D3 Softball: Clinton Returns to Final
June 15, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
BATTLE CREEK – Tierney Nelson is feeling a little old this weekend at Bailey Park.
It’s all relative, of course, to the fact she’s finishing her Clinton career with a fourth and final trip to the MHSAA Softball Finals.
That first season, 2009, Nelson felt some memorable butterflies. But as she pitched her team into its second straight championship game Friday, those had fled years ago.
Nelson struck out seven and gave up six hits in pitching the top-ranked Redskins to an 8-1 Semifinal win over No. 5 Unionville-Sebewaing, last season’s runner-up in Division 4. She also had a two-run single for the reigning champion, which will face Gladstone in Saturday’s 10 a.m. title game.
“We know what we’re capable of. No offense to anybody; we know we’re the best,” Nelson said. “And we bring that every game..”
Nelson is one of three four-year seniors, along with catcher Abi Clark and shortstop Haley Mercy. Together they played in Semifinals as freshmen and sophomores before helping the Redskins (42-1) to last season’s title.
Mercy had two hits Friday, and sophomore third baseman Kris Forest had two hits and two RBI. Clinton led 8-0 after four innings.
“The girls that have been here four years in a row, and the juniors for three, they knew what to expect,” Clinton coach Al Roberts said. “It’s a matter of coming out and playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played.
“Tierney on the mound, that means an awful lot, obviously. And beyond that, there’s a whole lot of nucleus there. Abi Clark is a tremendous leader, and Haley Mercy is a tremendous leader, with calm and poise. (She’s) just a coach on the field, (and) without question, one of the best I’ve ever coached as far as having instincts for the game.”
Juniors Tessa Dinsmoore and Elexis Pitcher each had two hits for USA (40-5). Click for a full box score.
Gladstone 5, Springport 4
Gladstone advanced to its third MHSAA Final and first since winning the title in 2009 by scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning.
Senior Katie Becker drove in pinch runner Alexis St. Cyr, after junior Alison Austin opened the inning with the single. Austin then gave up one hit but nothing more in the bottom of the inning to ice the win for the Braves (30-5-1).
Becker and junior catcher Jordan Kowalski each had two hits for Gladstone, and Austin struck out six while giving up five hits.
Springport (39-3-1), which suffered its first loss since late April, took a 3-2 lead after the first inning before Austin came on in relief. Senior third baseman Kelsi Lauer was 3 for 3 for the Spartans, while junior second baseman Hannah Baum had two hits and sophomore catcher Taylor Heisler drove in two runs. Click for a full box score.
PHOTO: (Top) Clinton senior Abi Clark rounds third on her way to the plate during Friday's Division 3 Semifinal vs. Unionville-Sebewaing. (Middle) Gladstone junior Alison Austin fires a pitch during her team's win over Springport.
Performance of the Week: Walled Lake Northern's Lyla Turmell
June 18, 2026
Lyla Turmell ♦ Walled Lake Northern
Senior ♦ Softball
Turmell certainly met the moment of playing in her team's first MHSAA Finals championship game Saturday at Secchia Stadium. Northern's ace pitcher threw a one-hitter and hit a home run as the Knights defeated Grand Haven 2-1, clinching not only the softball program's first championship, but the first Finals team title in any sport in Walled Lake Northern history.
An all-state first-team selection as both a senior and junior, Turmell led the Knights to a 39-3 record this spring. She threw a five-hitter and struck out 11 batters as Walled Lake Northern defeated Northville 2-1 in its Semifinal on June 13, and she struck out nine with the first-inning home run in the championship game win over the Buccaneers. Turmell will continue her academic and softball careers at Toledo, where she will study nursing.
@mhsaasports 🥎POW: Lyla Turmell #walledlakenorthern #softball #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA @lyla turmell ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🥎POW: Lyla Turmell #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA @lyla turmell ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
June 12: Charlotte Cook, Detroit Country Day lacrosse - Report
June 4: Morgan Emerick, Utica Eisenhower tennis - Report
May 29: De-Mani Roberts, East Kentwood track - Report
May 22: Taleon Guess, Temperance Bedford golf - Report
May 15: Zacchaeus Brocks, Detroit Catholic Central track - Report
May 7: Savanah Thompson, Howard City Tri County soccer - Report
April 30: Eliza Schwass, Ludington track - Report
April 23: Emily Postema, Ravenna softball - Report
April 16: Katie Berkshire, Gaylord track - Report
March 26: Kayla Hairston, Goodrich basketball - Report
March 19: Liam Smith, Otsego swimming - Report
March 12: Jack Sayen, Houghton hockey - Report
March 5: Devin Patrick, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - Report
Feb. 26: Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell wrestling - Report
Feb. 20: Sophie Ramey, Allen Park competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 13: Cam Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview basketball - Report
Feb. 6: Melanie Kolnitys, Midland Dow basketball - Report
Jan. 29: Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22: Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15: Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8: Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11: Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Traverse Moore, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7: Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
PHOTO Detroit Country Day's Charlotte Cook launches a shot during the Division 2 championship game while surrounded by a pair of East Grand Rapids defenders. (Photo courtesy of Hometown Life.)