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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.)
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Preview: Familiar Contenders, New Home
June 11, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend, for the first time, the MHSAA Softball Semifinals and Finals will be played at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium.
But although the tournament’s new stage might be unfamiliar to most, many of the 16 finalists should feel at home playing in championship-deciding games.
Reigning Division 4 winner Kalamazoo Christian is back for more, as are 2013 Division 1 runner-up Bay City Western and Division 3 runner-up Unionville-Sebewaing. Clinton, Gladstone and Livonia Ladywood all played in MHSAA championship games in 2012.
For the first time as well, Semifinal play will begin Thursday and continue Friday with all four Finals on Saturday. Below is this weekend's schedule, followed by a look at each contender.
Semifinals – Thursday
Division 1
Portage Central (41-3) vs. Utica Ford (30-8) - 10 a.m.
Romeo (31-7) vs. Bay City Western (39-3) - Noon
Division 2
Wayland (42-1) vs. Livonia Ladywood (28-13) - 3 p.m.
Croswell-Lexington (30-1) vs. Stevensville Lakeshore (33-9) - 5 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday
Division 3
Gladstone (28-2) vs. Coloma (34-9) - 10 a.m.
Unionville-Sebewaing (39-0) vs. Clinton (34-4) - Noon
Division 4
Vestaburg (27-8) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (27-16) - 3 p.m.
Fowler (26-6) vs. Rogers City (32-6) - 5 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1 - 11:30 a.m.
Division 2 - 9 a.m.
Division 3 - 5 p.m.
Division 4 - 2:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $7 per round or $15 for an all-tournament ticket that includes admission to baseball games. Radio broadcasts of all games can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All games will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV and viewable on subscription basis.
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: 39-3, No. 4
Coach: Rick Garlinghouse, 10th season (324-77-3)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley Association North
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2013.
Players to watch: Hannah Leppek, jr. P (32-1, 0.70 ERA, 290 K, .507 16 2B, 13 HR, 58 RBI); Meredith Rousse, jr. SS (.549, 61 R, 12 2B, 46 RBI), Kaylynn Carpenter, jr. CF (.508, 51 R, 10 2B, 49 RBI), Blair Miller, jr. LF (.441, 41 R, 25 RBI).
Outlook: Bay City Western is back in the Semifinals for the third time in four seasons and after its first championship game appearance a year ago – it fell just shy of the MHSAA title, losing 2-1 to Mattawan after leading through five innings. The Warriors graduated only three players after 2013, with Leppek a returning all-stater and Rousse and Carpenter honorable mentions last season. Western has won 20 of its last 21 games, with its only losses this season to honorable mention Clarkston, Division 2 No. 6 Bullock Creek and Division 3 No. 7 Sanford Meridian.
PORTAGE CENTRAL
Record/rank: 41-3, No. 3
Coach: Tom Hamilton, first season of second tenure (75-7)
League finish: First in Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference East
Championship history: Class A champion 1977, runner-up 1975.
Players to watch: Lea Foerster, sr. OF; Gina Verduczo, sr. P (Stats not submitted.).
Outlook: Portage Central eliminated reigning Division 1 champ Mattawan (9-2) during the District tournament and is in the Semifinals for the first time since 2009. Its only losses were early to Mattawan, then to Division 2 No. 1 Wayland and Division 2 No. 4 Stevensville Lakeshore – although Central beat Lakeshore in the other five games the teams played against each other this spring. Foerster and Verduczo were all-staters last season. Hamilton formerly coached the team in 2010 and also coached Portage Northern to championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
ROMEO
Record/rank: 31-7, No. 2
Coach: Dave McIntyre, fifth season (138-37)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Taylor Weaver, sr. P (24-1, 0.60 ERA, 261 K, .469); Danielle Szajna jr. 1B (.440, 23 R, 23 RBI); Kayla Noch, jr. C (.430, 14 2B, 27 RBI); Morgan Gardner, soph. SS (.463, 32 R, 32 RBI, 16 2B).
Outlook: After falling by just a run to eventual champion Mattawan in last season’s Semifinal, Romeo has stormed back to Finals weekend with wins over No. 1 Canton, No. 6 Lake Orion and No. 9 Fenton during the tournament. Weaver and Szajna were all-staters last season and Gardner was an honorable mention, and total the top six hitters from that Semifinal lineup are the same as what should take the field this weekend – including centerfielder Geordin Craun at the top and third baseman Erin Barg in the six spot.
UTICA FORD
Record/rank: 30-8, honorable mention
Coach: Matthew Joseph, fourth season (86-42)
League finish: Third in MAC Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Gabby Schefka, sr. C; Alex Sorgi, jr. CF/P; Nikki Sorgi, fr. P/IF (Stats not submitted.).
Outlook: Utica Ford is making its first Semifinal appearance after making its first Quarterfinal just a season ago. Schefka and Alex Sorgi earned all-state and honorable mention, respectively, in 2013 and have keyed the team’s taking the next step – they and Nikki Sorgi also fill the top three spots in the lineup. Ford has increased its win total every season since Joseph took over the program.
Division 2
CROSWELL-LEXINGTON
Record/rank: 30-1, No. 9
Coach: Bob Young, eighth season (196-70)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Megan Guitar, jr. P (21-1, 1.77 ERA, 179 K, .392, 4 HR, 41 RBI); Kylee Barrett, sr. SS (.446, 8 HR, 37 RBI); Rebecca Oden, fr. OF (.392).
Outlook: Croswell-Lexington’s lone loss was late to Utica, and it stormed back by outscoring two District opponents by a combined 31-6 and then edging Frankenmuth and No. 8 Saginaw Swan Valley to win its first Regional championship. The Pioneers have been on the verge, however, with this their fifth straight season with at least 30 wins and fourth in five seasons winning their District. All nine starting hitters are batting at least .330.
LIVONIA LADYWOOD
Record/rank: 28-13, No. 7
Coach: Scott Combs, seventh season (236-53)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2012, runner-up 2009.
Players to watch: Haley Lawrence, sr. SS (.420, 46 R, 18 2B, 39 RBI); Erika Selakowski, soph. 2B (.410, 41 R, 21 2B, 57 RBI); Hallea Garcia, sr. 1B (.415, 40 R, 22 2B, 8 HR, 58 RBI); Christina Meyer, jr. OF (.402, 55 R, 31 RBI, 10 3B, 48 SB); Rozlyn Price, soph. P (240-8, 2.60 ERA, 235 K).
Outlook: Ladywood is making this a regular trip, heading to the Semifinals for the fourth straight season and fifth in six years. Lawrence is a returning all-stater and Selakowski earned an honorable mention last season, and they are big bats in a lineup that earned valuable experience during last season’s run. So did Price, who also earned all-state honorable mention after pitching the Blazers into the Semifinals as only a freshman.
STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE
Record/rank: 33-9, No. 4
Coach: Denny Dock, 25th season (834-168-1)
League finish: Second in Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Haley Thibeault, sr. P/IF (26-6, 1.09 ERA, 210 K, .471, 14 2B, 10 HR, 57 RBI); Julia Carpenter, soph. CF (.413, 22 SB);. Alex Forsythe, sr. SS (.375, 52 RBI).
Outlook: Lakeshore has won five Regional titles in six seasons and is back in the Semifinals for the first time since winning back-to-back Division 2 titles in 2010 and 2011. The Lancers returned by avenging last season’s Quarterfinal loss to Tecumseh, the eventual champion last spring. Thibeault was an all-state second baseman a year ago but has taken over the majority of pitching duties in addition to leading the team in hitting.
WAYLAND
Record/rank: 42-1, No. 1
Coach: Cheri Ritz, 19th season (636-129)
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2006.
Players to watch: Sam Merren, sr. OF (.500, 12 2B, 37 SB, 48 RBI); Mallory Teunissen, jr. P (34-1, 1.09 ERA, 252 K, .313); Sierra Mutschler, sr. SS (.523, 16 2B, 11 HR, 83 RBI); Britt McLain, sr. C (.432, 22 SB, 36 RBI).
Outlook: Wayland is back in the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons with an all-state pitcher in Teunissen – but also a talented lineup averaging 12 runs per game. Merren, Mutschler and McLain all also were all-staters a year ago, and they are only three of seven regulars hitting .400 or higher. Mutschler’s RBI qualify as fourth-most for one season in MHSAA history. The Wildcats have won 39 straight games since falling to Hudsonville Unity Christian in their only loss, and have given up only five runs during the tournament including a 7-0 shutout of Unity Christian in the Quarterfinal.
Division 3
CLINTON
Record/rank: 34-4, honorable mention
Coach: Kim Phillip, second season (65-10)
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (2011 and 2012), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Ashleigh Donahey, soph. DH/DP (.500, 55 R, 18 SB, 35 RBI); Kristin Forest, sr. 3B (.477, 52 R, 12 HR, 16 2B, 67 RBI); Elizabeth Barkel, sr. 1B (.454, 36 R, 33 RBI, 12 SB); Megan Burton, soph. P (21-3, 1.34 ERA, 120 K).
Outlook: After missing the Semifinals last season, Clinton is back for the fifth time in six seasons and first time under Philip, who formerly coached Saline and was the assistant at Clinton before taking over the program a year ago. The Redskins are especially strong on the base paths, with 94 stolen bases in 102 attempts entering the week. Only an honorable mention in the final coaches poll, Clinton earned an 8-0 win over No. 10 Napoleon in the Regional Final to highlight this run.
COLOMA
Record/rank: 34-9, honorable mention
Coach: Wendy Goodline, 15th season (389-158-1)
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference West
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Makenzie Moody, sr. C (.381, 6 HR, 40 RBI); Jenna Faultersack, jr. SS (.418, 56 R, 10 2B, 22 SB); Emily Najacht, sr. P (25-7, 0.97 ERA, 266 K, .378, 39 RBI).
Outlook: Coloma is making its second Semifinal appearance in three seasons after winning its third straight District title and playing in Division 2 last season; the Comets beat No. 8 Springport 6-2 in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal to return. Coloma prepared by facing many of the best from the Kalamazoo area during the regular season, earning a win over Division 4 Semifinalist Kalamazoo Christian and falling to Portage Central, Stevensville Lakeshore and out-of-area Lake Orion among larger ranked opponents. Faultersack was a Division 2 all-stater last season, and Najacht earned an honorable mention.
GLADSTONE
Record/rank: 28-2, No. 3
Coach: Ashley Hughes, first season (28-2)
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2009), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Jess Beaudry, sr. 1B (.353, 20 RBI); Tinner Sharon, sr. P/3B (.458, 12 SB, 18-1 pitching, 0.92 ERA, 160 K); Lexi Hongisto, jr. SS (.532, 31 RBI, 13 SB).
Outlook: Gladstone has played in the MHSAA Final three of the last 10 years, also finishing runner-up in 2012 and champion in 2004, and won its 12th straight Regional last week. First-year coach Hughes was part of a Quarterfinals team as a player in 2003 and took over this spring after three seasons as an assistant. The Braves have given up only three runs during the tournament, and not more than one in any game. Beaudry was an all-state selection last season.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 39-0, No. 1
Coach: Steve Bohn, third season (116-9)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Three championships (most recent 2009 in Division 4), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Stephanie Neuman, sr. 2B (.513, 14 2B, 6 HR, 39 RBI); Breanna Dinsmoore, jr. C (.404, 35 RBI); Erica Treiber, jr. P/1B (.514, 14 2B, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 17-0, 0.07 ERA, 173 K); Allison Hoppe, sr. CF (.417, 22 RBI, 11 2B).
Outlook: USA is making its ninth straight trip to the MHSAA Semfinals after finishing runner-up a year ago. That ERA for Treiber is not a typo – she’d given up only one earned run in 98 innings entering the week, and again teams with sophomore Nicole Bauer (19-0, 0.50 ERA) for an impressive 1-2 pitching punch. Adding in the 10-1 win over No. 9 Reese in the Quarterfinal, USA has beaten its tournament opponents by a combined score of 53-2. Neuman, Dinsmoore and Treiber all are returning all-staters.
Division 4
FOWLER
Record/rank: 26-6, unranked
Coach: Kat Schmitt, fourth season (career record N/A)
League finish: Second in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Tori Wirth, jr. SS; Sydney Feldpausch, jr. P (Stats not submitted.).
Outlook: Fowler is making its first trip to the Semifinals since 1997 after winning its first Regional title since 2002. The Eagles took on their share of larger schools in preparation for the tournament, with wins over Lansing Everett and Eastern, Lake Odessa Lakewood, Owosso and Haslett among others – and the playoff run included a 5-1 Quarterfinal win over No. 7 Westland Huron Valley Lutheran. Wirth earned an all-state honorable mention as a sophomore.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 27-16, No. 8
Coach: Terry Reynolds, first season (27-16)
League finish: First in Kalamazoo Valley Association
Championship history: Seven championships (most recent 2013), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Tori Sides, sr. CF (.521, 54 R, 24 SB); Rebekah VanDam, sr. P (18-10, 2.94 ERA, 183 K, .366, 34 RBI); Morgan Locker, sr. SS (.368, 11 2B, 47 R, 34 RBI); Kara Gjeltema, soph. C (.523, 13 2B, 10 HR, 62 RBI).
Outlook: Kalamazoo Christian’s record might seem a little off for a reigning champion returning to the Semifinals, but it also took regular-season cuts against a number of larger opponents including Division 1 or 2 ranked Portage Central, Stevensville Lakeshore and Portland and honorable mention Parchment. Former Schoolcraft and Kalamazoo Hackett coach Reynolds took over the program this spring and inherited a number of standouts from last season’s run including returning all-stater Sides.
ROGERS CITY
Record/rank: 32-6, No. 4
Coach: Karl Grambau, 12th season (303-128)
League finish: Second in North Star League
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 2004).
Players to watch: Sarah Meredith, soph. C (.536, 14 HR, 62 RBI); Logan Fleming, jr. 3B (.545, 15 2B, 8 HR, 45 RBI); Morgan Hall, sr. 1B (.529, 11 2B, 34 RBI); Courtney Streich, sr. SS (.441, 10 2B, 36 RBI).
Outlook: Rogers City is making its second straight trip to the Semifinals with an experienced lineup that makes it hard to pick who should stand out most. In addition to those mentioned above, junior second baseman Alexa Quaine is hitting .515 with 14 doubles and 39 RBI and also is 14-2 pitching with a 1.88 ERA. Centerfielder Cassie Brege (.362, 25 RBI) joined Meredith and Fleming among all-staters last season, when Streich received an honorable mention. Senior Nikki Radke (16-4) returns as the team’s leading winner in the circle. Rogers City beat No. 3 Posen and No. 10 Rapid River during this run and reigning champion Kalamazoo Christian during the regular season.
VESTABURG
Record/rank: 30-8, No. 6
Coach: Dan Rons, 10th season (258-97)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference.
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1980.
Player to watch: Jannelle Rons, sr. P (20-2, 1.46 ERA, 143 K, .557, 62 R, 16 2B, 14 3B, 11 HR, 85 RBI); Shana Fisk, sr. 2B (.379, 52 R, 28 SB); Karigan Gates, sr. C (.487, 37 R, 46 RBI, 13 2B).
Outlook: Vestaburg made its first Quarterfinal appearance Tuesday since 2007 and is back in the Semifinals for the first time since 1986. The Wolverines defeated an impressive field to return, including No. 9 Coleman, No. 5 North Muskegon and then No. 2 Ubly on Tuesday. Jannelle Rons was an all-state pitcher last season and is one of seven seniors.
PHOTO: Kalamazoo Christian’s Rebekah VanDam connects with a pitch during last season’s Finals weekend in Battle Creek. Her team is the reigning Division 4 champion.