South Lyon, Allen Park Set to Provide 1st-Time Champ
By
Jason Schmitt
Special for MHSAA.com
June 17, 2021
EAST LANSING — Coming up clutch is nothing new for the South Lyon softball team.
So when the Lions came up big on the sport’s biggest stage Thursday afternoon, it really should have come as no surprise to anyone at Secchia Stadium — least of all to head coach Dan DePaulis.
South Lyon rallied from two runs down, pulling away down the stretch en route to an 8-4 win over Grandville in a Division 1 Semifinal played at Michigan State University.
“Everyone contributed at the plate today,” said DePaulis, whose team will be making its first appearance in a Division 1 championship game. “It was awesome. We’ve come from behind before and played a tough schedule. We’ve been in a lot of tough games and played some tough teams. I think that prepared them. Nothing surprised them today.”
The Lions fell behind twice early. Grandville scored the first two runs of the game in the first inning, courtesy of an RBI double by senior Jamie Vander Meer and an RBI single by senior Kylee Dillard. South Lyon got two right back, one on an RBI single from senior Ella Vitale.
The Bulldogs then retook the lead, 4-2, in the third inning. Senior Maddie Gkekas scored on a wild pitch, with senior Brook Bernt then scoring on an RBI single by Dillard.
That’s the last run Grandville would score. South Lyon put two runs up in the fourth inning to tie the game, the first when Vitale singled in junior Julia Duncan, who crossed ahead of a tag at the plate.
“That’s a huge momentum shift,” Grandville head coach Troy Ungrey said. “I mean, we get that out right there, it’s the third out. It’s 4-2, we still have momentum. We’ve got the top of our lineup coming up.”
The Lions would add another run in the inning on an RBI single by senior Riley Bourlier, scoring Vitale. South Lyon then took a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning, when Duncan’s single scored senior Tierny Donnelley.
“We’ve been doing that all year, just having really good at bats,” DePaulis said. “They’re putting the ball in play, hard ground balls, getting the run in, productive outs. The seniors really stepped up for us today at the bottom of our order. They had some big hits to get us going early.”
Vitale, Madison Seymour and Bourlier combined for three runs, three hits and three RBI in their team’s victory.
“It’s kind of fun, we (seniors) are all like stacked at the bottom together so we can cheer each other on,” Vitale said. “I feel like our whole lineup can get hits. No one end is stronger than the other. One of our sayings is like, ‘Ground balls win softball games.’ When we have a runner on third, we try to hit it hard on the ground so they can score.”
South Lyon scored seven of its eight runs with two outs.
“We had a team meeting the other day, and we talked about how we were doing it with two outs,” said DePaulis, who’s in his seventh year at South Lyon. “Those kids just come up clutch. Nothing phases them. They’re just really battling. At this point in the tournament, it’s more about what you’ve got between the ears than the talent. They really focused, they were mentally tough and they had really good at bats with two outs.”
Sophomore Emily Johnson had a team-high three hits and starting pitcher Ava Bradshaw went the distance, striking out 12 for the Lions (29-6-2), who advanced to Saturday’s Division 2 Final, where they’ll face Allen Park.
Grandville finished the season 36-6.
“We set a school record for wins this year,” Ungrey said. “Grace (Connelly) set a record for wins in the circle. Maddie (Gkekas) set the stolen base record. There are just so many good things to think about, all the way through. We brought up some sophomores at the end. They had a chance to taste this. I think in a couple years we’ve got a real good chance of coming back here.”
Allen Park 9, Farmington Hills Mercy 5
Allen Park played the patience game Thursday in its Division 1 Semifinal game against Farmington Hills Mercy. That’s not always an easy thing to do when your team boasts just one senior on the roster.
But it paid off for the Jaguars, who scored seven runs in the fourth inning to pull away from the Marlins en route to a 9-5 victory that clinched a spot in Saturday’s championship game at Michigan State University.
Junior Madilynn Ramey highlighted the inning with a grand slam, which broke a 1-1 tie and gave her team all the momentum it would need.
“The bases were loaded, and I knew I had to capitalize. I knew I had to come through for my team,” said Ramey, who finished the day 2-for-3 with her home run, a triple and a walk. “We’re the underdogs. We know we have to come out here and prove ourselves.”
Her head coach, Mike Kish, knew it was just a matter of time before his young Jaguars would break through.
“I believed. I absolutely believed,” he said. “We knew we had the talent. If we could just keep it close, long enough for us to take a deep breath and relax. And once we did that, this is what we do.
“(Madilynn) is our leader. She’s our shortstop. She’s our heart and soul. You know she’s going to come through. And sure enough she did.”
Allen Park batted around in the fourth inning. Sophomore Molly Hool singled to right-center to get things going. Junior Riley Kish and junior Autumn Bridges had a double and single, respectively, to load the bases for Ramey — who proceeded to clear them. The Jaguars added two more runs on an RBI double by sophomore Morgan Sizemore and an RBI single by sophomore Mia Hool.
The Hool sisters, along with Ramey and freshman Avery Garden, all finished with two hits. Allen Park (32-10) has a young roster which includes four juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen.
“We knew for a couple years that this talent was coming,” Kish said. “We only had three girls on the team who had played a varsity game before the season had started. We knew our pitchers were young, inexperienced. But we knew the talent was there. It comes out of potential.”
Mercy senior Grace Nieto finished 3-for-4 with four stolen bases for her Marlins, who finished the season 32-5. Senior Maggie Murphy and junior Kendall Spivey each drove in two runs in their team’s loss.
“They went to work with their bats. We knew their bats were coming. We didn’t do enough to mitigate them hitting it,” Mercy head coach Corey Burras said. “It was not a surprise. I thought the score would be 12-11. It wasn’t going to be 2-1. It wasn’t going to be a pitching duel.
“They moved on the ball. We moved on the ball. But they moved on the ball a little bit better than us today.”
PHOTOS: (Top) South Lyon’s Julia Duncan is moments from connecting with a pitch during her team’s Division 1 Semifinal win Thursday. (Middle) An Allen Park runner gets to third base head first as Mercy’s Kendall Spivey gathers the ball for a possible tag.
Preview: USA Seeking to Add to Record Run, Several More Hoping to Start Title Streaks
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 11, 2025
Unionville-Sebewaing will return to Michigan State’s Secchia Stadium this weekend with yet another chance to make history, this time by potentially setting the record for most consecutive MHSAA Finals championships on the softball diamond.
And we’re also guaranteed to have a team beginning a title streak Saturday for the first time.
While USA in Division 4 plays to conclude this season with a sixth-straight Finals victory – the Patriots currently are tied with Kalamazoo Christian 1996-2000 with a record five consecutive championships – all four Division 3 contenders are playing for what would be the first Finals titles in their program histories.
Similarly, Hudsonville in Division 1 also is back seeking a repeat, and half the Division 2 field is seeking a first title as well.
This weekend’s schedule is as follows:
Division 1 – Thursday
Utica Ford vs. South Lyon – 3 p.m.
Hudsonville vs. Saline – 5:30 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday
Carleton Airport vs. Paw Paw – 10 a.m.
Escanaba vs. Richmond – 12:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Grass Lake vs. Algonac – 3 p.m.
Clare vs. Ravenna – 5:30 p.m.
Division 4 – Friday
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary vs. Unionville-Sebewaing – 10 a.m.
Mendon vs. Hillman – 12:30 p.m.
FINALS – Saturday
Division 1 – 12:30 p.m.
Division 2 – 10 a.m.
Division 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Division 4 – 3 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
HUDSONVILLE
Record/rank: 34-3, No. 3
Coach: Tom Vruggink, 44th season (1,232-292)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2024)
Players to watch: Ava Gardner, sr. OF (.589, 70 R, 18 2B, 53 RBI); Tessa Heffelbower, jr. SS (.541, 60 R, 21 2B, 10 HR, 58 RBI); Kamryn Stankus, fr. OF (.518, 48 R, 17 2B, 55 RBI, 19 SB).
Outlook: Hudsonville has had quite a two-year run, building on last season’s undefeated title run by running its winning streak to 48 through April 23 of this spring, which gave the program the third-longest in MHSAA softball history. Gardner and Heffelbower were two of the team’s five all-state first-team selections a year ago, and they’ve anchored the lineup with Stankus, sophomore Lauren Luchies (.415, 37 R, 36 RBI) and four others hitting at least .375 bolstering output. Sophomores Paige Visser (14-0, 2.76 ERA) and Sophia VanKempen (11-1, 3.21) have thrown the most of four pitchers with wins this spring, and Visser also is among those leading hitters at .386.
SALINE
Record/rank: 37-3-2, No. 2
Coach: Rebecca Suiter, second season (69-10-3)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Sydney Hastings, sr. C/SS (.563, 61 R, 21 2B, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 38 SB); Reese Rupert, jr. OF/C (.441, 54 R, 16 2B, 39 RBI, 16 SB); Abigail Curtis, jr. P (18-0, 0.74 ERA, 219 K/104 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Saline is making its first trip the Semifinals, its only losses this season to No. 1 Farmington Hills Mercy, No. 8 Allen Park and Division 2 No. 9 Carleton Airport and with two of those coming during the team’s first six games. The Hornets made their historic jump with a Quarterfinal win over No. 9 Brownstown Woodhaven. Hastings made the all-state first team last season as a catcher and is one of only four seniors on the roster. Another, Ashley Malinczak, is among the team’s top-hitting regulars at .408 with 44 runs scored, and four more starters and a top sub hit at least .370. Curtis has thrown nearly half the team’s innings, but with support from juniors Zosia Mazur (10-0, 1.22 ERA) and Jessica Phelps (6-1, 2.14) among others.
SOUTH LYON
Record/rank: 31-7, unranked
Coach: Jerry Shippe, first season (31-7)
League finish: Tied for second in Lakes Valley Conference
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2021.
Players to watch: Izzy Nooe, sr. SS (.400, 35 R, 24 SB); Havanna Bissett, jr. P (.467, 18-4 pitching, 3.09 ERA, 139 K/130 IP); Isabella Bracali, soph. 2B (.480, 40 R, 27 SB).
Outlook: South Lyon graduated all-state pitcher Ava Bradshaw last spring but will return to East Lansing for the second-straight season emerging from a league that included No. 6 Walled Lake Northern and honorable mention White Lake Lakeland and after downing No. 7 Northville in the Regional Final and Northern in the Quarterfinal. Seven starters are back from last season’s Semifinal lineup, senior left fielder Avery Bourlier (.396, 36 R, 18 SB) among them, and freshman first baseman/center fielder Rylee Miller (.402, 44 R, 25 SB) leads off a lineup filled with several other strong hitters.
UTICA FORD
Record/rank: 30-10-1, unranked
Coach: Matthew Joseph, 15th season (322-178)
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Grace Polega, sr. SS (.369, 37 R, 39 RBI); Brooke Williams, sr. OF (.410, 34 R, 24 2B, 37 RBI); Jenna Walters, 5-7 sr. P (.387, 33 R, 25 RBI, 13 SB, 24-4 pitching, 1.57 ERA, 217 K/183 IP).
Outlook: Ford is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2014 and riding a streak of three straight shutouts. A run of 15 wins over the Falcons’ last 17 games also included victories over Hudsonville and Division 1 honorable mention Macomb Dakota. Five players have scored at least 32 runs this season, and five have driven in at least 32. Senior catcher Sam Norrito is among other big hitters averaging .358 with 32 runs scored, 32 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Williams’ 24 doubles heading into this week qualify for the MHSAA record book.
Division 2
CARLETON AIRPORT
Record/rank: 33-8, No. 9
Coach: Jessica Irwin, ninth season (160-97)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final
Players to watch: Olivia Tilley, jr. 2B (.500, 58 R, 12 2B, 32 SB); Brenna Baker, jr. IF (.472, 63 R, 19 2B, 32 RBI, 20 SB); Brooklyn Martin, fr. P/1B/3B (.462, 37 R, 16 2B, 51 RBI, 18-3 pitching, 2.39 ERA, 117 K/126 IP).
Outlook: Airport has won two straight Regional titles and upped its win total three straight seasons as it makes its first trip to the Semifinals since 2015. The Jets closed the regular season with a win over Division 1 No. 8 Allen Park and downed Division 2 No. 4 Dearborn Divine Child in the Quarterfinal to advance to this weekend. Tilley made the all-state first team last season and is one of five Airport players with double-digit doubles this spring. Another is junior catcher Peyton Zajac, who brought a .360 average into this week. Junior Alayna McDaniel (12-5, 3.26 ERA, 79 K/101 IP) has split the pitching almost evenly with Martin and is expected to get the Semifinal start.
ESCANABA
Record/rank: 38-4, No. 1
Coach: Andy Fields, fifth season (153-33-1)
League finish: First in Great Northern Conference
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2019 and 2018, Division 1 runner-up 2003.
Players to watch: Grayson LaMarche, sr. P; Katey Lamb, sr. 3B. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: A 10-0 win over No. 3 Gaylord in the Regional Final ended the Blue Devils’ two-year reign in Division 2, and Escanaba went on to defeat No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian 3-0 in eight innings in their Quarterfinal. Escanaba had been eliminated by Gaylord the last two seasons after most recently making the Semifinals in 2022. LaMarche and Lamb both made the all-state first team last season.
PAW PAW
Record/rank: 36-3, honorable mention
Coach: Mike Mottl, third season (74-35)
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Elizabeth Vanderburg, soph. SS (.496, 62 R, 11 2B, 11 HR, 50 RBI); Cami VanderMeeden, jr. 3B (.482, 55 R, 16 2B, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 14 SB); Aaliyah Edson, soph. C/1B (.462, 41 R, 21 2B, 43 RBI).
Outlook: Paw Paw is making its first trip to the Semifinals thanks to wins over honorable mentions Wayland and Coldwater over the last two rounds – and with a roster of all juniors and sophomores. The Red Wolves have jumped 16 wins from last season and have five regulars hitting at least .434; Bella Clemons (.435, 43 R, 17 SB) and Stella Shaefer (.434, 51 R, 18 SB) join the three mentioned above. Clemons (13-3, 2.79 ERA, 79 K/82 2/3 IP) and Lauren MacKellar (13-0, 0.69 ERA, 114 K/81 2/3 IP) have handled most of the pitching, with MacKellar expected to make the Semifinal start.
RICHMOND
Record/rank: 30-7, No. 7
Coach: Howard Stuart, 47th season (1,181-344)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2021), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Ashley Stafford, sr. C/IF (.420, 10 2B, 32 RBI); Katie Shuboy, sr. P/IF (.348, 19-1 pitching, 0.28 ERA, 250 K/125 IP); Audrina Nader, jr. OF (.352, 25 R).
Outlook: Richmond returned all-state first-teamers Shuboy and Stafford from a year ago and is back at the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons. Stuart ranks sixth on the MHSAA softball coaching wins list, with this the Blue Devils’ 12th Semifinals trip under his leadership. Freshman infielder Kendall Nader has moved into the leadoff spot and created a spark, hitting .414, and four more regulars are hitting at least .350 led by junior Emma Bambrick at .365. Senior Lilly Peitz also has seen a significant share of the pitching with a 10-4 record, 2.88 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 90 innings pitched.
Division 3
ALGONAC
Record/rank: 24-14-1, unranked
Coach: Natalie Heim, third season (84-31-1)
League finish: Second in BWAC
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jaycee Reams, sr. P/UTY (.424, 33 R, 12 2B, 33 RBI, 13 SB, 17-8 pitching, 3.50 ERA, 187 K/154 IP); Michael Kenel, jr. 2B/SS (.403, 10 SB); Morgan Reams, jr. 1B/P (.368, 25 RBI, 7-6 pitching, 74 K/89 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Algonac is coming off its third Regional title over the last four seasons and made the Semifinals most recently in 2023, and have returned quickly despite graduating all-state pitcher Kenna Bommarito a year ago. The Muskrats advanced with an 8-6 Quarterfinal win over No. 7 Millington, and they’re on a 10-1 run with a loss to Richmond the only defeat during that time. There are contributors throughout the lineup, with seven players having scored between 22-33 runs entering this week. Junior catcher Ava Murray is second on the team driving them in with 27 RBI to go with a .333 average.
CLARE
Record/rank: 38-2, No. 1
Coach: Shane Kelly, fourth season (124-31-2)
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Madison Jones, sr. P (.487, 22 2B, 51 RBI, 17-2 pitching, 2.03 ERA, 114 K in 93 1/3 IP); Tessa Kelly, sr. IF (.499, 53 R, 14 2B, 65 RBI, 10 SB); Alissa Brandon, sr. IF (.473, 66 R, 19 2B, 47 RBI, 14 SB).
Outlook: Clare is making its first trip to the Semifinals since 1986, with a 1-0 Quarterfinal win over No. 2 Gladstone further cementing the Pioneers’ status as favorites. Clare also defeated honorable mention Standish-Sterling during this playoff run and has 24 wins shortened by run differential this spring. Jones made the all-state first team and Kelly earned honorable mention a year ago. Junior pitcher Kyley Wyman (20-0, 1.03 ERA, 230 K/115 2/3) will take a perfect record into the circle to start the Semifinal, and Addison McMillan is also well over .400 at the plate as well, hitting .447 with 62 runs scored, 13 doubles, 38 RBI and 25 steals. The team is hitting a combined .422, which would tie for 20th-highest for a single season in MHSAA history.
GRASS LAKE
Record/rank: 38-4, No. 6
Coach: Roger Cook, 24th season (588-220)
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Emily Brown, sr. CF (.629, 92 R, 14 2B, 54 RBI, 23 SB); Makenzie Hilberer, soph. SS (.573, 49 R, 47 RBI, 23 SB, 9-2 pitching, 2.77 ERA); Morgan Conrad, jr. P (.479, 26-0, 1.21 ERA, 143 K/132 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Grass Lake won its third Regional title and this time has advanced to its first Semifinals, getting past No. 5 Laingsburg and honorable mentions Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Brooklyn Columbia Central over the last two weeks. Grass Lake’s offense is potent once again with a team batting average of .456, and its 93 doubles entering this week are tied for 23rd most for one season in MHSAA history. Three more starters are hitting at least .400 – senior Bree Salts (.535, 22 2B, 10 HR, 89 RBI) and juniors Leilah Smith (.500 (59 R, 14 2B, 48 RBI) and Addalyn Hensen (.406, 48 R, 15 SB). Salts’ RBI rank 10th for one season on the all-time record list.
RAVENNA
Record/rank: 34-4, No. 4
Coach: Dave Sherman, ninth season (208-80)
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Emma Herremans, sr. 3B (.552, 50 R, 12 2B, 58 RBI, 10 SB); Emily Postema, jr. C (.517, 62 R, 13 2B, 57 RBI, 28 SB); Addison Gillard, sr. P/1B (.425, 10 2B, 38 RBI, 18-3 pitching, 1.72 ERA, 143 K/102 IP).
Outlook: Ravenna is making its second trip to the Semifinals in three seasons and after also reaching the Quarterfinals a year ago. Herremans made the all-state first team last season and is all over the MHSAA record book already, and Gillard earned all-state honorable mention in 2024 and is part of a dominating pair in the circle with Natalie Rosel (15-1, 1.21 ERA, 179 K/98 IP). Ravenna is hitting .430 as a team, with sophomores Reese Herremans (.466, 58 R, 14 2B, 53 RBI, 30 SB), Rosel (.453, 51 R, 30 SB) and Sydney Morrissey (.413, 30 R) also above .400.
Division 4
HILLMAN
Record/rank: 32-7, No. 7
Coach: Jason Weiland, second season (72-11)
League finish: First in North Star League
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1996.
Players to watch: Aubrey Weiland, soph. SS/P (.432, 59 R, 16 2B, 9-6 pitching, 3.01 ERA, 78 K/67 1/3 IP); Madelyn Oswald, soph. C (.534, 33 R, 11 SB); Gretchen Weiland, jr. P (.523, 57 R, 17 2B, 56 RBI, 22-1 pitching, 0.86 ERA, 223 K/120 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Jason Weiland will be bringing his team back to the Semifinals for the second time in his two seasons and after Aubrey and Gretchen Weiland and Oswald made the all-state first team last season. Six starters total are back from last year’s Semifinals lineup, with senior outfielder Hannah Crane (.435, 63 R, 15 SB) and senior third baseman Autumn Lis (.438, 36 R, 59 RBI) also among the team’s leading hitters and sophomore second baseman Rylee Lis newer to the lineup (.487, 36 R, 12 2B, 32 RBI) and also nearing .500 for the season. Hillman has won 10 of its last 11 games, with a 5-3 District Final victory over Johannesburg-Lewiston avenging a regular-season sweep by the honorable mention Cardinals.
MENDON
Record/rank: 33-2, No. 3
Co-coaches: Steve Butler & Mike Smith, eighth seasons (205-48)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2023, Class D runner-up 1992.
Players to watch: Cienna Nightingale, jr. 1B/C (.567, 39 R, 18 2B, 45 RBI), Rowan Allen, jr. P/LF (.543, 49 R, 14 2B, 49 RBI, 21 SB, 13-2 pitching, 1.75 ERA, 157 K/87 2/3 IP); Jadyn Samson, jr. SS (.408, 56 R, 14 2B, 50 RBI).
Outlook: After two straight close calls against Unionville-Sebewaing – one-run losses in last year’s Semifinal and the 2023 championship game – Mendon may be on the verge of emerging with its first title. All nine hitting starters plus the designated player from last season’s 6-5 defeat are back this weekend. Nightingale, Allen and Samson all made the all-state first team last season, and senior second baseman/pitcher Ally Butler (.458, 45 R, 11 2B, 40 RBI, 14-0 pitching, 1.07 ERA, 91/K/65 IP) earned honorable mention. Junior Gracie Schultz (.519, 10 SB) and seniors Kaidee Gonser (.457, 40 RBI) and Elise Allen (.451, 36 R, 40 RBI) also are among top hitters as the team averages a combined .458.
SAGINAW MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY
Record/rank: 32-10, unranked
Coach: Seth LaBair, 10th season (141-156)
League finish: Tied for second in Tri-Valley Conference Blue
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Kerin Gardner, fr. 3B/P/SS (.496, 73 R, 37 RBI, 42 SB, 9-3 pitching, 3.42 ERA, 95 K/69 2/3 IP); Charli Alcorn, fr. SS/C (.447, 46 R, 13 2B, 51 RBI, 13 SB); Ally Coffey, sr. P/SS (.597, 44 R, 20 2B, 60 RBI, 19-7 pitching, 1.76 ERA, 250 K/147 1/3 IP).
Outlook: Despite some middling years from an overall record standpoint, MLS has won District titles five of nine seasons under LaBair and jumped from 20-21 a year ago to its first trip to the Semifinals. The Cardinals defeated No. 10 Fowler in the Regional Final and No. 5 Holton in the Quarterfinal to earn this opportunity – and total have won 16 of their last 18 games. They have done so with six senior starters in the hitting lineup but also a pair of freshmen playing major roles. Senior Addison Whitmer is another top contributor hitting .347 with 30 runs scored entering this week.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 19-15, No. 1
Coach: Marc Reinhardt, third season (83-36)
League finish: Third in Big Thumb Conference White
Championship history: 10 MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Erin Jubar, jr. 3B (.423, 40 R, 13 2B, 10 SB); Kate Beagle, jr. 2B (.379, 39 R, 11 2B, 14 SB), Olivia Green, jr. P (.368, 12 2B, 48 RBI, 12-3 pitching, 1.44 ERA, 191 K/117 IP).
Outlook: As noted above, USA is seeking to add the outright record for longest championship streak to records already for numbers of Finals appearances (13) and championships (10). The Patriots are in pursuit with just four seniors total and two in the anticipated Semifinals lineup, and coming off a run that not only saw a win over No. 8 Plymouth Christian Academy in the Quarterfinal but regular-season games against several top teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 including Division 2 No. 3 Gaylord and Division 3 No. 2 Gladstone. Senior Natalie Degroat (.360, 13 2B) and junior Macy Prime (.350 (26 RBI) are two more key offensive contributors.
PHOTO Richmond pitcher Katie Shuboy winds up during her team's Quarterfinal win over Goodrich. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)