D4 Softball Final: Dansville Dream Come True
June 16, 2012
BATTLE CREEK – Dansville’s three MHSAA Semifinal games over the last four seasons included a nine-run loss to Petersburg-Summerfield in 2010, the first of two straight seasons the Bulldogs went on to win the Division 4 title.
It was fair to expect a similar result in Saturday’s championship game, with Petersburg-Summerfield again the top-ranked team heading into this tournament.
But the Aggies, a day after their first Semifinal win ever, capped this spring with the best ending of all.
Thanks to a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, Dansville claimed its first championship with a 3-2 win in the final game for seniors Rebekah Guy, Addie Price and Alison Schlicker, who as freshmen all helped the 2009 team get to Battle Creek for the first time.
The Aggies entered this year’s tournament ranked No. 9.
Sophomore centerfielder Hailey Mays started off the sixth inning rally with a single, and she eventually scored on a single by junior leftfielder Paige Galbreath. Sophomore third baseman Taylor Hoefling doubled Galbreath home.
Junior first baseman Evy Lobdel had two hits for the Aggies (31-5) and drove in the first run. Sophomore pitcher Meagan Kelly struck out only two Bulldogs, but didn’t walk any and gave up just one earned run.
Senior catcher Taylor Goodin led Petersburg-Summerfield (34-4) with two hits and an RBI. Senior pitcher Emily Puterbaugh ended a stellar career by striking out six over six innings.
PHOTO: Dansville pitcher Meagan Kelley won both games as the Aggies won their first Semifinal and Final ever this weekend at Bailey Park.
Senior Slugger Capozzo, Armada Put Powerful Finish on Historic Championship Run
By
Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2026
EAST LANSING – Taylor Capozzo had a couple of key roles on the Armada softball team this year.
One was at the plate, where her 14 home runs led an explosive offense.
The other was in the field. On a team with only two seniors, her leadership kept the Tigers focused on the way to the school’s first MHSAA Finals softball championship.
“My job is to lead the best I can,” said Capozzo, whose two-run homer in the first inning Saturday proved to be the only runs Armada needed in a 9-1 victory over Farmington Hills Mercy in the Division 2 championship game.
The title capped a magical season for the Tigers, who got off to a shaky start.
“We had seven errors against Richmond early (in the season),” Armada coach Rob Girvin said. “We said if we can clean up in the field, we can be pretty good.”
That’s not the only thing Girvin saw in his team.
“I told Taylor before (Saturday’s) game that I dreamed she hit a home run,” Girvin said.
Her clout helped relax the Tigers (37-8), who scored in every inning but the seventh.
Charlotte Stang homered and drove in three runs for Armada, which also took advantage of five Mercy errors in the field.
Meanwhile, freshman lefty pitcher Megan Cox was dominant, striking out 13 and allowing just four hits and one unearned run two days after she shut out top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore in the Semifinal to send her team to the weekend.
In addition, the Tigers had a good-luck charm courtesy of fifth-grader Cody Ballard. He gave Girvin a courage coin given to him during his treatment for leukemia.
“I’ve had it in my pocket since school ended," Girvin said. "I can’t wait to call his mother.”
Mercy coach Alec Lesko, whose team had a similar unexpected tournament run, had no regrets. The Marlins went 6-1 during the tournament to push past .500 and finished 21-18.
“We kept getting better,” Lesko said. “You could see the progress at the end. It was a blessing to coach with my daughter and my grandchildren. I have a big family, and they were all here today.”
PHOTOS (Top) Armada players celebrate their Division 2 championship Saturday at Secchia Stadium. (Middle) Tigers shortstop Helena Fettue applies a tag on Mercy’s Sophia Chaput (28) as she slides into second base.