Millington Run Unprecedented, Unforgettable
June 27, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
When they were younger, “they weren’t the best,” Millington softball coach Greg Hudie admitted Thursday in recalling the group that became the core of his varsity the last four seasons.
But these Cardinals made themselves into so much more. While all championship teams are memorable, this one will remain unforgettable for what it accomplished this spring.
Millington – after falling just short in finishing Division 3 runner-up a year ago – returned to Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium two weekends ago and this time left with the school’s first MHSAA championship in any sport.
The MHSAA/Applebee’s “Team of the Month” for June was one of two title winners during the 2018-19 school year – joining the Ypsilanti Lincoln boys basketball team – to win the first Finals championship in school history.
“Just being the first state championship in our school is pretty remarkable,” Hudie said. “No matter how many we have now, it’s pretty cool that everybody will remember it. If it’s 50 years from now, and we have 10 state championships, this was still the first one. And the group of girls we did it with was very awesome as well, very good all-around – academically, athletically, a really tight family team.”
Millington finished 38-2-1 this spring, capping a four-year run at 150-16-1 with four league, District and Regional titles, three Semifinal appearances and this first championship.
The District title won in 2016 actually was the program’s first, and that year’s postseason run to the Semifinals helped set the tone for a freshman class that would become nearly unstoppable by the end of their careers.
Pitcher Gabbie Sherman, catcher Sydney Bishop, infielders McKenna Slough and Hannah Rabideau and outfielders Elizabeth Bees, Leah Denome and Samantha Ayotte all finished as four-year varsity players. Sherman, Bishop, Slough and Denome started the entire way (Rabideau was slated to do the same but was injured that first season). Current juniors Darrien Roberts and Madi Hahn joined the varsity as freshmen in 2017 when the team’s run ended in the Quarterfinals. Shortstop Sabrina Gates earned a starting job as a freshman in 2018 and then-sophomore Neveah Hendricks moved into the outfield as the team came within a 7-6 championship game loss to Coloma from claiming a first title.
This spring, with all of those players back and freshman Trinity Fessler taking over an outfield spot, Millington blasted through the regular season losing only to eventual Division 1 semifinalist Clarkston and Division 2 semifinalist Eaton Rapids, while defeating back-to-back Division 2 champion Escanaba. The Cardinals outscored their seven postseason opponents by a combined 56-4, closing with an 11-0 shutout of Marine City in the Quarterfinal, 7-1 win over Standish-Sterling in the Semifinal and 8-0 clincher over Schoolcraft in the championship game.
The build-up began long before high school. During elementary, Sherman was the first to start playing higher-level travel ball in the surrounding area. But around the time her class was playing 10-and-under, she and her family decided to play on a team with the other Millington girls – and as the pitcher she was able to carry the load while they were learning the game.
In fact, the team jokingly recalls now how Bishop nearly didn’t make that 10U squad. But Hudie said his catcher has worked harder than anyone he’s coached during a decade leading the program – and by sophomore year she’d earned all-state honorable mention.
This team rewrote the school’s record book, and the home run category is maybe the best example of what these seniors brought to the program. Millington would hit about five home runs a year during Hudie’s first six as coach – then had 44 in 2016, followed by 28, 38 and this spring 48. Bishop broke a decades-old record with 14 homers as a freshman, and Roberts blasted 18 to break the record this spring.
Roberts, Denome, Rabideau, Bishop and Sherman made the Division 3 all-state first team this season. Hahn joined those five on the all-Tri-Valley Conference East first team, with Slough and Gates making the second.
Sherman will continue her career at Kent State, while Denome will play next at Spring Arbor, Rabideau at Mott Community College and Bees at Rochester College. Bishop, who graduated with the GPA over 4.0, had a number of softball scholarship offers and will try to walk on at Oakland University.
“It will be hard to duplicate. Hopefully we can keep it going. … Obviously these girls were paving the way,” Hudie said. “We had a couple of girls before them, had a couple scattered (over more classes), and obviously freshman year they didn’t get to the Semifinal just on their own. But this group kinda showed how to stay together, how to put work in together, and I think that helped the program out most.
“Just showing five or six awesome girls who are willing to put in the time together in the weight room, in the batting cage (what they can accomplish). That really taught our program, our younger girls, and that’s neat.”
Past Teams of the Month, 2018-19
May: Gladstone boys track & field – Read
April: Garden City baseball – Read
March: Holland West Ottawa boys swimming & diving – Read
February: Lowell wrestling – Read
January: Farmington United gymnastics – Read
December: Warren Woods-Tower wrestling – Read
November: Rochester Adams girls swimming & diving – Read
October: Leland boys soccer – Read
September: Pickford football – Read
August: Northville girls golf – Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Millington’s players raise their first MHSAA Finals championship trophy in school history June 15 at Secchia Stadium. (Middle) The Cardinals’ Leah Denome rounds first base after one of her four hits in the title game. (Below) Millington poses with its trophy and in front of the Secchia scoreboard after its championship win.
Finals Preview: History Awaits
June 12, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Half of the 16 teams making the trip to this weekend's Softball Finals at Battle Creek's Bailey Park are seeking their first MHSAA championship.
Seven of those teams hope to play in a title game for the first time. Five teams – Linden, Dundee, Holton, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett and Ubly – won their first Regional titles and had never played during the season's final week until winning Quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The last rounds begin with the Division 3 Semifinals at 10:30 Friday morning. Below is this weekend's schedule, followed by a look at each team that will be playing.
Semifinals - Friday
Division 1
Bay City Western (36-2) vs. Garden City (27-7), 3:30 p.m.
Romeo (33-8) vs. Mattawan (33-8), 4 p.m.
Division 2
Linden (31-4) vs. Saginaw Swan Valley (30-9), 6 p.m.
Livonia Ladywood (32-9) vs. Tecumseh (31-5-3), 6:30 p.m.
Division 3
Holton (27-9) vs. Unionville-Sebewaing (36-3), 10:30 a.m.
Allen Park Cabrini (29-5) vs. Dundee (43-1), 11 a.m.
Division 4
Kalamazoo Christian (31-7) vs. Rogers City (33-6), 1 p.m.
Ubly (26-6) vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (31-7), 1:30 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Division 1 – 3 p.m.
Division 2 – 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 – 10 a.m.
Division 4 – 12:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $7 per round or $15 for an all-tournament ticket that includes admission to baseball games. Radio broadcasts of all Semifinals can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All Finals will be streamed live online at MHSAA.tv, with radio broadcasts again available on the MHSAA Network website.
All statistics below are through at least the regular season, with most through teams' Regionals or Quarterfinals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
BAY CITY WESTERN
Record/rank: 36-2, No. 3
Coach: Rick Garlinghouse, ninth season (287-73-2)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hannah Leppek, jr. P/1B (23-1, 0.97 ERA, 212 K pitching, .485, 38 RBI); Meredith Rousse, jr. SS (.521, 12 2B, 28 RBI), Kaylynn Carpenter, jr. CF (.450, 12 2B, 41 RBI), Haley Bickham, sr. C (.426, 42 RBI).
Outlook: Bay City Western is back in the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons and with a team that should continue to dominate as it will graduate only three players. Their losses came against rival Bay City Central by a run and then to Division 3 No. 10 Reese, but the Warriors otherwise dominated their competition and beat No. 2 Grandville 1-0 in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal. Eleven hitters are batting at least .308 this spring.
GARDEN CITY
Record/rank: 27-7, unranked
Coach: Barry Patterson, 27th season (641-245)
League finish: First in Western Wayne Athletic Conference Blue
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2008, Class A runner-up 1991.
Players to watch: Rachel Bommarito, jr. P/OF (13-2, 3.88 ERA, 59 K pitching, .480, 26 RBI, 45 R); Katlyn McIntosh, jr. 2B (.439, 11 2B, 42 R), Kaylen Glenfield, fr. SS (.434, 44 RBI), Abby Joseph, soph. 3B (.400, 42 RBI).
Outlook: Despite graduating 11 from last season’s team, Garden City is back in Battle Creek for the second straight and fourth time in eight years – and could be poised for another trip in 2014 with only two seniors and just one in the starting lineup. Offense has been a strong point: The Cougars have scored at least 10 runs in 15 games this season, including twice during the tournament.
MATTAWAN
Record/rank: 33-8, honorable mention
Coach: Alicia Smith, 13th season (350-153-1)
League finish: Third in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2011, runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Allie Havers, sr. P/SS (22-5, 1.09 ERA, 231 K pitching, .364, 39 RBI); Kyla Nickrent, jr. SS/2B (.419, 52 R, 17 SB); Abby Stoner, sr. 1B (.408, 12 HR, 40 RBI); Sarah Johnson, sr. 3B (.376, 31 R, 24 RBI, 15 SB).
Outlook: Six players, including the top four in the lineup, also started as Mattawan fell 2-1 to Hudsonville in 10 innings in last season’s Final. The Wildcats will try to make it three straight championship game berths and two titles in three seasons, and have seen many of the state’s best already this season. Mattawan owns a win over No. 10 Romeo, another over Division 2 No. 1 Stevensville Lakeshore and a pair over Division 2 No. 2 Livonia Ladywood – and then beat Division 1 No. 1 Portage Central and No. 8 Saline during the tournament.
ROMEO
Record/rank: 33-8, No. 10
Coach: Dave McIntyre, fourth season (107-29)
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Taylor Weaver, jr. P (29-2, 0.75 ERA, 291 K pitching, .432, 30 RBI); Danielle Szajna soph. 1B (.424, 37 R, 9 HR, 56 RBI); Kayla Noch, soph. SS (.404, 16 2B, 35 RBI); Morgan Gardner, fr. 2B (.392, 16 2B, 42 R).
Outlook: Romeo has arrived – perhaps a little earlier than expected, given there are only two seniors but four underclassmen in the starting lineup. The Bulldogs have won District titles in three of four seasons under McIntyre, and began this spring with a win over eventual No. 1 Portage Central. Romeo also owns wins against semifinalists Garden City and Livonia Ladywood.
Division 2
LINDEN
Record/rank: 31-4, unranked
Coach: Gordon Jamison, fourth season (74-100)
League finish: Second in Flint Metro League
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Maija Satkowiak, sr. CF (.532, 36 R, 34 RBI); Molly Sherman, jr. P (18-1, 1.73 ERA pitching, .505); Savannah Weaver, sr. SS (.442, 37 R, 30 RBI); Bri Senter, sr. 3B (.440, 25 R, 11 SB).
Outlook: Linden has made substantial progress under Jamison, finishing 9-28 but winning its District in his first season, then going 12-22 in 2011 before building a combined 52-22 record over the last two years. Five seniors make up most of the top and middle of an experienced lineup that upset No. 3 Wayland 10-8 in the Regional Final.
LIVONIA LADYWOOD
Record/rank: 32-9, No. 2
Coach: Scott Combs, sixth season (205-40)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2012, runner-up 2009.
Players to watch: Andria Gietl, sr. 1B; Celeste Fidge, sr. 3B; Lauren Hayes, jr. OF; Haley Lawrence, jr. SS. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: It might’ve looked like the end of Ladywood’s recent run with the graduation of standout pitcher Briana Combs after last season’s MHSAA title. But the Blazers have returned to Battle Creek in part on the arm of freshman Rosalyn Price and have four starters back from last season’s Final (see those listed above). And Ladywood does have a Bailey Park-tested pitcher if needed – Hayes was the unlikely hero last season, closing out the Semifinal and throwing a shutout in the Final after Combs was injured.
SAGINAW SWAN VALLEY
Record/rank: 30-9, No. 7
Coach: Tom Kennelly, 34th season (990-254)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Central
Championship history: Class B champion 1996, three runner-up finishes (most recent 2012).
Players to watch: Sarah Addy, jr. 2B (.508, 41 R, 42 SB); Reegan Flattery, jr. C (.477, 34 R, 26 RBI); Courtney Reinhold, jr. P/1B (20-4, 0.67 ERA, 177 K pitching, .370, 4 HR, 32 RBI); Paige Churchfield, soph. C/1B (.413, 3 HR, 37 RBI).
Outlook: After coming within a win of its first MHSAA championship in 17 seasons, Swan Valley has returned with a strong young nucleus that got experience during last season’s run. Reinhold has shined in taking over as the main pitcher, and junior centerfielder Kelli Halvin is hitting .430 as the top hitter among those who joined the lineup this spring. The Vikings began this run with a 3-1 win over No. 8 Bullock Creek in the District opener.
TECUMSEH
Record/rank: 31-5-3, honorable mention
Coach: Jeff Nowak, first season (31-5-3)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Championship history: Division 2 champions 2008 and 2007, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Kelsea Kaliszuk (.584, 36 R, 39 RBI); Kylie Hill (.466, 31 R, 37 RBI), Kelsey Rendell (.463, 36 R, 17 2B, 9 HR, 48 RBI); McKenzie Rowe (.424, 48 R, 13 SB).
Outlook: The Indians’ 5-1 win over No. 1 Stevensville Lakeshore in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal might’ve been the stunner in the state that day, but maybe shouldn’t have been as surprising considering the teams Tecumseh also has beaten this spring – including Division 1 No. 4 Sterling Heights Stevenson, honorable mention Clarkston and Semifinalist Garden City. Four other regulars are hitting at least .333, and senior Emily Maves and junior Kayla Kormos had combined for a 28-2 pitching record and 1.87 ERA entering this week.
Division 3
ALLEN PARK CABRINI
Record/rank: 29-5, No. 4
Coach: Debbie Norman, 16th season (414-71)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League AA
Championship history: Division 4 champions 2007 and 2006, Division 3 runners-up 2010 and 2008.
Players to watch: Paige Altherr, sr. P (26-5, 2.29 ERA, 145 K pitching, .440, 40 RBI); Sydney Lankford, sr. 3B (.407, 36 R, 4 HR, 45 RBI); Ashley Gordon sr. 1B/P (.400, 43 RBI); Lily Ranspach, soph. SS (.391, 28 RBI); Abbey Walewski, sr. CF (.386, 46 R, 11 SB).
Outlook: Cabrini just missed a trip to Battle Creek last season, losing to eventual champion Clinton 2-1 in a Quarterfinal. The Monarchs eliminated two ranked opponents during this run, No. 8 Grass Lake in the Regional Semifinal and No. 10 Reese on Tuesday. Seven seniors anchor the starting lineup and key an offense that boasts an overall batting average of .355.
DUNDEE
Record/rank: 43-1, No. 1
Coach: Mickey Moody, third season (101-20)
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hannah Rachor, sr. SS; Vanessa Ewing, sr. P (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: The Vikings’ longest run has included beating reigning two-time champion Clinton in the Regional Semifinal and two wins by double-digit runs. Dundee's regular-season success included a sweep of Clinton and victories over Division 1 honorable mention Hartland and Division 2 honorable mention Flat Rock. The only loss was 2-1 to Onsted; Dundee has given up more than two runs only three times and never more than four runs.
HOLTON
Record/rank: 27-9, unranked
Coach: Jeremy Hartwick, fourth season (82-59)
League finish: Third in Central State Activities Association
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Ashley Friend, soph. C (.446, 29 RBI, 39 R); Jacki Stone, soph. SS (.429, 13 2B, 35 R, 45 RBI, 19 SB); Rachel Younts, soph. P (22-6, 1.34 ERA, 173 K pitching, .356, 30 RBI, 36 R); Cassidy VanBlargan, sr. 1B (.316, 35 R, 14 SB).
Outlook: A group of six sophomore starters helped Holton to its first Regional title and no doubt has set a foundation for similar runs over the next two seasons. The Red Devils have won 10 of their last 11 and like to create havoc on the base paths – six players have stolen at least 10 bases this season. The District title two weekends ago was the team’s second straight after a 9-21 finish in 2011.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 36-3, No. 3
Coach: Steve Bohn, second season (76-8)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Three championships (most recent 2009 in Division 4), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Stephanie Neuman, jr. 2B (.510, 44 R, 16 2B, 5 HR, 35 RBI); Chelsey Bitzer, sr. 1B (.495, 43 R, 4 HR, 38 RBI); Breanna Dinsmoore, soph. 3B (.495, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 51 R); Erica Treiber, soph. P (17-2, 0.49 ERA, 160 K pitching, .427, 32 R).
Outlook: USA is returning to Bailey Park for the eighth straight season, and six starters also were in the lineup in last season’s Semifinal loss to eventual champion Clinton. Senior Ashlyn VanHoost is an all-state catcher and hitting .438 with 33 RBI as another of seven regulars batting at least .400. USA hasn’t given up a run in the postseason, outscoring its opponents – including No. 5 Gladstone in the Quarterfinal – by a combined score of 59-0. Freshman Nicole Bauer is 16-1 with a 0.53 ERA sharing pitching duties with Treiber.
Division 4
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 31-7, No. 4
Coach: Ted Alpert, fifth season (85-50)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Angela Evangelista (.531, 54 R, 35 SB); Emma Nicholas (.465, 41 R, 7 HR, 46 RBI); Anna Majewski (.448, 14 2B, 43 R, 47 RBI); Ashley Tengler (16-4, 1.71 ERA pitching, .478).
Outlook: University Liggett has improved its win total every season under Alpert. The Knights have outscored their postseason opponents by a combined 51-2, and their wins this spring include a sweep of honorable mention Waterford Our Lady, a Quarterfinal victory over honorable mention Concord and a 4-2 win over No.3 Rogers City. All nine regulars are hitting at least .394, and freshman Emily Kanakry is 10-0 sharing pitching duties with Tengler.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 31-7, No. 1
Coach: Karla Reno, fourth season (114-41)
League finish: First in Kalamazoo Valley Association
Championship history: Six championships (most recent 2002 in Division 3), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Tori Sides, jr. CF (.461, 41 R, 17 SB); Stephanie VanderLugt, sr. P/IF (16-4, 1.57 ERA, 136 K pitching, .434, 40 RBI, 15 2B); Rebekah VanDam, jr. P/3B (14-3, 1.29 ERA, 117 K pitching, .370, 33 RBI); Morgan Locker, jr. SS (.322, 36 R).
Outlook: Kalamazoo Christian is making its first trip back to Bailey Park since its most recent championship run of 2002. The Comets have continued to justify their top ranking over the last two weeks, eliminating No. 7 Decatur in the Regional and No. 5 Gobles on Tuesday. They’ve seen some of the best in Michigan regardless of division and own wins over Division 1 No. Portage Central and Division 2 No. 10 Coloma.
ROGERS CITY
Record/rank: 33-6, No. 3
Coach: Karl Grambau, 11th season (273-121)
League finish: First in Straits Area Conference
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 2004).
Players to watch: Sarah Meredith (.522, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 32 R); Logan Fleming (.476, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 47 R); Cassie Brege (.455, 34 R); Nikki Radke (12-4, 2.88 ERA pitching).
Outlook: Rogers City is back at Bailey Park for the first time since 2004, and has succeeded on one of the toughest roads to get here with postseason wins over No. 6 Onaway, No. 8 Posen and No. 10 Rapid River. Depth is a strength – the team is batting .397 with every regular hitting at least .310. And Grambau can turn to a few pitching options with Radke the top thrower followed by senior Brooklyn Idalski (10-2, 2.82 ERA) and sophomore Alexa Quaine (8-0, 2.44).
UBLY
Record/rank: 26-6, unranked
Coach: Courtney Dekoski, third season (52-29)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference East
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Michela Guza, soph. P/2B (14-3, 1.81 ERA pitching, .495, 15 2B 46 R, 29 RBI); Maria Guza, sr. SS (.459, 32 R, 26 RBI); Kari White, jr. LF (.400, 37 R); Alyssa Briolat, sr. C (.400, 37 R, 26 RBI); Marisa Guza, soph. RF (.400, 28 R).
Outlook: A group of four seniors have led Ubly to its first Semifinals, with the run including three shutouts in the District tournament. The Bearcats can score in bunches; the team has a batting average of .359 and has scored 10 runs or more in 17 games this season. Senior Marie Wolverton starts at second base but also is 10-3 pitching this spring.
PHOTO: Ubly players celebrate their winning run in Tuesday's Quarterfinal against Portland St. Patrick; the win advanced Ubly to the Semifinals for the first time. (Click to see more at HighSchoolsSportsScene.com.)