Performance of the Week: Ravenna's Emily Postema

April 24, 2026

Emily Postema headshotEmily Postema ♦ Ravenna
Senior ♦ Softball

Coming off a Friday night sweep of Division 2 No. 5 Wayland, Ravenna took on three of the most highly-regarded Division 1 teams in the state Saturday at the Grand Haven Invitational – and downed them all to win the tournament, with major contributions from Postema, a returning all-state honorable mention catcher and one of two seniors helping pace the Bulldogs as they pursue a repeat trip to Finals weekend.

Postema was 2-for-2 during a 10-0 win over Division 1 honorable mention Traverse City Central, drove in the game-winning run in a 4-3 victory over honorable mention Midland Dow and also was 2-for-2 with a double in an 11-0 win over the No. 7 Buccaneers. Ravenna is 15-0 and ranked No. 2 in this week’s coaches poll coming off last season’s trip to the Division 3 Semifinals. Postema also was the starting catcher when Ravenna reached the Semifinals her freshman season, and she was a four-year varsity basketball player as well and earned all-league and all-area recognition this winter. She’ll continue her academic and softball careers at Cornerstone University, where she’s planning to study exercise science with a specialty in cardiac rehabilitation.

@mhsaasports 🥎POW:Emily Postema #ravenna #softball #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

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Previous 2025-26 honorees

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

(Photos provided by the Postema family.)

Be the Referee: Softball Base Runner Interference

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

April 23, 2024

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Softball Interference - Listen

We’re on the softball diamond today, and we’ve got runners on the corners with one out. The batter hits a pop-up in foul territory near the first base line. The runner on first interferes with the first baseplayer attempting to make the catch. What’s the call?

  • If the pop-up is caught, both the batter and runner on first are out?
  • The batter is out and the runner on first stays at first?
  • The ball is ruled dead immediately, the runner on first is out and it’s a foul ball to the batter?
  • Or, if the pop-up is caught, the batter is out and interference is ignored?

If you said it’s an immediate dead ball – you are correct. The runner on first is ruled out for interference and the batter is charged with a foul ball.

Previous Editions

April 16: Soccer Red Card - Listen
April 9: Batted Baseball Hits Runner - Listen
March 12: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 5: Hockey Officials - Listen
Feb. 27: Less Than 5 - Listen
Feb. 20: Air Ball - Listen
Feb. 13: Hockey Penalties - Listen
Jan. 30: Wrestling Tiebreakers - Listen
Jan. 23: Wrestling Technology - Listen
Jan. 9: 3 Seconds - Listen
Dec. 19: Unsuspecting Hockey Hits - Listen
Dec. 12: No More One-And-Ones - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen