Highlight Reel: Division 1-2 Softball Semifinals
June 12, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
The first sessions of MHSAA Softball Semifinals were played Thursday at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University. Caledonia and Warren Regina in Division 1 and Frankenmuth and Wayland in Division 2 advanced to Saturday’s championship games.
Click the headings below for highlights from all four Semifinals broadcasts on MHSAA.tv.
Division 1
Caledonia 5, Farmington Hills Mercy 2
Miller Triples For Caledonia Caledonia extended its lead on Farmington Hills Mercy with two runs in the fifth inning, the first coming home on this triple by Ashley Miller.
Butgereit Blasts One McKenzie Butgereit hits a solo home run for Caledonia in the sixth inning.
Have Mercy! An Inside The Park Homer! Farmington Hills Mercy scored its two runs in the sixth on this inside-the-park home run by Nicole Belans.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Warren Regina 7, Mattawan 1
Wildcats Score First Mattawan broke through with the game's first run in the fourth inning when Amber Mazahem delivered an RBI single.
Saddelites Take The Lead Warren Regina took the lead with two runs in the top of the first inning, the second coming on an RBI single by Riley Hison.
Hison Hits The Gap For Two Riley Hison drove in two more runs in a five-run fifth inning for Warren Regina.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 2
Frankenmuth 4, Carleton Airport 0
Wright Helps Her Own Cause Frankenmuth scores first on this third inning RBI single by pitcher Amariah Wright, driving in Ivy Holland.
Eagles Pull Off Double Steal The second run in the third inning for Frankenmuth came on a double steal with Makenzie Sipes scoring.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Wayland 11, St. Clair 0 (5 inn.)
Houck Ignites Big Wildcat Inning Wayland scored seven runs in the fifth inning against St. Clair, the first coming on this RBI double by Hailey Houck.
Wayland Doubles Its Pleasure Wayland got back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the fifth inning against St. Clair off the bats of Morgan Winger and Leigha Morse.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Unionville-Sebewaing Softball Ties Finals Record with 5th-Straight Championship
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
June 15, 2024
EAST LANSING – Leave it to standout senior catcher Gabby Crumm to ensure her school’s spot in the state record books.
Unionville-Sebewaing was doing its thing in Saturday’s Division 4 championship game, slowly pulling away from first-time finalist Holton – until Crumm stepped up to the plate in the fourth inning.
Crumm launched one of her signature shots over the centerfield wall, a two-run homer that keyed a six-run inning for the Patriots, who then cruised to an 11-1 victory in six innings at Secchia Stadium.
It was USA’s fifth straight Finals championship, dating back to pre-COVID in 2019, and tying the record for consecutive titles with Kalamazoo Christian, which won five Division 3 titles in a row from 1996 to 2000.
“It’s really bittersweet right now,” said Crumm, a four-year starter at catcher who will play at Saginaw Valley State. “USA softball has meant everything to me, and it’s shaped me in so many different ways.
“I’m sad that it’s over, but it couldn’t have ended in a better way.”
USA, which finished 31-11 and was the top-ranked team in Division 4 entering the postseason, showed its experience in the first inning – getting girls on base and putting the pressure on Holton using two hits and two errors to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
The lead would stay that way until the fourth inning, when USA’s tremendous senior class stepped up and put the game away.
Shortstop Ella Neumann ripped a two-run single, which led the Red Devils to change pitchers. Crumm followed up right after Neumann with her long blast over the centerfield wall to effectively put the game out of reach.
“We struggled a little bit in the beginning, but then we cleaned it up,” said 10th-year Holton coach Kirk Younts, whose team did not have an error after the first inning. “They are a great team, and they know how to hit. We tried to mix up our pitching on them, but it just didn’t work.”
Holton (29-13-1), which was playing in its first softball championship game and looking to win the first softball Finals title for a Muskegon County school, managed just three hits against Patriots sophomore Olivia Greene.
Greene fooled the Red Devils all game with her rise ball, striking out 10.
Greene also showed her skills at the plate, ending the game with a shot to right-centerfield which actually hit the top of the fence and bounced back into play. Even though it wasn’t a home run, it scored senior Jenna Gremel to give the Patriots a 10-run lead and clinch the title.
Gremel, who with Crumm was a four-year varsity player and four-time champion, finished with two RBIs. Senior leadoff hitter Rylie Benson was 2-for-3, and Neumann had two hits and two RBIs.
USA coach Marc Reinhardt, who finished his second season as head coach but has been around the program for many years, said it never gets old winning a state championship.
“No, it’s always a thrill,” said Reinhardt, who is assisted by Matt Prime, Tommy Betson and Bree Gordon. “I am so glad that this particular group of seniors was able to go out on top. There will be other talented players coming in, but this was a very special group.”
PHOTOS (Top) USA teammates welcome Gabriella Crumm (1) after her home run Saturday at Secchia Stadium. (Middle) Emma Monette (9) drives a pitch for the Red Devils. (Below) Erin Jubar (6) rounds third base while Holton’s infielders await a throw.