Moment: Ewing Swings Dundee Title Hopes
May 11, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Unionville-Sebewaing was one out away from another chance to score just one run and end the 2013 Division 3 Softball Final.
Over the next many minutes, and in multiple ways, Vanessa Ewing took that opportunity away.
In the top of the ninth inning June 15, 2013, the Dundee senior came to bat with two on and two out – and after teammate Haleigh Kimble had been “semi-intentionally” walked in front of her – and sent a 3-run homer over the left-field fence to break up the scoreless game with the Patriots.
Ewing then returned to the pitching circle and finished her four-hit, 15-strikeout complete game as the Vikings clinched their first MHSAA Finals championship on the softball diamond with a 3-0 win.
“I was just thinking about how they walked Haleigh and how mad that makes me,” Ewing said that day. “That’s really disrespectful. If they’re scared of Haleigh and don’t think I can hit, I have to prove them wrong.”
Ewing went on to play at Northwood.
Click for coverage from Second Half and watch Ewing’s home run below from the NFHS Network.
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.)