Traverse City Central's Battery Charged as Talented Trojans Take On Title Pursuits
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
May 1, 2026
Not yet.
Traverse City Central seniors Anna Tabaczka, Anika Peterson, Rachel Poortenga, Grace Cary and Piper Cavanaugh are well aware the Trojans have never finished first in the history of the Big North Conference.
They’re also aware a Regional softball trophy is not in the school’s illustrious trophy case.
But perhaps the strong senior leadership group is mostly aware Central just hasn’t won those crowns yet, with the emphasis on “yet.” The Trojans are focused on winning one game at a time with their eyes on those elusive prizes.
“It’s definitely one game at a time because I know there's a lot of good teams out there and it takes run support, and it takes clean defense,” said second-year Trojans head coach Julie Tiesworth. “Our District is not a cakewalk. So we can't cross any bridges too soon. Winning the conference has never been done – it's a goal – but I'd say making a postseason run is our biggest goal.”
It’s been a near-perfect season for Central so far. In fact, it’s pretty much been a dream season.
Since ace pitcher Cavanaugh transferred from cross-town rival Traverse City West and started wearing the black and gold, she hasn’t lost a game. And Cavanaugh has thrown two perfect games and another no-hitter while picking up strings of innings of no walks and multiple strikeouts.
Cavanaugh, who committed to Oregon, is 11-0 on the season. She has given up just 10 hits and five runs, allowed only one base on balls and fanned 114 in just 50 innings of work. The Trojans’ firepower, meanwhile, shortened most of those games to mercy-rule wins.
This week, the Trojans moved closer to a Big North Conference title with 15-0 and 17-1 victories over Cadillac. Sophomore Julia Brady, who broke the Trojans’ home run record as a freshman last year, led the way belting two home runs in three at bats in both games. Cavanaugh went 5-for-5 at the plate with a double, triple and a home run, and Grace Cary, the team’s catcher heading to play softball next year for Ohio State, was 4-for-5 across the twin bill, also adding a triple and home run.
Cary emphasized the Trojans’ commitment to taking one game at a time as they could inch closer to a conference title Tuesday at Sault Ste. Marie.
“It’s one goal at a time, but it'd be nice to go past Regionals, at least one game, because we've never won Regional Finals,” said Cary. “The BNC would also be nice to have, but I feel like a main goal for us as a team is to win Regionals.”
Regardless of how the season turns out, Cary and Cavanaugh will treasure the moments playing together – something they started doing as 9-year-olds. The incredible pitcher/catcher battery played extensive travel ball together and also apart with different programs.
“The funny thing, too, is Grace started out as a pitcher and Piper started out as a catcher,” pointed out Tiesworth, who fondly recalls watching their early development. “Then they found their strengths. As Piper switched over to pitcher, they started to climb with different travel organizations and getting broader exposure. Growing up together, playing against each other, playing with each other, and then to be reunited for their senior year is special.”
Cavanaugh played at TC West as a freshman and focused on travel ball her sophomore and junior years. Cary played all four years for the Trojans.
“Grace has been here kind of grinding for four years, and she's been in the spotlight for four years,” Tiesworth said. “She's a spicy, fiery, speedy, aggressive bass runner. Grace and Piper have very different personalities, but they add so much together. You can't have a pitcher of that caliber if you don't have a catcher of that caliber – even to warm up Piper for a game.”
Cavanaugh is thrilled to be pitching to her long-time battery mate again.
“I love it,” Cavanaugh said. “I think being able to play this last year with her is just a great way to end our high school years. We’ve gone full circle, now finishing off our senior season together before we all go off to college.”
Cavanaugh, who has been called the best pitcher in the state by opposing coaches, is dominating the high school level after stepping away the last two years. She was immediately eligible to play softball this spring for Central because she did not play the sport at West last season.
“No one has seen Piper pitch in the state of Michigan since she was a freshman,” Tiesworth noted. “And for me, it was just so fun to see her, as a senior now, come back around. Of all the kids I've coached, she's one of the most modest, humble, hardworking, best teammate … this kiddo is the total package.”
Cary noted that the Trojans are putting up plenty of run support and defense behind their pitchers as well.
The Trojans have scored 215 runs over their 19 games so far. Cary is leading the team in batting, hitting almost .600. Cavanaugh at .550 is right behind her.
Brady has eight home runs and is batting near .500. Peterson is next at .457, and the other senior leaders, Tabaczka and Poortenga are hitting above .300.
“We have super strong leadership from these senior athletes,” Tiesworth said. “We’re definitely led by it, and we have four sophomores on the roster that want to follow suit and play college softball.”
The Trojans are 17-2, with the losses coming on doubleheader days when Cavanaugh pitched just one of the two games.
One of the defeats was to West. Cavanaugh tossed a perfect game in the opening 3-0 win, and the second game was called in the seventh inning because lightning as West led 11-9 at the Trojan Athletic Complex.
The Trojans are looking forward to a possible rematch with the Titans in a District pairing. The District will be hosted by West and also includes Alpena and Marquette.
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Traverse City Central pitcher Piper Cavanaugh, left, and catcher Grace Cary pose for a photo together while making Os for Oregon and Ohio State. (Middle) The Trojans’ dugout celebrates during a game. (Top photo courtesy of Pattersnap. Middle photo by Jan Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle.)
Grosse Pointe South Shortstop Fearless, Tireless on Field, Brilliant in Classroom
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
May 13, 2022
That Shannon Dame won't go on to play scholarship softball at the college level won't have a bearing on the impact she's had on the program at Grosse Pointe South the last four seasons.
And besides, playing softball collegiately was Plan B. Plan A has always been deciding what university would offer Dame the best opportunity academically. While Dame is a darn good softball player, few can match her accolades as a student.
Dame never has earned less than an A in high school, sports a 4.44 GPA, scored a 35 (out of 36) on the ACT and a 1560 (out of 1600) on the SAT. Dame didn't miss a question in mathematics and science, which makes perfect sense. She has been accepted at the University of Michigan and will enter the school of engineering with plans to major in biomedical engineering. She earned a partial academic scholarship to U-M and also was awarded a National Merit Scholarship.
“I took a bunch of AP (advanced placement) science courses (at South),” she said. “I just love math and science. I always have.”
Athletically, Dame played three sports (softball, basketball, volleyball) before concentrating on softball and her academics beginning with her junior year.
From the first day as a member of coach Bill Fleming's varsity team, Dame has shown a willingness to do whatever it takes to be the best player and teammate she could possibly be. Whether that meant staying after practice to work on her fielding or mentoring younger players, like sophomore second baseman Lilly Stidham, Dame has given her all.
“I was aware of her before (her freshman season),” Fleming said. “She was the quietest kid I'd ever known. It was 'yes coach' or 'no coach,' and that was it. Even then she'd come to practice early, and she'd stay late. She's very focused. She's a person who if you tell her something once you wouldn't have to say it again.
“What sets her apart is that she works so hard. She's constantly asking me to stay after practice to hit her ground balls. She's made herself a better player. I've coached football, wrestling and softball since the mid-90s, and through all of those years and teams I've coached she's worked harder than any player I've had.”
Dame started at second base as a freshman before Fleming moved her to shortstop and the leadoff spot last season. COVID-19 led to the cancelation of the 2020 season, but Dame was able to play travel ball during that summer.
She batted .481 last season and was hit by pitches 20 times, placing her second on the MHSAA record book single-season list. She's currently batting .512 with an on-base percentage of .596, with 18 runs scored despite missing six of South's 22 games. On April 21 in a game against Port Huron, Dame suffered a knee injury that caused some consternation.
“There was a pop up and we had some miscommunication,” she said. “I reacted to the ball coming down, and when I went for it my knee kind of twisted.
“It was pretty nerve-racking. I waited five days for the (MRI) results and had to wait two or three more to get cleared (to play). It's a bone bruise. It's getting better, and I don't feel (the pain) much now.”
Dame credits hitting coach Molly Clexton with her improvement at the plate. Dame has the tendency to crowd the plate – thus all of hit-by-pitches – and Clexton encouraged her to back off a bit. This and other tips have made Dame one of the top leadoff hitters in the Macomb Area Conference.
“(Clexton) helped me with the bat angle,” Dame said. “I wasn't always quick with my hands, and she helped me with my bat speed. And she really helped me with my confidence. I was nervous as a freshman. Even my friends noticed a difference with me at the plate.”
Every player had to deal with the COVID season, and Dame just tried to make the best of it.
“I'd play catch with my brother (Brian), my dad or my mom,” she said. “My parents bought me a net so I could practice hitting in the backyard. Even though I missed that (sophomore) season, I did play travel during the summer. With that extra time I was able to work on my hitting. It was the part of my game that I was lacking in confidence.”
While many players might have taken a step back after missing out on 2020, Dame displayed tremendous improvement heading into her junior year.
“She's fearless,” Fleming said. “She doesn't give any of the plate away. She's not a slap hitter. She's disciplined. What she does is use what we call a quick bunt. As a right-hand hitter, she wants to get out of the box quickly. She's a singles and doubles hitter, and she told me this year she wants to hit a home run.”
Another goal is to win an MHSAA Division 1 District title. Dame has not been a part of a District-winning team, and to accomplish that South most likely would have to defeat its biggest rival, Grosse Pointe North. South has had an up-and-down season but sits 13-9 after losing to Warren Regina on Thursday.
“We're a good team,” Dame said. “As a team, we need to get our heads into the game. We've made too many mental mistakes.”
Dame does plan to continue playing the sport in Ann Arbor. She hopes to join U-M's club program.
Tom Markowski primarily covered high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. He also is a former correspondent and web content director for State Champs! Sports Network. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Grosse Pointe South shortstop Shannon Dame prepares to defend her side of the infield. (Middle) Dame has started for the Blue Devils since her freshman year. (Below) Dame stands in ready for the next pitch. (Photos courtesy of the Grosse Pointe South softball program.)