runs. Autumn Lis had an RBI single during that first inning rally for Hillman (33-8).
In the third inning, it was Mendon’s turn to capitalize on mistakes. Hillman (33-8) committed a pair of errors, one a throwing error that allowed two runs to score and made it 3-2 Mendon. The Hornets got on the board earlier in the inning on an RBI triple by junior Jadyn Samson.
Mendon rounded out the scoring in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by Taya Bingaman.
All game, Mendon rode the pitching of junior Rowan Allen, who struck out 12, walked one and allowed just five hits.
“I was feeling pretty good today, and I knew I could attack the batters and go after them because I have a great defense behind me,” Allen said.
Hillman pitcher Gretchen Weiland allowed just six hits, striking out eight and walking two in six innings of work.
Hillman head coach Jason Weiland said his team was in a familiar position of jumping ahead quickly, given it lost the coin flip before every game of the postseason and thus was the road team for the entirety of its playoff run.
Ultimately, Mendon’s experience and resolve prevailed.
“We just fell short,” Weiland said. “I’m happy with this team’s success after graduating four seniors last year. They really instilled that they wanted to go (back) to the Final Four. We were hoping to take one step beyond, but back-to-back Final Four trips for us is the first time in history. I’m really proud of the girls.”
PHOTOS (Top) Unionville-Sebewaing’s Olivia Green blasts a drive during her team’s Division 4 Semifinal win over Michigan Lutheran Seminary. (Middle) Mendon’s Rowan Allen makes her move toward the plate.