![Gaylord’s Aubrey Jones throws to first Thursday as Milan’s Tierra Ronayne slides into second base.](/sites/default/files/2024-06/240613_D2s_2H.png)
Gaylord, Vicksburg Post Semifinal Shutouts to Set Up Title Game Rematch
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2024
EAST LANSING – Gaylord possessed one of the most productive offenses in MHSAA history entering Thursday’s first Division 2 Semifinal.
The top-ranked Blue Devils showed no signs of a power failure in securing a spot in Saturday’s Final.
Gaylord scored in four of the seven innings in a 9-0 victory over Milan at Secchia Stadium.
The reigning Division 2 champion has recorded more than 400 RBIs this season and has outscored its last four postseason opponents by a combined 48-4.
“We just prepare really hard in practice and put a lot of time in,” Blue Devils coach Ron Moeggenberg said. “The offense is very good. We hit the long ball, and we can play short game. We do a little bit of everything, so it’s very special.”
Gaylord hopes to repeat Saturday when it faces Vicksburg in a rematch of last year’s Final. First pitch is at 12:30 p.m.
Senior shortstop Aubrey Jones was one of four Blue Devils to have multiple hits against Milan. She started and ended the scoring.
Jones’ RBI single in the first inning gave Gaylord a 1-0 lead, and her two-run blast in the sixth capped the win.
“It’s all about my team, and I'm just glad I could do something for my team,” Jones said. “I knew I would get one eventually because my (at) bats before that were decent. Just getting my pitch and doing what I could with it to help my team get a few more runs on the board.”
Senior hurler Jayden Jones, who scattered six hits through seven innings and struck out four to earn the shutout win, also had two hits.
Addison Wangler went 2-for-3, while Nora Bethuy registered two hits and scored two runs.
“No one trains like we do,” Aubrey Jones said. “We are very deliberate in our practice, and it shows up with the confidence we have at the plate because we know if we don't do it then the person behind us will.”
Kennedy Wangler cleared the bases with a two-out double in the third inning, and Gaylord went ahead 4-0.
The Blue Devils tacked on two more runs in the fourth.
“We said once we got past their pitcher the first time through we would start going after that,” Moeggenberg said. “It’s kind of the way it's been, and not at any time was I nervous about what was going on in the beginning. I knew we would prevail.”
Timely hitting also has been a trademark of Gaylord throughout the season.
“We’ve done a lot of that this year with two outs,” Moeggenberg said. “I’m not surprised that the girls just stayed focused. Our approach with two outs is the same as no outs. We don’t put any pressure on ourselves.”
This was Milan’s second trip to the Semifinals.
“Their defense was just phenomenal,” Big Reds coach Kirk Davis said. “We didn’t get too many strong hits, and they were able to field everything. We have a good pitcher (Mariah Stines) and she usually is able to shut people down, but their offense is good and they hit a lot of balls in the gaps. It was tough.”
Vicksburg 4, North Branch 0
Vicksburg was motivated to get another opportunity to play for the Division 2 championship.
The No. 4 Bulldogs (37-7) will get another crack at the team that spoiled their title hopes a year ago. Gaylord won last year’s Division 2 Final matchup 8-3.
“We've worked all year for this,” Vicksburg senior pitcher Delaney Monroe said. “We said last year that we wanted to get back to this point, and now we are back here and it's the best feeling in the world.
“It was a hard time last year with that loss, and having the opportunity to be back here against that team is even better – to have the opportunity to get them back.”
Vicksburg coach Paul Gephart didn’t want to use the word “revenge,” but he’s hopeful for a different outcome with eight returning starters from last year’s run.
“It's a new year, it’s a new season and, obviously, it's going to be a challenge,” he said. “They are extremely good, and they've been ranked No. 1 the entire year and rightfully so. They’ve earned it, and they've deserved it until someone can upset them. Hopefully we will be the ones to do it.”
Vicksburg took an early 3-0 lead in top of the second inning by taking advantage of two North Branch errors and a hit batsman.
The Bulldogs manufactured another run in the fifth with a bunt single by Madison Diekman, a hit batsman and a fielder's choice.
“Offensively we didn't hit like we normally would, but I think we capitalized on their mistakes and we took advantage of the opportunities that they presented us to score,” Gephart said. “Delaney always pitches pretty well here at the end since she's been healthy, and our defense is always pretty solid. We don’t make a whole lot of mistakes defensively.”
The Bulldogs managed only five hits, but Monroe kept the Broncos off the scoreboard with six strikeouts. She didn’t walk a batter and scattered five hits.
North Branch (15-20) came in as the only team in the Semifinals with a sub-.500 record, but won eight straight before Thursday’s season-ending defeat.
Senior ace Alana Deshetsky kept her team in the game with seven strikeouts and only one walk. She allowed only five hits and two earned runs.
“I stacked our schedule, and we played a lot of top-notch teams,” Broncos coach Alyssa Welling said. “I don’t think we won a game in May, but I knew we had the talent and I knew we could do it.
“We had one bad inning, and in the game of softball one bad inning can really put you south, but we weren't even supposed to make it out of Districts. People didn't have us winning Districts or getting out of Regionals, so we are so grateful to be here and we put in the work to be here.”
PHOTOS (Top) Gaylord’s Aubrey Jones throws to first Thursday as Milan’s Tierra Ronayne slides into second base. (Middle) Vicksburg’s Brooklynn Ringler (4) slides into second during her team’s Semifinal win.
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Preview: Welcoming Contenders New & Old
June 13, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Among Michigan’s smallest high school powers, this season’s MHSAA Softball Tournament has rolled along much as expected.
But among the bigger schools, it’s been three weeks of surprises as we head into the season’s final weekend at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium.
While the top-ranked and No. 2 teams in both Division 3 and Division 4 are among 16 semifinalists taking the field this weekend, the Division 1 and 2 brackets have seen upset after upset – with No. 3 Escanaba in Division 2 the highest-ranked contender left in those respective fields, and a pair of unranked teams also in the mix.
See below for a schedule of this weekend’s games, plus glances at all 16 teams that will take the field beginning Thursday.
Semifinals – Thursday
Division 1
Warren Regina vs. Caledonia, 10 a.m.
Howell vs. Hartland, 12:30 p.m.
Division 2
Dearborn Divine Child vs. South Haven, 3 p.m.
Escanaba vs. Eaton Rapids, 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday
Division 3
Sanford Meridian vs. Millington, 10 a.m.
Clinton vs. Coloma, 12:30 p.m.
Division 4
Rogers City vs. Coleman, 3 p.m.
Unionville-Sebewaing vs. Centreville, 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 $8 per round and include admission to baseball games those days also at MSU’s Old College Field. Radio broadcasts of all games can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All games will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV and viewable on subscription basis. Click to order tickets in advance and for a parking map.
All statistics below are through Regionals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
CALEDONIA
Record/rank: 27-6, No. 7
Coach: Tom Kaechele, 17th season (364-192-2)
League finish: Second in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2015.
Players to watch: Samantha Gehrls, sr. P/IF (19-2, 1.30 ERA, 192 K, .495 hitting, 13 HR, 47 RBI); Taylor Cross, jr. C/3B (.433, 36 RBI); Abby Mitchell, soph. OF (.468, 11 HR, 36 RBI), Emmalee Hamp, soph. IF/P (.426, 11 2B, 31 RBI, 5-3 pitching, 2.89 ERA).
Outlook: Caledonia has come full circle as Gehrls starred as a freshman when the team made its only other Semifinal appearance. She was an all-stater in 2017 and will continue next season at Grand Valley State. The Fighting Scots have outscored their postseason opponents 36-3 over six games, giving up no more than a run despite facing honorable mentions Mattawan, Lowell and Jenison. Junior second baseman Ashley VanZytveld (.378, 40 R) is a strong starter at the top of the lineup and earned an all-state honorable mention last spring.
HARTLAND
Record/rank: 32-5, No. 9
Coach: Bob Greene, fourth season (110-43)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold
Championship history: Class A champion 1996.
Players to watch: Madelin Skene, sr. 3B/P/1B (.484, 19 2B, 14 HR, 69 RBI, 9-0 pitching, 1.76 ERA); Sam Nagel, jr. OF/3B (.504, 14 2B, 45 RBI); Rachel Everett, fr. P/1B (18-4, 1.65 ERA, 148 K); Bri Robeson, sr. 2B (.431, 48 R)
Outlook: Hartland has enjoyed two straight walk-off wins, over honorable mention South Lyon and top-ranked Clarkston, respectively, to reach its first Semifinal since the championship season of 1996. The Eagles also own an early-season sweep of No. 10 Howell, its Semifinal opponent. Skene has been the star of a dangerous lineup; eight regulars are hitting .345 or higher, and freshman shortstop Delaney Robeson joins Everett among impressive first-year players hitting .443 with 44 RBI.
HOWELL
Record/rank: 29-10, No. 10
Coach: Ron Pezzoni, fourth season (129-33-1)
League finish: Second in KLAA Gold
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Sydney Pezzoni, sr. OF/IF (.482, 29 RBI); Avery Wolverton, fr. P/IF (.443 6 HR, 55 RBI, 9-2 pitching, 2.12 ERA); Maddie Springer, fr. C/IF (.413 29 RBI); AJ Militello, jr. OF/IF (.408 8 HR, 44 RBI, 18 SB).
Outlook: Howell has been building toward this first Semifinal appearance since 2008. One more win would give the Highlanders at least 30 all four seasons under Ron Pezzoni, to go with a fourth straight District title. Militello and Sydney Pezzoni earned all-state honorable mentions last season. Sophomore Molly Carney has been the ace, heading into this week 18-8 with a 2.66 ERA and 198 strikeouts.
WARREN REGINA
Record/rank: 25-7, unranked
Coach: Diane Laffey, 48th season (1,130-467-5)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2015).
Players to watch: Melina Livingston, sr. 3B (.489, 15 HR, 33 RBI); Maria Muglia, jr. P/C/1B (13-2, 2.06 ERA, 108 K, .480 hitting, 50 RBI); Leah Munson, jr. SS (.490, 26 RBI); Miranda Nicholas, fr. IF/P (.500).
Outlook: The winningest coach in MHSAA history has Regina back at Finals weekend with an upset of No. 2 New Baltimore Anchor Bay coming along the way. Livingston made the all-state team last season and is one of five senior hitters in the starting lineup. Second baseman Meghan Berlin (.462, 31 RBI) and outfielder and Megan Ross (.443) are among other senior standouts.
Division 2
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
Record/rank: 22-9, unranked
Coach: Regina Dunn, third season (57-35)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Championship history: Class B champion 1975, Division 2 runner-up 1998.
Players to watch: Angela Dunn, sr. SS/2B/3B/OF (.511, 40 RBI); Maddie Zang, jr. P/1B (14-4, 2.22 ERA, 149 K); Katie Connolly, sr. 3B/1B/OF (.571, 15 2B, 39 RBI); Kerstin Hamann, sr. 2B/3B/1B (.500, 41 RBI).
Outlook: Divine Child also made the Quarterfinals the last two seasons but this week broke through to earn a first Semifinal appearance since 1998 with an extra-inning win Tuesday over No. 7 Richmond. Five seniors anchor the starting lineup, and seven regulars hit at least .346. The Falcons played possible championship game opponent Escanaba to a 4-1 loss near the end of the regular season, one of a number of prep games that should have them ready for this weekend’s tough competition.
EATON RAPIDS
Record/rank: 36-6, honorable mention
Coach: Scott Warriner, 14th season (458-107-4)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1981.
Players to watch: Grace Lehto, soph. P (23-4, 1.62 ERA, 237 K, .520 hitting, 18 2B, 11 HR, 60 RBI); Morgan Vanderwall, soph. RF (.385, 31 RBI, 14 SB); Shelby Kunkel, fr. OF (.411, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 30 SB); Peyton Benjamin, soph. CF (.421, 15 2B, 56 R, 36 SB).
Outlook: Eaton Rapids has dominated Lansing-area competition over the last decade and has a chance on the statewide stage thanks to its first Regional title since 1981. And this could be just the start: All but two of the nine starting hitters are underclassmen. Seven regulars entered the week batting .322 or better, and the Greyhounds as a team also had 157 stolen bases in 175 attempts. Senior shortstop Aubrie Benward (.322) can pitch too; she was 11-2 with a 1.96 ERA entering the week.
ESCANABA
Record/rank: 29-3, No. 3
Coach: Jamie Segorski, fourth season (129-18)
League finish: Does not play in a conference for softball.
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2003.
Players to watch: Lexi Chaillier, jr. OF (.511, 6 HR, 24 SB); Taylor Gauthier, sr. SS (.411, 14 2B, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 11 SB); Gabi Salo, soph. P (18-3, 0.41 ERA, 253 K); Claire McInerney, sr. 2B (.483, 12 2B, 16 SB).
Outlook: Escanaba will make its third straight Semifinal appearance after falling to Richmond both of the last two. The Eskymos have outscored their five postseason opponents by a combined 47-2 – against a group including No. 8 Muskegon Oakridge and honorable mention Saginaw Swan Valley. Salo, just a sophomore, was all-state in 2017 and has committed to play collegiately for Wisconsin. She has a loaded lineup supporting her; in addition to those mentioned above, five others are hitting at least .371, with senior Madison Griffin at .408 with 40 RBI and freshman Nicole Kamin hitting .567 with 10 stolen bases in limited varsity at bats.
SOUTH HAVEN
Record/rank: 31-8, honorable mention
Coach: Wilma Wilson, 29th season (707-346)
League finish: Third in Wolverine Conference
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1977-79.
Players to watch: Hayley Kreiger, sr. P (27-5, 2.01 ERA, 232 K, .526 hitting, 14 2B, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 26 SB); Anna Bocock, sr. 1B (.381, 26 RBI); Jordyn Holland, fr. OF (.359, 41 R, 19 RBI); Haley Mines, sr. 2B (.379, 19 RBI).
Outlook: South Haven is one of the most intriguing stories of this tournament as it heads to its first Semifinal since 1982. The Rams emerged as the last team standing from a Wolverine Conference that also included No. 5 Three Rivers and talented Vicksburg, and they advanced to this week by upsetting top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore in the Regional Final. For an encore, South Haven handed No. 2 Spring Lake its first and only loss of this season in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal. Seven starters hit at least .312 entering this week, while Kreiger has starred at the plate and in the circle.
Division 3
CLINTON
Record/rank: 37-1, No. 3
Coach: Kim Phillip, sixth season (185-36)
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Renee Hoffman, sr. P (26-0, 0.77 ERA, 258 K, .550 hitting, 22 2B, 39 RBI, 17 SB); Rilee Szczesniak, jr. SS (.514, 55 R, 31 RBI, 31 SB); Libbi Fair, fr. C (.513, 12 2B, 57 R, 56 RBI, 24 SB); Payton Hernandez, jr. 2B/P (.392, 11 2B, 46 RBI, 8-1 pitching).
Outlook: Clinton eliminated both of last year’s finalists – No. 5 and reigning champ Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and honorable mention Napoleon – at the Regional, then got past No. 7 Allen Park Cabrini in the Quarterfinal. The team’s only loss this spring came to honorable mention Adrian Madison, by a run. Hoffman and Szczesniak both made the all-state team in 2017, and the Redskins have made this first Semifinal run since 2014 despite losing all-state honorable mention outfielder Briana Johnson to an injury.
COLOMA
Record/rank: 36-3, No. 2
Coach: Wendy Goodline, 19th season (513-198-1)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Megan Koenigshof, soph. SS (.601, 62 R, 37 SB); Morgan Wagner, sr. C (.519, 18 2B, 55 R, 52 RBI, 21 SB); Kayla Yore, sr. CF (.434, 58 R, 14 2B, 44 RBI, 18 SB); Skylar Crisenbery, sr. P (17-2, 1.45 ERA, .364 hitting, 29 RBI).
Outlook: Coloma is playing in its third Semifinal in seven seasons (and first since 2014) after falling to Napoleon in a high-scoring Quarterfinal a year ago. An experienced crew is ready to push for its first championship: Crisenbery and Yore made the all-state team last season, while Wagner, Koenigshof and senior Jaidyn Hutsell, (.411, 11 2B, 40 RBI) earned honorable mentions. Nothing should surprise the Comets this weekend – they own wins over Division 2 top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore and Division 1 honorable mention Mattawan.
MILLINGTON
Record/rank: 38-2, No. 1
Coach: Greg Hudie, eighth season (223-88)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference East
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Sydney Bishop, jr. C (.512, 8 HR, 42 RBI); Gabbie Sherman, jr. P (25-2, 0.80 ERA, 220 K, .481 hitting, 11 2B, 51 RBI); Lean Denome, jr. CF (.481, 12 2B, 58 R, 45 RBI, 16 SB); Darrien Roberts, soph. RF (.470, 59 R, 14 2B, 10 HR, 61 RBI).
Outlook: Millington has been in the mix with three straight Regional titles and its first Semifinals appearance in 2016, but this group is especially intriguing with no seniors and tons of firepower. Bishop and Sherman earned all-state honorable mentions last season and help pace a team that is a combined 111-12 over the last three seasons. Sophomore first baseman Madi Hahn adds another big bat at .426 with 10 homers, and all nine starting hitters are batting .364 or higher. The Cardinals have outscored five playoff opponents by a combined 57-3.
SANFORD MERIDIAN
Record/rank: 27-14, honorable mention
Coach: Jamie Smith, 18th season (record N/A)
League finish: Second in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Class B champion 1987, Class C runner-up 1983.
Players to watch: Mya Hall, (.448, 10 2B, 14 SB); Baleigh Hill, jr. 1B (.438, 11 2B, 37 RBI); Ally Sutton, fr. 2B (.363, 21 RBI, 13 SB); Peyton Grice, jr. P (15-10, 2.34 ERA, 109 K, .311 hitting, 11 2B, 33 RBI).
Outlook: Meridian will play in its first Semifinal since 1997, and despite entering the tournament with seven straight losses – albeit those mostly to ranked teams in Divisions 1 and 2 as the Mustangs tuned up for the playoffs. The nonleague schedule was loaded to start the spring as well, and facing that level of competition has paid off. Hall earned an all-state honorable mention last season and helps lead a team that is graduating only two starters and three seniors total. Smith has more than 400 career wins over 28 seasons coaching, including a decade at Midland Bullock Creek before coming to Meridian.
Division 4
CENTREVILLE
Record/rank: 34-6, No. 10
Coach: Scott Logan, fourth season (92-31)
League finish: First in Southwest 10 Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: MaKenzi Troyer, jr. SS (.414, 57 R, 14 2B); Joanna Larsen, soph. 3B (.595, 11 HR, 73 RBI, 65 R), McKenzie Sheteron, soph. 2B (.469, 63 R, 13 2B, 51 RBI); Hannah Duchene, soph. P (10-3, 1.34 ERA, .555 hitting, 13 2B, 66 RBI).
Outlook: Centreville is back at the Semifinals for the first time since 2011, advancing with a Quarterfinal win over reigning runner-up Ottawa Lake Whiteford and a Regional Final victory over No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian – an impressive showing for a team with only two seniors and 10 underclassmen. The lineup is loaded with seven hitters batting at least .410 – sophomore centerfielder Kenleigh West-Wing (.466), sophomore catcher Jaedan Blades (.461) and sophomore leftfielder Olivia Deeds (.410) are also part of that group. There are pitching options as well; Duchene is expected to start, but senior Emma Russell was 11-1 entering the week, and Sheteron was 7-2.
COLEMAN
Record/rank: 29-9, No. 2
Coach: Chad Klopf, ninth season (205-86)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2005.
Players to watch: Jaden Berthume, jr. 3B/P (.512, 46 RBI, 8-2 pitching, 1.40 ERA); Faith Barden, sr. P/1B (18-6, 1.85 ERA, 212 K, .407 hitting); Autumn Tubbs, sr. SS (.487, 10 2B, 41 RBI, 13 SB); MacKenzie Miller, jr. 2B (.411, 51 R).
Outlook: Coleman won its fourth straight Regional title and will play in its second straight Semifinal, with Barden a returning all-stater from a year ago. Tuesday’s 1-0 Quarterfinal win over Frankfort was easily the closest of the tournament for the Comets; they won their other four games by a combined 45-3. Eight regulars were hitting at least .303 entering the week, with junior centerfielder Makailyn Monson (.374, 18 SB, 52 R) a strong starter at the top of the lineup and junior outfielder Annabelle Bovee (.390, 11 2B, 42 RBI) another big bat driving runs home.
ROGERS CITY
Record/rank: 32-5, No. 1
Coach: Karl Grambau, 16th season (435-156)
League finish: First in North Star League
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2014, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Hannah Fleming, sr. 3B (.479, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 52 R); Jayna Hance, jr. 2B/P (.480, 59 R, 18 2B, 14-3 pitching, 2.89 ERA,); Kayla Rabeau, sr. SS (.550, 62 R, 10 2B, 44 RBI); Taylor Fleming, jr. 1B (.494, 11 HR, 51 RBI).
Outlook: After falling to Indian River Inland Lakes in Quarterfinals the last two years, Rogers City got past its nemesis in the Regional Final and back to the Semifinals for the second time in five seasons. Hannah and Taylor Fleming, Rabeau and Hance all were all-state selections a year ago and lead a team that has lost only once to a Division 4 team – in a split with No. 6 Onaway. Eight regulars hit at least .302 entering the week, and sophomore Kyrsten Altman (16-2, 2.21 ERA) is expected to start in the circle with Hance another great pitching option.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 31-8, honorable mention
Coach: Isaiah Gainforth, second season (62-18)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West.
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2007), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Maci Montgomery, fr. C (.500, 11 2B, 36 RBI, 11 SB); Katie Engelhardt, sr. P/1B (.496, 21 2B, 6 HR, 62 RBI); Rylee Zimmer, jr. SS (.463, 14 2B, 11 3B, 41 RBI, 12 SB); Brianna Osantowske, sr. LF (.391, 12 2B, 45 RBI, 11 SB).
Outlook: USA won an incredible 15th straight Regional title over the weekend and will play in its 12th Semifinal in 13 seasons after falling in the Quarterfinal a year ago. Engelhardt two-hit No. 8 Waterford Our Lady on Tuesday so help her team advance. She earned an all-state honorable mention last season, as did Zimmer and Osantowske. Junior Delanie Pavlichek hit the game-winning grand slam Tuesday and adds another big bat (.397), and senior Lauren Adam (.376) leads things off and had 28 steals in 31 attempts entering the week. USA also has wins this season over Division 3 No. 1 Millington and honorable mention Sanford Meridian and Division 2 honorable mention Saginaw Swan Valley.
PHOTO: Escanaba’s Taylor Gauthier (32) rounds second base on her way to third during Tuesday’s Quarterfinal win over Saginaw Swan Valley. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)