Dansville Believes – And Achieves
June 22, 2012
It's likely that few gave the Dansville softball team a shot to win the Division 4 championship last weekend, given the two-time reigning champion sitting on the opposite side of the bracket.
But the Aggies thought they had a chance. And that’s what longtime coach Mick Ream thinks made the difference in his team’s winning its first MHSAA title.
Dansville was making its third trip to Bailey Park in four seasons. The second trip, in 2010, ended with a nine-error performance and 10-1 loss to Petersburg-Summerfield – which went on to win the championship that season and again in 2011.
Those Bulldogs had been ranked No. 1 in every coaches poll this spring. But after surviving a late Rapid River to win Friday’s Semifinal 4-3, Dansville did the unexpected in Saturday’s championship game, winning 3-2.
“We were hoping to get back to the Semis, and I thought we were good enough,” said Ream, who finished his 31st season as coach. “Things always just have to fall into place. Once we got to the Semis, I really liked Rapid River. But we were just hanging in, and we did the same thing in the final game.
“With our success the last four years, and more than that, we leant ourselves to expectations. They’ve risen, not only by me, but by people in the community.”
The Aggies are recipients of the final team Second Half High 5 of the 2011-12 school year.
The championship was the first for a Dansville girls team and the third MHSAA team title for the Aggies in any sport, joining the wrestling teams that won MHSAA Class D Finals in 1980 and 1981 when Ream’s brother Dan was an assistant coach.
Although Dansville also draws from the rural area surrounding it, roughly 500 people live within the village limits. Families have known each other for years, and Ream retired from teaching in 2010 after 34. He also has coached in the football, baseball, volleyball and girls basketball programs and watched two sons become coaches – Aggies girls basketball coach Eric Ream and his brother Greg, who coaches the boys basketball team at Desert Ridge High in Mesa, Ariz.
Mick Ream's softball team was led by some who knew well how he runs the show. Seniors Rebekah Guy, Alison Schlicker and Addie Price all played four years of varsity. Junior Evy Lobdell has been a mainstay in the lineup since her first year of high school as well.
Lobdell and Guy have eight school records between them, and Price and sophomore outfielder Hailey Mays each posted one of the seven total set by this season’s team. Guy returned to the all-state team as a catcher after hitting .422 and five home runs with an 8-1 record and 1.38 ERA pitching. Lobdel also was selected after hitting .500 with 54 RBI, as was sophomore pitcher Meagan Kelley, who went 23-4 with a 1.56 ERA and 204 strikeouts. Mays and senior outfielder Paige Galbreath both earned honorable mentions.
The high school itself has just shy of 300 students. But on top of having strong crowds all season, 200 supporters showed up for Thursday’s victory parade that included three fire engines, the band and player introductions.
The parade was just the start. The village proclaimed that every July 20 will now be known as Dansville Varsity Softball Day. Calls and letters have been coming in from people Ream hadn’t had contact with for years.
Former Bath coach Marc Kibby – who led the Bees to the Division 4 championship in 2002 and now coaches at Lansing Community College – called to say “welcome to the club” and remind Ream that the Aggies will always be listed among champions on the flag pole near the Bailey Park softball complex entrance.
“One thing I got loud and clear from everybody: there’s just a certain way we did things, and we didn’t waiver from it, and I think it paid off,” Ream said. “It paid off with how the kids represent the school, how they act when they go on the field and when they go off the field. I think that’s the starting point. And I always felt that if you get to know and care about them more as people than players, my philosophy is that they respond to that.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Dansville players celebrate after Friday's 4-3 Semifinal win over Rapid River that earned them the school's first softball Final appearance. (Middle) Junior Evy Lobdell hits a drive during the Semifinal win. (Click to see more photos from High School Sports Scene.)
Finals Preview: History Awaits
June 12, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Half of the 16 teams making the trip to this weekend's Softball Finals at Battle Creek's Bailey Park are seeking their first MHSAA championship.
Seven of those teams hope to play in a title game for the first time. Five teams – Linden, Dundee, Holton, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett and Ubly – won their first Regional titles and had never played during the season's final week until winning Quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The last rounds begin with the Division 3 Semifinals at 10:30 Friday morning. Below is this weekend's schedule, followed by a look at each team that will be playing.
Semifinals - Friday
Division 1
Bay City Western (36-2) vs. Garden City (27-7), 3:30 p.m.
Romeo (33-8) vs. Mattawan (33-8), 4 p.m.
Division 2
Linden (31-4) vs. Saginaw Swan Valley (30-9), 6 p.m.
Livonia Ladywood (32-9) vs. Tecumseh (31-5-3), 6:30 p.m.
Division 3
Holton (27-9) vs. Unionville-Sebewaing (36-3), 10:30 a.m.
Allen Park Cabrini (29-5) vs. Dundee (43-1), 11 a.m.
Division 4
Kalamazoo Christian (31-7) vs. Rogers City (33-6), 1 p.m.
Ubly (26-6) vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (31-7), 1:30 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Division 1 – 3 p.m.
Division 2 – 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 – 10 a.m.
Division 4 – 12:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $7 per round or $15 for an all-tournament ticket that includes admission to baseball games. Radio broadcasts of all Semifinals can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All Finals will be streamed live online at MHSAA.tv, with radio broadcasts again available on the MHSAA Network website.
All statistics below are through at least the regular season, with most through teams' Regionals or Quarterfinals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
BAY CITY WESTERN
Record/rank: 36-2, No. 3
Coach: Rick Garlinghouse, ninth season (287-73-2)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hannah Leppek, jr. P/1B (23-1, 0.97 ERA, 212 K pitching, .485, 38 RBI); Meredith Rousse, jr. SS (.521, 12 2B, 28 RBI), Kaylynn Carpenter, jr. CF (.450, 12 2B, 41 RBI), Haley Bickham, sr. C (.426, 42 RBI).
Outlook: Bay City Western is back in the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons and with a team that should continue to dominate as it will graduate only three players. Their losses came against rival Bay City Central by a run and then to Division 3 No. 10 Reese, but the Warriors otherwise dominated their competition and beat No. 2 Grandville 1-0 in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal. Eleven hitters are batting at least .308 this spring.
GARDEN CITY
Record/rank: 27-7, unranked
Coach: Barry Patterson, 27th season (641-245)
League finish: First in Western Wayne Athletic Conference Blue
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2008, Class A runner-up 1991.
Players to watch: Rachel Bommarito, jr. P/OF (13-2, 3.88 ERA, 59 K pitching, .480, 26 RBI, 45 R); Katlyn McIntosh, jr. 2B (.439, 11 2B, 42 R), Kaylen Glenfield, fr. SS (.434, 44 RBI), Abby Joseph, soph. 3B (.400, 42 RBI).
Outlook: Despite graduating 11 from last season’s team, Garden City is back in Battle Creek for the second straight and fourth time in eight years – and could be poised for another trip in 2014 with only two seniors and just one in the starting lineup. Offense has been a strong point: The Cougars have scored at least 10 runs in 15 games this season, including twice during the tournament.
MATTAWAN
Record/rank: 33-8, honorable mention
Coach: Alicia Smith, 13th season (350-153-1)
League finish: Third in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2011, runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Allie Havers, sr. P/SS (22-5, 1.09 ERA, 231 K pitching, .364, 39 RBI); Kyla Nickrent, jr. SS/2B (.419, 52 R, 17 SB); Abby Stoner, sr. 1B (.408, 12 HR, 40 RBI); Sarah Johnson, sr. 3B (.376, 31 R, 24 RBI, 15 SB).
Outlook: Six players, including the top four in the lineup, also started as Mattawan fell 2-1 to Hudsonville in 10 innings in last season’s Final. The Wildcats will try to make it three straight championship game berths and two titles in three seasons, and have seen many of the state’s best already this season. Mattawan owns a win over No. 10 Romeo, another over Division 2 No. 1 Stevensville Lakeshore and a pair over Division 2 No. 2 Livonia Ladywood – and then beat Division 1 No. 1 Portage Central and No. 8 Saline during the tournament.
ROMEO
Record/rank: 33-8, No. 10
Coach: Dave McIntyre, fourth season (107-29)
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Taylor Weaver, jr. P (29-2, 0.75 ERA, 291 K pitching, .432, 30 RBI); Danielle Szajna soph. 1B (.424, 37 R, 9 HR, 56 RBI); Kayla Noch, soph. SS (.404, 16 2B, 35 RBI); Morgan Gardner, fr. 2B (.392, 16 2B, 42 R).
Outlook: Romeo has arrived – perhaps a little earlier than expected, given there are only two seniors but four underclassmen in the starting lineup. The Bulldogs have won District titles in three of four seasons under McIntyre, and began this spring with a win over eventual No. 1 Portage Central. Romeo also owns wins against semifinalists Garden City and Livonia Ladywood.
Division 2
LINDEN
Record/rank: 31-4, unranked
Coach: Gordon Jamison, fourth season (74-100)
League finish: Second in Flint Metro League
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Maija Satkowiak, sr. CF (.532, 36 R, 34 RBI); Molly Sherman, jr. P (18-1, 1.73 ERA pitching, .505); Savannah Weaver, sr. SS (.442, 37 R, 30 RBI); Bri Senter, sr. 3B (.440, 25 R, 11 SB).
Outlook: Linden has made substantial progress under Jamison, finishing 9-28 but winning its District in his first season, then going 12-22 in 2011 before building a combined 52-22 record over the last two years. Five seniors make up most of the top and middle of an experienced lineup that upset No. 3 Wayland 10-8 in the Regional Final.
LIVONIA LADYWOOD
Record/rank: 32-9, No. 2
Coach: Scott Combs, sixth season (205-40)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2012, runner-up 2009.
Players to watch: Andria Gietl, sr. 1B; Celeste Fidge, sr. 3B; Lauren Hayes, jr. OF; Haley Lawrence, jr. SS. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: It might’ve looked like the end of Ladywood’s recent run with the graduation of standout pitcher Briana Combs after last season’s MHSAA title. But the Blazers have returned to Battle Creek in part on the arm of freshman Rosalyn Price and have four starters back from last season’s Final (see those listed above). And Ladywood does have a Bailey Park-tested pitcher if needed – Hayes was the unlikely hero last season, closing out the Semifinal and throwing a shutout in the Final after Combs was injured.
SAGINAW SWAN VALLEY
Record/rank: 30-9, No. 7
Coach: Tom Kennelly, 34th season (990-254)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Central
Championship history: Class B champion 1996, three runner-up finishes (most recent 2012).
Players to watch: Sarah Addy, jr. 2B (.508, 41 R, 42 SB); Reegan Flattery, jr. C (.477, 34 R, 26 RBI); Courtney Reinhold, jr. P/1B (20-4, 0.67 ERA, 177 K pitching, .370, 4 HR, 32 RBI); Paige Churchfield, soph. C/1B (.413, 3 HR, 37 RBI).
Outlook: After coming within a win of its first MHSAA championship in 17 seasons, Swan Valley has returned with a strong young nucleus that got experience during last season’s run. Reinhold has shined in taking over as the main pitcher, and junior centerfielder Kelli Halvin is hitting .430 as the top hitter among those who joined the lineup this spring. The Vikings began this run with a 3-1 win over No. 8 Bullock Creek in the District opener.
TECUMSEH
Record/rank: 31-5-3, honorable mention
Coach: Jeff Nowak, first season (31-5-3)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Championship history: Division 2 champions 2008 and 2007, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Kelsea Kaliszuk (.584, 36 R, 39 RBI); Kylie Hill (.466, 31 R, 37 RBI), Kelsey Rendell (.463, 36 R, 17 2B, 9 HR, 48 RBI); McKenzie Rowe (.424, 48 R, 13 SB).
Outlook: The Indians’ 5-1 win over No. 1 Stevensville Lakeshore in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal might’ve been the stunner in the state that day, but maybe shouldn’t have been as surprising considering the teams Tecumseh also has beaten this spring – including Division 1 No. 4 Sterling Heights Stevenson, honorable mention Clarkston and Semifinalist Garden City. Four other regulars are hitting at least .333, and senior Emily Maves and junior Kayla Kormos had combined for a 28-2 pitching record and 1.87 ERA entering this week.
Division 3
ALLEN PARK CABRINI
Record/rank: 29-5, No. 4
Coach: Debbie Norman, 16th season (414-71)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League AA
Championship history: Division 4 champions 2007 and 2006, Division 3 runners-up 2010 and 2008.
Players to watch: Paige Altherr, sr. P (26-5, 2.29 ERA, 145 K pitching, .440, 40 RBI); Sydney Lankford, sr. 3B (.407, 36 R, 4 HR, 45 RBI); Ashley Gordon sr. 1B/P (.400, 43 RBI); Lily Ranspach, soph. SS (.391, 28 RBI); Abbey Walewski, sr. CF (.386, 46 R, 11 SB).
Outlook: Cabrini just missed a trip to Battle Creek last season, losing to eventual champion Clinton 2-1 in a Quarterfinal. The Monarchs eliminated two ranked opponents during this run, No. 8 Grass Lake in the Regional Semifinal and No. 10 Reese on Tuesday. Seven seniors anchor the starting lineup and key an offense that boasts an overall batting average of .355.
DUNDEE
Record/rank: 43-1, No. 1
Coach: Mickey Moody, third season (101-20)
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hannah Rachor, sr. SS; Vanessa Ewing, sr. P (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: The Vikings’ longest run has included beating reigning two-time champion Clinton in the Regional Semifinal and two wins by double-digit runs. Dundee's regular-season success included a sweep of Clinton and victories over Division 1 honorable mention Hartland and Division 2 honorable mention Flat Rock. The only loss was 2-1 to Onsted; Dundee has given up more than two runs only three times and never more than four runs.
HOLTON
Record/rank: 27-9, unranked
Coach: Jeremy Hartwick, fourth season (82-59)
League finish: Third in Central State Activities Association
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Ashley Friend, soph. C (.446, 29 RBI, 39 R); Jacki Stone, soph. SS (.429, 13 2B, 35 R, 45 RBI, 19 SB); Rachel Younts, soph. P (22-6, 1.34 ERA, 173 K pitching, .356, 30 RBI, 36 R); Cassidy VanBlargan, sr. 1B (.316, 35 R, 14 SB).
Outlook: A group of six sophomore starters helped Holton to its first Regional title and no doubt has set a foundation for similar runs over the next two seasons. The Red Devils have won 10 of their last 11 and like to create havoc on the base paths – six players have stolen at least 10 bases this season. The District title two weekends ago was the team’s second straight after a 9-21 finish in 2011.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 36-3, No. 3
Coach: Steve Bohn, second season (76-8)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Three championships (most recent 2009 in Division 4), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Stephanie Neuman, jr. 2B (.510, 44 R, 16 2B, 5 HR, 35 RBI); Chelsey Bitzer, sr. 1B (.495, 43 R, 4 HR, 38 RBI); Breanna Dinsmoore, soph. 3B (.495, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 51 R); Erica Treiber, soph. P (17-2, 0.49 ERA, 160 K pitching, .427, 32 R).
Outlook: USA is returning to Bailey Park for the eighth straight season, and six starters also were in the lineup in last season’s Semifinal loss to eventual champion Clinton. Senior Ashlyn VanHoost is an all-state catcher and hitting .438 with 33 RBI as another of seven regulars batting at least .400. USA hasn’t given up a run in the postseason, outscoring its opponents – including No. 5 Gladstone in the Quarterfinal – by a combined score of 59-0. Freshman Nicole Bauer is 16-1 with a 0.53 ERA sharing pitching duties with Treiber.
Division 4
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 31-7, No. 4
Coach: Ted Alpert, fifth season (85-50)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Angela Evangelista (.531, 54 R, 35 SB); Emma Nicholas (.465, 41 R, 7 HR, 46 RBI); Anna Majewski (.448, 14 2B, 43 R, 47 RBI); Ashley Tengler (16-4, 1.71 ERA pitching, .478).
Outlook: University Liggett has improved its win total every season under Alpert. The Knights have outscored their postseason opponents by a combined 51-2, and their wins this spring include a sweep of honorable mention Waterford Our Lady, a Quarterfinal victory over honorable mention Concord and a 4-2 win over No.3 Rogers City. All nine regulars are hitting at least .394, and freshman Emily Kanakry is 10-0 sharing pitching duties with Tengler.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 31-7, No. 1
Coach: Karla Reno, fourth season (114-41)
League finish: First in Kalamazoo Valley Association
Championship history: Six championships (most recent 2002 in Division 3), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Tori Sides, jr. CF (.461, 41 R, 17 SB); Stephanie VanderLugt, sr. P/IF (16-4, 1.57 ERA, 136 K pitching, .434, 40 RBI, 15 2B); Rebekah VanDam, jr. P/3B (14-3, 1.29 ERA, 117 K pitching, .370, 33 RBI); Morgan Locker, jr. SS (.322, 36 R).
Outlook: Kalamazoo Christian is making its first trip back to Bailey Park since its most recent championship run of 2002. The Comets have continued to justify their top ranking over the last two weeks, eliminating No. 7 Decatur in the Regional and No. 5 Gobles on Tuesday. They’ve seen some of the best in Michigan regardless of division and own wins over Division 1 No. Portage Central and Division 2 No. 10 Coloma.
ROGERS CITY
Record/rank: 33-6, No. 3
Coach: Karl Grambau, 11th season (273-121)
League finish: First in Straits Area Conference
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 2004).
Players to watch: Sarah Meredith (.522, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 32 R); Logan Fleming (.476, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 47 R); Cassie Brege (.455, 34 R); Nikki Radke (12-4, 2.88 ERA pitching).
Outlook: Rogers City is back at Bailey Park for the first time since 2004, and has succeeded on one of the toughest roads to get here with postseason wins over No. 6 Onaway, No. 8 Posen and No. 10 Rapid River. Depth is a strength – the team is batting .397 with every regular hitting at least .310. And Grambau can turn to a few pitching options with Radke the top thrower followed by senior Brooklyn Idalski (10-2, 2.82 ERA) and sophomore Alexa Quaine (8-0, 2.44).
UBLY
Record/rank: 26-6, unranked
Coach: Courtney Dekoski, third season (52-29)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference East
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Michela Guza, soph. P/2B (14-3, 1.81 ERA pitching, .495, 15 2B 46 R, 29 RBI); Maria Guza, sr. SS (.459, 32 R, 26 RBI); Kari White, jr. LF (.400, 37 R); Alyssa Briolat, sr. C (.400, 37 R, 26 RBI); Marisa Guza, soph. RF (.400, 28 R).
Outlook: A group of four seniors have led Ubly to its first Semifinals, with the run including three shutouts in the District tournament. The Bearcats can score in bunches; the team has a batting average of .359 and has scored 10 runs or more in 17 games this season. Senior Marie Wolverton starts at second base but also is 10-3 pitching this spring.
PHOTO: Ubly players celebrate their winning run in Tuesday's Quarterfinal against Portland St. Patrick; the win advanced Ubly to the Semifinals for the first time. (Click to see more at HighSchoolsSportsScene.com.)