South Haven Building on Memorable Run
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
April 23, 2019
SOUTH HAVEN — When A.J. Jeffries injured her shoulder during basketball season, she was devastated, afraid that she would be watching her teammates instead of playing this softball season.
But the South Haven junior catcher opted for physical therapy instead of surgery and, although she missed tryouts in March, she was ready to take her place behind the plate for the Rams after spring break.
Senior Olivia Ellis, who goes by “Gracie,” did miss the first day of tryouts, but not because of injury.
The reigning Miss Bangor competed in, and won, the Miss Blossomtime pageant, quite a different experience than suiting up for a softball game.
Instead of wearing spikes for tryouts on March 11, Ellis was wearing dress shoes and walking across a stage.
“Being an athlete, I had to buy heels and I did horrible (walking in them),” she said, laughing. “I never wore heels before, and they hurt my feet.
“I didn’t know how to do makeup. It was bad.”
Coach Wilma Wilson said she knew Ellis planned to compete in the pageant.
“I actually have Miss South Haven (junior Liz Johnson) on my team as well,” Wilson said. “It’s one of those things where the kids who are usually good at a lot of things, do a lot of things.
“You have to try to be flexible. It can hurt. We missed her at our tournament (a week ago), but I also know that is going to be a great experience as well in the whole scheme of life.”
Wilson looks at sports as well as preparation for life, and South Haven softball has been living well over the last 10 months.
The Rams are the reigning Division 2 runners-up, making last season’s MHSAA Finals championship game – their first since 1979 – after finishing just third in their league. South Haven is off to a 5-3 start this spring, with five starters returning from that run including Jeffries and Ellis – although the team lost its entire infield to graduation and almost lost its catcher for this season.
Jeffries, who has played on the varsity team all three years, injured her labrum in the Rams’ first basketball scrimmage in December. The original diagnosis called for surgery.
“I was on vacation in Hawaii and she called me, bawling her eyes out,” Wilson said.
“I could hardly understand what she was saying because she said ‘I’m not going to be able to play this year. I have to have surgery, and I’m not going to be good.”
Wilson recommended a second opinion, which suggested physical therapy. Jeffries opted for that and finally was cleared to play after spring break.
“During a team meeting, she said she will not let one minute be taken for granted because basically when you think the opportunity is going to be taken away from you, then you can appreciate the opportunity so much more,” Wilson said of Jeffries.
“AJ is that dirty, gritty, sparkplug catcher,” she added. “If you watch her play, it’s joyful because she plays the game hard, like it should be.”
Still, Jeffries was surprised at the team’s run last year.
“I had no idea we’d be in the state finals (for the first time since 1979),” she said. “It was just an unexpected thing, but we just played game by game and took everything that we learned from each game and applied it to the next.
“This year, I expect to play every game like it’s our last game for our seniors and for everybody that came up because I think we can do really good things this year.”
Ellis, who is headed to Manchester College in the fall to play softball, is one of those seniors.
“My advice to the girls coming up is give it your all because in two months or so, I’m going to be done with high school and softball,” said the second baseman, who played left field a year ago. “I know I’m going to regret not putting in as much effort as I could have.
“We actually lost five from last year and three of them were starters pretty much since freshman year, so we lost a lot. We’re all, especially the returners, itching to be just as good as we were last year.”
Wilson said Ellis has grown a lot over the last four years.
“She’s one of those quiet freshmen who came up and didn’t play a lot those first couple years and then this year, she’s been a great leader on our infield and is very vocal in a positive way but (by) also letting the kids know when they have to step it up a little bit,” she said.
Joining Jeffries and Ellis among returning starters are junior Torie Loikits – who earned all-state honorable mention last season – junior Holli Dannenberg and sophomore Jordyn Holland. Holland led off and played center field in last season’s championship game against Escanaba, and Dannenberg played right field. Holland also hit the eighth-inning home run that pushed South Haven past top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore in last season’s Regional Final.
Other seniors on this year’s team are Grace Lyons, Paeton Hayes, Jules Stuckum, Macy Jenks and Courtney Kelly. Juniors also include Mallory Dorow and Opal Eddy, and sophomore Lexi Young is another contributor.
While Wilson is listed as the head coach, “there are really three of us who are co-coaches,” she said.
Dave Gumpert pitched professionally with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals from 1982-87. Mike Sweet has “coached softball for a long time and has been a head coach in different sports,” Wilson said.
All three coaches played sports at the high school and all three are members of the South Haven High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I think the three of us each bring something different to the program, but it helps us be cohesive and look at the game from different angles,” said Wilson, who was on the Rams team that lost in the Class B Semifinals in 1982, her senior year.
“Between the three of us, we bring a ton of experience.”
Wilson not only coaches, but also drives the bus to away games, “which is really nice because we have that time together with no interruptions with another team or a boys team,” she said. “When we do our ‘remember whens’ at the end of the year, almost all of our memories come from our time on the little bus.”
As noted above, Wilson looks at sports as a preparation for life. And South Haven sees this spring as another chance to build on last season’s dream run and the lessons learned along the way.
“One of my perspectives is that you’re probably going to end up involved in your life the same way you are involved in sports,” she said.
“You’re going to have to learn to get along with people, you’re going to have to learn to have some self-judgment, you’re going to have to make adjustments, you’re going to have to try to improve on things that you don’t do well in.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) South Haven catcher A.J. Jeffries fires the ball after a strikeout during last season’s Division 2 Final. (Middle) Gracie Ellis is crowned Miss Blossomtime last month. (Below) From left, South Haven coach Wilma Wilson, Ellis and Jeffries. (Middle photo by Don Campbell/St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.)
Preview: Pair of Reigning Champs Return, 14 More Seeking to End Season Celebrating
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 10, 2026
Two reigning champions are returning to MHSAA Softball Finals weekend beginning Thursday at Michigan State's Secchia Stadium, and one of them is hoping for a double-repeat performance after finishing 2025 on top.
Grass Lake in Division 3 and Mendon in Division 4 are seeking to extend their reigns. And for the second-straight season, the Hornets will play Hillman in a Semifinal, this time ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the final coaches association poll.
Hillman also is one of nine teams traveling to East Lansing this weekend seeking a first Final championship.
This weekend's schedule is as follows:
Division 1 – Thursday
Macomb Dakota vs. Grand Haven, 10 a.m.
Walled Lake Northern vs. Northville, 12:30 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Armada, 3 p.m.
Ogemaw Heights vs. Farmington Hills Mercy, 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Evart vs. Grass Lake, 10 a.m.
Ravenna vs. New Lothrop, 12:30 p.m.
Division 4 – Friday
Hilman vs. Mendon, 3 p.m.
Brown City vs. Fowler, 5:30 p.m.
FINALS – Saturday
Division 1 – 10 a.m.
Division 2 – 12:30 p.m.
Division 3 – 3 p.m.
Division 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $11 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. One ticket is good for all baseball, softball and girls soccer games at MSU’s Old College Field that day. All Semifinals and Finals will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv.
Below is a glance at all 16 teams taking the field (with statistics through Regional Finals):
Division 1
GRAND HAVEN
Record/rank: 33-7-1, No. 6
Coach: John Hall, 10th season (222-125-3)
League finish: Tied for second in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Bella Korf, sr. C/IF (.444, 50 R, 16 2B, 10 HR, 41 RBI); Lorelei Chciuk, sr. P/IF (.371, 35 RBI, 18-5 pitching, 0.93 ERA, 340 K/157 1/3 IP); Bri Borgman, sr. IF/P (.487, 40 R, 14 2B, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 14-2 pitching, 2.23 ERA, 136 K/88 IP); MaKenna VandenBrink, jr. OF (.400, 36 R, 20 SB).
Outlook: A group of eight seniors – including seven who start – have brought Grand Haven to the Semifinals for the first time, and memorably with wins over top-ranked Hudsonville in the Regional Final (after the Eagles won two of their three games during the regular season) and No. 5 Traverse City Central in the Quarterfinal. A Regional Semifinal win over Rockford also avenged a late loss. Chciuk and Borgman made the all-state first team last season and are catalysts to the effort, but several more are making big contributions including sophomore Ryley Jeltema (.360) and senior Natalie Waite (.293, 32 R, 16 SB).
MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 31-12, unranked
Coach: Shelby Weeks, third season (83-32)
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2017, runner-up 2016 and 2022.
Players to watch: Nadeline Tcruz, fr. OF (.416, 64 R, 14 2B, 35 SB); Maddie Kruk, jr. OF (.423, 44 R, 14 2B, 35 RBI): Kiley Phelan, sr. IF (.524, 38 RBI); Nola Mae Tcruz, jr. IF (.423, 34 R, 30 RBI, 21 SB).
Outlook: Dakota finished second in the MAC Red to No. 2 New Baltimore Anchor Bay but defeated the Tars in their District Final and continued on to their first Semifinals since that 2022 runner-up season. Phelan made the all-state first team last spring and tops a team list that has 10 hitters batting .333 or better. Brooke Cahill (10-5, 2.56 ERA) and Alivia Reardon (13-3, 3.12) have shared the majority of pitching duties, and senior Chloe Dunn (.395, 43 RBI) and freshman Ella Goike (.383, 40 R, 43 RBI, 36 SB) are also among the biggest contributors offensively.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 35-4-1, No. 4
Coach: Scott DeBoer, ninth season (235-110-6)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jocelyn Burns, soph. C (.450, 46 RBI); Kennedi Adams, jr. CF (.411, 32 R, 10 2B, 23 SB); Mary Gugala, sr. P (.321, 27-2 pitching, 1.04 ERA, 285 K/180 2/3 IP); Kendall Heron, sr. SS (.407, 12 SB).
Outlook: Northville’s first Regional title since 2012 has turned into its first trip to the Semifinals, as the Mustangs got past No. 9 Salem in their District Semifinal and Saline in their Regional championship game while allowing a total of four runs over five postseason contests. The Salem and Saline wins avenged regular-season losses, and the other two came against No. 2 Anchor Bay and No. 8 Grand Blanc with the tie against No. 6 Grand Haven. A total of 10 hitters are batting .300 or higher, with senior Alyssa Spencer (.353), freshman Mia Petrovski (.343) and junior Olivia Smith (.329) next highest on the list.
WALLED LAKE NORTHERN
Record/rank: 37-3, No. 7
Coach: Kristen Woodard, 15th season (376-150-4)
League finish: First in Lakes Valley Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Makenna Kresbaugh, jr. CF (.433, 49 R, 65 RBI); Lyla Turmell, sr. P (.561, 54 R, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 26-2 pitching, 0.95 ERA, 228 K/155 1/3 IP); Shaela Byrnes, jr. 2B (.477, 35 R, 34 RBI); Aubrey Kresbaugh, soph. SS (.436, 49 R).
Outlook: Northern has seemed on the cusp of making this first trip to the Semifinals, winning Regional titles as well last spring, in 2022 and 2017. Turmell made the all-state first team last season, and Makenna Kresbaugh and Byrnes earned honorable mentions. They with junior catcher Anna Doyle (.327, 33 R) give the team a talented group up the middle. Junior Olivia Frellick (.324, 34 RBI) and freshman Alex Dziak (.329) also bolster the lineup. Northern’s postseason run has included a pair of wins over honorable mentions Livonia Stevenson and league rival White Lake Lakeland.
Division 2
ARMADA
Record/rank: 35-8, honorable mention
Coach: Rob Girvin, fourth season (97-54)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Class C runner-up 1979
Players to watch: Helena Fettue, jr. SS (.427, 37 R, 19 SB); Grace Girvin, soph. 1B/P/C (.384, 50 R, 34 RBI, 19 SB, 10-2 pitching, 2.08 ERA); Lilyana Piconke, soph. OF (.447, 59 R, 56 RBI, 31 SB); Megan Cox, fr. P/1B (.362, 31 RBI, 15-2 pitching, 1.60 ERA, 174 K/109 1/3 IP).
Outlook: Armada is making its first trip back to the Semifinals since 2010 after opening the tournament with a win over league rival and reigning champ Richmond, adding victories over honorable mentions St. Clair and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s along the way, and then also downing No. 6 Frankenmuth in their Quarterfinal. Cox, Grace Girvin and Taylor Capozzo (9-4, 3.25 ERA) have split starts in the circle, and Capozzo also bats fourth and entered the week hitting .377 with 36 runs scored and 56 driven in. Sophomore Justine Lint (.336, 31 RBI) also has been a top run producer.
FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY
Record/rank: 20-17, unranked
Co-coaches: Alec Lesko & Sara McGavin, fifth seasons (146-39)
League finish: Fifth in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2016, runner-up 2002.
Players to watch: Taylor Selimi, jr. 3B (.404, 36 R, 35 RBI); Sophia Chaput, sr. CF (.509, 48 R, 31 SB); Maeve Weiss, fr. C (.323, 30 RBI); Anna McGavin, jr. P/OF (.286, 30 R, 17-10 pitching, 2.53 ERA, 277 K/170 1/3 IP).
Outlook: After eight seasons away, Lesko and McGavin returned to lead the program again this school year have brought Mercy to the Division 2 Semifinals after years playing among the elite in Division 1. The Marlins made the Division 1 Semifinals most recently in 2024 and 2021, and advanced to this weekend with a Quarterfinal win over No. 5 Carleton Airport, and have made this surge with only two senior starters but seven underclassmen on the roster.
OGEMAW HEIGHTS
Record/rank: 28-9, unranked
Coach: Ryan Nicholson, first season (28-9)
League finish: Second in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1982.
Players to watch: Kylee England, soph. P (.481, 16 2B, 38 RBI, 18-8 pitching); Aubrey Evans, jr. SS (.500, 54 R, 14 HR, 72 RBI); Averie Weiler, soph. 2B (.422, 39 R, 30 RBI); Addison Wenkel, fr. CF (.453, 62 R, 44 SB).
Outlook: Nicholson took over the program this year after five as an assistant coach and has brought Ogemaw Heights to the Semifinals for the first time since 1982 (and with its first Regional title since 1994). The Falcons have scored double-digit runs in 18 games, and all nine starters were hitting at least .328 entering the week. Sophomore Mackenzie Benjamin (.387, 44 R, 40 RBI) and junior Laila Ireland (.383) are two more big bats on the 11-player roster that has only two seniors.
STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE
Record/rank: 34-4, No. 1
Coach: Denny Dock, 37th season (1,171-268-2)
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Lily Dustin, sr. 1B/P (.566, 28 2B, 58 RBI, 13-1 pitching, 2.32 ERA); Shaunna Roberts, fr. 3B (.504, 17 2B, 45 RBI); Adelle Prosser, fr. C (.468, 15 2B, 44 RBI); Ashley Ramirez, jr. P (17-3, 1.68 ERA, 191 K/125 IP, .324).
Outlook: The winningest coach in MHSAA softball history (at 1,359-361-2 and counting over a total of 47 seasons) is bringing his top-ranked team back to MSU for the first time since the 2022 championship season – and Lakeshore might be making a few more trips over the next few years. The Lancers start their lone senior, Dustin, and she bats fourth, but the three hitters in front of her are all freshmen and part of a group of five total on the roster. Sophomore Payten Strefling (.430, 45 RBI), freshman Madi Ettinger (.417) and junior Belle Forrester (.404) also are among the top hitters for a lineup that carries a .408 average.
Division 3
EVART
Record/rank: 42-0, No. 1
Coach: Shaun Gray, third season (109-9)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2024, runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Kyrah Gray, sr. P (.600, 83 R, 26 2B, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 29-0 pitching, 0.84 ERA, 345 K/175 1/3 IP); Mattisen Tiedt, sr. 1B (.616, 60 R, 20 2B, 12 HR, 78 RBI, 7-0 pitching, 1.91 ERA); Keira Elder, sr. C (.417, 50 R, 41 RBI); Jillian Decker, sr. SS (.463, 48 R, 18 2B, 42 RBI).
Outlook: After falling in its District opener last year to eventual Division 3 runner-up Clare, Evart has not lost again – while playing a schedule that’s included a nice collection of ranked and larger opponents. The Wildcats have won 18 games by shutout, with Kyrah Gray a returning all-state first teamer writing her name all over the record book again offensively and in the circle. Tiedt also made the all-state first team last season and is posting huge numbers, and sophomore Quyncee Gray (.471, 46 R, 36 RBI) is adding plenty of pop to the middle of the lineup.
GRASS LAKE
Record/rank: 35-5, No. 4
Coach: Roger Cook, 25th season (625-225)
League finish: Second in Cascades Conference
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2025.
Players to watch: Morgan Conrad, sr. P/1B (.378, 24-1 pitching, 2.04 ERA, 144 K/127 IP); Leilah Smith, sr. 2B (.395, 38 R, 48 RBI); Makenzie Hilberer, jr. SS (.480, 53 R, 50 RBI, 16 SB); Lily McVicker, fr. CF (.509, 64 R, 24 SB).
Outlook: Grass Lake is returning to MSU with five starters from last season’s championship game win, including all-state first-teamers Conrad, Smith and Hilberer. The Warriors finished second in the Cascades to No. 2 Brooklyn Columbia Central but then defeated the Golden Eagles in a District Semifinal, and Grass Lake also downed No. 6 Clinton in its Regional Final and honorable mention Ottawa Lake Whiteford on Tuesday. Sophomore third baseman Kennedy Collins (.446, 39 R, 45 RBI) and senior left fielder Addalynn Hensen (.395, 38 R) also started a year ago and rank among the team’s top hitters.
NEW LOTHROP
Record/rank: 33-10, unranked
Coach: Chad Henige, first season (33-10)
League finish: First in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Championship history: Class C champion 1982, runner-up 1978.
Players to watch: Mallory Heroux, sr. P (.477, 19 2B, 52 RBI, 27-4 pitching, 0.62 ERA, 308 K/170 1/3 IP); Savannah Knieper, soph. 2B (.403, 34 R, 41 RBI); Leigha Eagan, fr. 3B (.368, 38 R); Alexandra Knieper, sr. C/3B (.427).
Outlook: New Lothrop is making its first Semifinal appearance since its championship season after avenging last year’s Regional loss with a 3-2, 10-inning Quarterfinal victory over honorable mention Millington. Heroux earned an all-state honorable mention last spring and tops a team hitting leaderboard that also includes freshmen Sydney Knieper (.358, 54 R, 49 SB) and Raegan Heroux (.357, 31 RBI) among main run producers. Henige took over the program after previously serving as junior high coach and then varsity assistant over the last nine seasons.
RAVENNA
Record/rank: 38-1, No. 3
Coach: Dave Sherman, 10th season (246-83)
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Riley Homoly, sr. 2B (.417, 51 R, 47 RBI, 21 SB); Emily Postema, sr. C (.588, 70 R, 14 3B, 71 RBI, 43 SB); Natalie Rosel, jr. P (.555, 75 R, 53 RBI, 43 SB, 24-0 pitching, 0.60 ERA, 240 K/129 1/3 IP); Reese Herremans, jr. SS (.454, 66 R, 20 2B, 56 RBI, 20 SB).
Outlook: Ravenna is continuing to move closer to a possible first championship, with this repeat trip to MSU the team’s third in four seasons and following up last year’s one-run loss in the Semifinals. A 6-0 win over No. 5 Morley Stanwood in the Regional Final was a defining moment and avenged the team’s only defeat this spring. The Bulldogs opened the postseason with four straight shutouts, and Rosel earned an all-state honorable mention last season as did Postema and Homoly. Junior third baseman Sydney Morrissey (.438, 40 R, 39 RBI) also is among dangerous bats for a team that’s averaging 12 runs per game.
Division 4
BROWN CITY
Record/rank: 25-11, No. 9
Coach: Scott Parr, fifth season (88-81)
League finish: First in Big Thumb Conference Black
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Sydnee Mabee, jr. SS (.441, 51 R, 28 SB); Maddie Hohne, sr. P (.467, 36 R, 30 RBI, 17-7 pitching, 3.38 ERA, 199 K/145. IP); Sami Hayes, soph. UTY/P (.409, 30 R, 7-3 pitching); Chloe Hayes, sr. CF (.393, 41 R).
Outlook: Brown City has been building to this first trip to the Semifinals, with four straight District and three consecutive league championships under Parr and now a first Regional title and Quarterfinal victory. The stunner came in the Regional Semifinal as the Green Hornets guaranteed an end to No. 3 Unionville-Sebewaing’s six-season streak of making Division 3 Finals with a 10-8 win. Senior Linzee Mathews (.393, 31 R), junior Alaina Roberts (.376, 36 R and 38 RBI) and senior Callie Morse (.349) also bolster the lineup.
FOWLER
Record/rank: 28-8, No. 8
Coach: Brian Miller, first season (28-8)
League finish: First in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Saige Miller, sr. SS (.594, 70 R, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 23 SB); Selena Stump, sr. P/OF (.492, 48 R, 37 RBI, 20 SB, 17-4 pitching, 3.51 ERA, 107 K/123 1/3 IP); Kerigan Pung, jr. C (.461, 32 R, 30 RBI); Addison Spicer, sr. 3B (.504, 37 R, 17 2B, 57 RBI).
Outlook: The Eagles are back at the Semifinals for the first time since 2014, building on a postseason run that’s included wins over No. 5 Bellaire, No. 6 St. Louis and No. 7 Beal City. Maryland recruit Miller is capping an all-state career; she made the first team last season, while Stump earned an honorable mention. Senior Rachel Wirth (.456, 44 R) and freshman Bristol Miller (,423, 43 R, 36 RBI) also bolster an offense averaging nearly 11 runs per game. Brian Miller took over the program after previously serving as an assistant at Fowler and Pewamo-Westphalia.
HILLMAN
Record/rank: 33-9, No. 2
Coach: Jason Weiland, third season (105-21)
League finish: First in North Star League Little Dipper
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1996.
Players to watch: Aubrey Weiland, jr. SS (.411, 60 R, 33 RBI); Gretchen Weiland, sr. P (.560, 58 R, 56 RBI, 19-5 pitching, 2.15 ERA, 214 K/107 2/3 IP); Abigail Oswald, fr. P/2B (.431, 59 R, 34 RBI, 21 SB, 9-4 pitching); Madelyn Oswald, jr. C (.567, 59 R, 20 2B, 65 RBI, 27 SB).
Outlook: Six starters including ace pitcher Gretchen Weiland are back from last season’s Semifinal lineup, and she made the all-state first team last year while Aubrey Weiland earned an honorable mention. Juniors Rylee Lis (.384, 43 R, 43 RBI) and Brook Linseman (.387) and sophomore Peyton Szlag also started last season, and Gretchen Weiland and Peyton Banks are the only seniors on this roster. The Tigers won a District two weeks ago that also included No. 10 (tie) Johannesburg-Lewiston and honorable mention Rogers City.
MENDON
Record/rank: 30-3, No. 1
Co-coaches: Steve Butler & Mike Smith, ninth seasons
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Championship history: Division 4 championship 2025, runner-up 2023, Class D runner-up 1992.
Players to watch: Cienna Nightingale, sr. C/1B (.622, 68 RBI, 22 SB); Jadyn Samson, sr. SS/P (.640, 77 R, 18 2B, 30 RBI, 33 SB, 8-2 pitching); Rowan Allen, sr. P/SS (.638, 63 R, 42 SB, 18-1 pitching, 2.47 ERA, 161 K/96 IP); Taya Bingaman, sr. CF (.641, 58 R, 18 2B, 60 RBI, 29 SB).
Outlook: Mendon returns just four players from last season’s championship game lineup – but all four are hitting over .600 and the group includes top pitcher Allen, who gave up a combined two earned runs during last season’s Semifinal and Final. Samson, Nightingale and Allen all made the all-state first team last season as well. Freshman Sabrina Monroy (.383, 30 R, 30 RBI) is another major contributor on the offensive side. The losses came twice to Division 3 Bronson and once to Division 2 Three Rivers, and this tournament run has included a Regional Final win over No. 10 (tie) Gobles.
PHOTO Grass Lake’s Leilah Smith (5) is introduced before the start of last season’s Division 3 Final at Secchia Stadium.