Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets - Vol 2
By
Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian
February 9, 2017
By Ron Pesch
Special for Second Half
A picture may be worth a thousand words – but often, we can learn as much from a traveling trophy, game ticket, and even an old megaphone.
Michigan’s high school sports history is more than a century old and filled with legends passed on of games, teams and athletes and the roles they played as our communities rolled forward toward present day. Following up last year’s “Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets,” we present a second chapter highlighting artifacts that tell some of those stories.
|
1909 |
Saginaw vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill |
Football Trophy |
This bronzed football was the original used in the 1909 Thanksgiving Day contest played between Saginaw High and Saginaw Arthur Hill, and won by Saginaw, 5-0 at Burkart Park. In 1948, the ball was stylized into a trophy by the Letterman’s Associations of the rival schools, designed to travel between schools as the reward for winning the annual contest. When the Lumberjacks of Arthur Hill ripped off 24 straight victories beginning in 1971 (the teams played twice in 1974), ownership of the trophy was mostly forgotten. When talk of closing Saginaw High School mounted, the trophy was placed on display at Saginaw’s Castle Museum, then donated to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.
According to Jeffrey Cottrell, the multi-media specialist at the Historical Society of Saginaw County, when plans to close Saginaw High did not materialize, “it was decided amongst the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and the Arthur Hill Letterwinners Association that it was time to put it back into use. This past fall, the Sports Hall of Fame awarded the trophy to Saginaw High when they beat Arthur Hill 40-0.”
Going forward, the Letterman's Trophy will continue to be presented to the winner of the football game between the Trojans and the Lumberjacks.
|
1921 |
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Flint Central |
Football Program |
A crowd of 2,500 was on hand for this contest as Detroit Cass Tech downed Flint Central, 34-20, in an aerial battle between the squads. The Detroit Free Press arraigned for a special interurban run, with special railcars earmarked for Cass Tech students interested in attending the Saturday game at Flint. Between 200 to 300 made the trip to cheer their team to victory.
Flint Central completed 14 of 34 passes for 176 yards, but was intercepted on six occasions. Cass Tech arms were accurate on only 7 of 24 attempts for 160 yards, with four interceptions, but two completions went for touchdowns of 18 yards and 50 yards. A third pass of 35 yards helped set up the visitor’s first score. Bruno Murkobred, Cass Tech’s speedy quarterback, was the star of the contest, scoring three of his team’s five touchdowns.
|
1939 |
Kalamazoo Central vs. Battle Creek Central |
Basketball Program |
This tattered memento, from a scrapbook kept by historian Dick Kishpaugh, illustrates the modest design of a high school basketball program back in 1939. Likely created by the high school print shop, this single sheet, printed specifically for distribution at the game, features autographs gathered by its owner. Wes Clark, one of the names captured on the cover, led Battle Creek Central with 10 points, including a pair of buckets in the final minute to secure a 27-26 win by the Bearcats.
Newspaper reports from the time indicate that halftime of the contest would feature “a table tennis exhibition between Helen Van Dyke of Flint, four-time state champion, and Floyd Painter, Battle Creek champion.” Miss Van Dyke was a sophomore at Olivet College at the time.
|
1940 |
Lansing Eastern vs. Lansing Central |
Football Program |
This is the program cover from the 13th annual Football Classic between the Quakers of Eastern and the Big Reds of Central. Fans were requested to “refrain from making unnecessary noise as they drive away from the stadium … due to the nearness of Sparrow Hospital.”
At the time of the 1940 contest, Lansing Central led the series with six wins against five defeats. The series featured a single tie, a 6-6 result in 1935.
Eastern’s 1940 squad, coached by Walter Graff, was able to knot the series at six wins apiece with a thrilling 7- 6 victory over the crosstown rivals, coached by Al Bovard.
The 16-page document was hand set and printed by the Eastern and Central High School Vocational Printing Classes, and included rosters, messages from the two school principals and athletic directors, as well as comments from each member of the coaching staffs, team captains, student council presidents and numerous team members from each school with their views on the game. Of course there is a photograph of each high school football team, but also photos of each band, their directors, and a list of the band members for both Eastern and Central. Finally, there are photos of the Eastern and Central Yell Leaders, nine for the Quakers and six for the Big Reds.
It is a true work of art.
|
1950 |
Central Michigan College Relays |
Track Medal |
More than 2,300 athletes from 97 high schools descended upon Mt. Pleasant for the Tenth Annual Central Michigan Relays. Ecorse in Class B and Flint School for the Deaf in Class D earned team titles on Friday, May 5th while on Saturday, the 6th, Flint Northern and Milan won Class A and Class C, respectively. Six event records fell during the two-day event, three in the broad jump.
This medal, honoring a member of the winning Class C sprint relay team, was awarded at the event. The winning team, and therefore, the name of the individual awarded the medal, remain a mystery.
|
1962 |
Saginaw Sacred Heart |
Megaphone |
As at the majority of schools across the state at the time, athletic competition against other schools was not an option for Gloria Groll and her female classmates during her days as a student at Saginaw Holy Rosary High School. So, from the fall of 1959 until her graduation with 27 other students in the spring of 1962, she was a cheerleader for the Greyhounds. This beautiful megaphone, donated by Groll to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame, is a memento from those times.
Holy Rosary was one of nine Catholic high schools operating in the Saginaw area in the 1950s and 1960s. Population shifts from the cities to the suburbs over the coming years would impact enrollment figures at schools nationally. In Saginaw, the opening of the Buena Vista School District in 1956 directly impacted Holy Rosary. In 1970 the school closed. A year later only three schools – SS Peter and Paul, St. Mary and Saginaw St. Stephen – remained. In 1984, those schools were consolidated to form Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central.
|
1963 & 1930 |
Grosse Pointe St. Paul |
League Trophies |
On the left, we find the trophy awarded to Grosse Pointe St. Paul's after winning the 1963 city championship. Bob Martin, a 6-foot-6 junior who earned first division all-Catholic honors, scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 55-46 upset-victory over Detroit Pershing. The game was played at University of Detroit Memorial before 6,979 spectators. It was the first time since 1958 that the Catholic League won the annual matchup with the champions of the Public School League.
To the right is the trophy awarded to St. Paul for winning the first golf tournament of the South Michigan Catholic High School League. The school's four golfers shot 710 over 36 holes on the day, 69 fewer strokes than second-place Detroit St. Rose. Played at Clinton Valley, the event saw Bill Beaupre win individual honors with a total of 158, including 76 in the morning. His cousin and teammate, Harold Beaupre, finished second with 169, while Peter Bononis of Detroit Holy Name was third with 171 strokes.
|
1965 |
Fennville vs. Kalamazoo Hackett |
Ticket Stub |
This ticket stub from a doubleheader hosted at Western Michigan University’s Read Fieldhouse on February 18, 1965 was the first chance for many to witness lightning in a bottle. A capacity-plus crowd of 9,100 fans slid through the gate to watch a rumor.
The antics of 5-foot-7½ guard Richie Jordan had been talked about around the Kalamazoo area, but few had actually seen him play. His skills were on full display on this Thursday night, as he netted a fieldhouse scoring record with 49 points in a come-from-behind 76-72 win over a much taller team from Kalamazoo Hackett. Jordan’s output during the evening’s second game eclipsed the 45 points Manny Newsome scored for Western Michigan University against Toledo, just over a year before.
The evening hadn’t started well. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, “Jordan hit only six of his 13 field shots in the first half and threw the ball away eight times. Trailing Hackett by 17 points, 50-33, with two minutes to play in the third quarter, the Blackhawks were able to cut the deficit to 13, 60-47 as the teams entered the final frame.
Quickly, everyone in the fieldhouse knew who was getting the ball during the comeback attempt. Jordan grabbed control; with his drives for layups and “softly-arched” jump shots against intense pressure, he hit seven of nine field goals, wowing the crowd. With 2:36 to play, Jordan nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game at 72 all. Then, with 57 seconds left, the “Fennville Flash” nailed the go-ahead basket, followed by two insurance free throws to seal the win. For many, his 24 points in the fourth quarter sealed his journey from rumor to legend and, no doubt, inspired the single-sentence first paragraph of the next morning’s coverage in the Gazette.
“Yes, there is a Richie Jordan!”
(P.S. – Kalamazoo Central upset eighth-ranked Lansing Sexton, 67-57, in the evening’s opening contest).
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTO: Fennville's Richie Jordan pulls up for a jumper, showing off the form that's become iconic when recalling the high school phenom. (Photos of Letterman's Trophy and Megaphone were provided by Jeffery Cottrell, and photo of Grosse Pointe trophies was provided by Bill Roose.)
Preview: Softball Finals Filled with Opportunities for Unforgettable Finishes
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 12, 2024
Admittedly, we say this a lot. And we do so because every championship weekend has the potential to be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
But this weekend’s MHSAA Softball Finals at Michigan State are just about guaranteed to make the list.
Unionville-Sebewaing is playing to tie the record for most consecutive Finals championships, and Gaylord is playing to repeat in Division 2 and continue one of the most dominating runs we’ve seen outside of USA in some time.
But the runners-up in both of those divisions are back as well, as are the runners-up in Division 3 from the last three seasons. And Division 1 features a recent champion and its returning ace against a team that played at Secchia Stadium last year, and No. 2 vs. No. 1 in the other Semifinal.
Division 1 – Thursday
South Lyon vs. Lake Orion - 10 a.m.
Hudsonville vs. Farmington Hills Mercy - 12:30 p.m.
Division 2 – Thursday
Gaylord vs. Milan - 3 p.m.
North Branch vs. Vicksburg - 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Ottawa Lake Whiteford vs. Clare - 10 a.m.
Evart vs. Buchanan - 12:30 p.m.
Division 4 – Friday
Hillman vs. Holton - 3 p.m.
Unionville-Sebewaing vs. Mendon - 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 $11 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. One ticket is good for all baseball, softball and girls soccer games at MSU’s Old College Field that day. All Semifinals and Finals will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv, with free audio broadcasts on the MHSAA Network.
Below is a glance at all 16 teams taking the field (with statistics through Regional Finals):
Division 1
FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY
Record/rank: 38-1, No. 1
Coach: Corey Burras, fourth season (130-11)
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2016, runner-up 2002.
Players to watch: Charlie Lambert, jr. SS (.449, 43 R, 8 HR, 38 RBI); Kaitlyn Pallozzi, jr. P/1B (.396, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 28-1 pitching, 0.44 ERA, 399 K/173 1/3 IP); Sophia Chaput, soph. CF (.459, 53 R, 7 HR, 31 RBI); Kat Burras, sr. C (.520, 12 HR, 43 RBI).
Outlook: Corey Burras’ four seasons leading this program have included four league and District titles and three Regional championships, the only loss this spring coming during a split with reigning Division 2 champion Gaylord. Mercy downed No. 7 Allen Park a second time this spring in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal, and the Marlins also defeated honorable mention Livonia Stevenson during this run and No. 3 South Lyon, No. 4 Grand Blanc, No. 5 Saline and No. 6 Macomb Dakota during the regular season. Pallozzi is a returning all-state first-teamer, and Kat Burras earned honorable mention in 2023. Seven regulars hit .350 or higher, and Evelyn Miller (.425, 9 HR, 42 RBI) is another power bat in the middle of the lineup. Burras will continue at Sacred Heart in Connecticut.
HUDSONVILLE
Record/rank: 40-0, No. 2
Coach: Tom Vruggink, 43rd season (1,196-290)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2012).
Players to watch: Megan Beemer, sr. OF (.573, 72 R, 14 2B, 31 RBI, 60 SB); Elly Koopman, sr. P/1B (.448, 30 R, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 16-0 pitching, 0.89 ERA, 108 K/87 IP); Tessa Heffelbower, soph. SS (.477, 56 R, 44 RBI, 24 SB); Ava Snip, sr. P (18-0, 0.42 ERA, 191 K/116 IP).
Outlook: Hudsonville is making its second trip to the Semifinals in three seasons and has won at least 32 games all of the last four under Vruggink, the fifth-winningest coach in MHSAA softball history. Beemer and Koopman made the all-state first team last season, and junior outfielder Ava Gardner (.491, 45 runs, 42 RBI) earned an honorable mention. Freshman Lauren Luchies (.408) and junior Autumn Dennis (.380, 32 RBI) also help fill a lineup that has scored double-digit runs in 24 games. Hudsonville needed eight innings to get past honorable mention Midland in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal and also has defeated honorable mentions Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Jenison during this run. Beemer has signed with Michigan.
LAKE ORION
Record/rank: 37-5, No. 10 (tied)
Coach: Joe Woityra, 15th season (408-121-2)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Rylee Limberger, jr. P (22-4, 2.15 ERA, 210 K/153 IP, .375, 35 RBI); Ellie Britt, sr. SS (.330, 32 R, 30 RBI); Grace Luby, sr. OF (.423, 42 R, 47 RBI); Addy Dukus, jr. OF (.493, 60 R, 27 2B, 32 RBI).
Outlook: Lake Orion is making a return trip to the Semifinals after falling to eventual Division 1 champion Hartland last year. The entire starting hitting lineup is back from that team, with Limberger, Britt and senior second baseman Sydney Bell (.302, 41 runs) having earned all-state honorable mentions in 2023. Limberger is joined in the circle by junior Jada Lopez (14-0, 2.15 ERA, .387, 32 RBI), and seniors Alexis Hazen (.302), Anna Gardner (.301, 38 runs) and Maddie Eckert (.298, 27 RBI) also are returning starters. This Dragons’ run has included a pair of 5-4 championship wins – over No. 6 Macomb Dakota in the Regional and No. 9 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in the District.
SOUTH LYON
Record/rank: 33-6-1, No. 3
Coach: Dave Langlois, third season (88-25-1)
League finish: First in Lakes Valley Conference
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2021.
Players to watch: Isabelle Nooe, jr. SS (.449, 45 R, 14 2B, 34 RBI); Maggie Badrak, jr. OF (.320, 23 R); Ava Bradshaw, sr. P (.398, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 27-4, 0.66 ERA, 368 K/189 2/3 IP); Olivia Simeone, sr. 2B (.328, 12 SB).
Outlook: South Lyon won its championship with Bradshaw in the circle as a freshman and will attempt to win another as she closes her career. She missed last season with a knee injury but has returned at full power and signed with Duke along the way. The Lions shut out reigning champion Hartland 6-0 in the Quarterfinal – their fourth shutout in five tournament games – and have also defeated No. 10 Northville and No. 5 Saline during the postseason after emerging from a league that included No. 8 Walled Lake Northern.
Division 2
GAYLORD
Record/rank: 36-4, No. 1
Coach: Ron Moeggenberg, first season (36-4)
League finish: First in Big North Conference
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2023.
Players to watch: Aubrey Jones, jr. P/SS (.425, 61 R, 24 HR, 77 RBI, 19 SB, 13-0 pitching, 0.61 ERA, 110 K/69 IP); Jayden Jones, sr. SS/P (.467, 63 R, 17 2B, 13 HR, 54 RBI, 12-2 pitching, 1.49 ERA); Taylor Moeggenberg, sr. C (.380, 12 HR, 52 RBI); Braleigh Miller, sr. OF (.492, 60 R, 27 RBI, 24 SB).
Outlook: A run that began with a trip to the Semifinals in 2021 can now add a repeat championship as Gaylord brings back almost the same team that won it all last season. Taylor Moeggenberg and the Jones sisters all made the all-state first team last season, and Miller, senior Alexis Shepherd (.406, 67 runs, 55 RBI), senior Hali Lenartowicz (.352, 36 runs), junior Kennedy Wangler (.479, 41 RBI) and senior Addison Wangler (.305, 35 runs) also started last year’s Final. The team’s 399 RBI heading into this week rank fourth in MHSAA history for one season, and its 68 home runs rank second. Jayden Jones has signed with Virginia Tech, Aubrey Jones has committed to Oklahoma State, Shepherd has signed with Toledo, and four more seniors will play collegiately as well.
MILAN
Record/rank: 27-7, honorable mention
Coach: Kirk Davis, fourth season (83-33)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2011.
Players to watch: Mariah Stines, sr. P (18-4, 1.98 ERA, 182 K/137 1/3 IP, .298, 11 HR, 34 RBI); Leila Daniels, jr. C (.529, 14 HR, 41 RBI); Reese Knox, soph. SS (.438, 41 R, 11 2B, 43 RBI); Georgia Linzell, fr. OF (.434, 33 R).
Outlook: Milan is making its second trip to the Semifinals after outscoring its five postseason opponents by a combined 54-9, its only single-digit output coming in Tuesday’s 4-0 Quarterfinal victory over honorable mention Carleton Airport. That and a Regional Final win over Chelsa avenged late regular-season losses, and Big Reds also have tested themselves against Mercy and Ottawa Lake Whiteford among others. Four of the top six hitters in the lineup are seniors – including as well Hailey Knox (.363, 33 runs) – but those are the only four seniors on the team as several younger players contribute including sophomores Virginia Heikka (.390, 23 runs) and Mackenzie Chrysler (.376, 29 runs, 28 RBI).
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 15-19, unranked
Coach: Alyssa Welling, seventh season (132-79-1)
League finish: Fifth in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Alana Deshetsky, sr. P (10-7, 2.95 ERA, 225 K/152 IP, .495, 31 R, 39 RBI); Brookelynn Franklin, sr. SS (.310, 20 R); Cate Welch, sr. 1B (.486, 6 HR, 39 RBI); Ella Swoish jr. LF (.309, 30 R).
Outlook: Taking into account just its overall record, North Branch would be considered the surprise of this tournament. But the Broncos have won eight straight games including a Regional Final victory over No. 7 Goodrich, and its District Final win over Imlay City avenged a regular-season sweep. That District title was the team’s second straight and fourth under Welling. Deshetsky was a volleyball all-stater and standout on the Division 2 championship team in the fall, and all five seniors on this team start including catcher Gabby Polly (.316) as well.
VICKSBURG
Record/rank: 36-7, No. 4
Coach: Paul Gephart, 11th season (331-101-1)
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2023 and 2016.
Players to watch: Brooklyn Ringler, sr. OF (.453, 54 R, 19 2B, 50 SB); Peyton Smith, sr. 2B (.423, 44 R, 34 RBI); Maddison Diekman, sr. SS (.577, 73 R, 11 2B, 26 SB); Delaney Monroe, sr. P/3B (.447, 33 R, 16 2B, 70 RBI, 15-4 pitching, 1.90 ERA).
Outlook: Vicksburg returns all but its pitcher from last season’s Finals lineup, and Ringler, Diekman, Smith and Monroe all made the all-state first team last season. As a team, Vicksburg is hitting .407 this spring, with sophomore Kayla Chisholm (.393, 47 runs, 49 RBI) another of nine regulars hitting at least .331. Monroe and senior Audrie Dugan (16-3) have split most of the pitching starts. Vicksburg earned wins over Division 1 honorable mention Jenison and Division 3 No. 3 Buchanan toward the end of the regular season, and defeated honorable mention Edwardsburg and No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian on the way to East Lansing. Diekman has signed with Central Michigan.
Division 3
BUCHANAN
Record/rank: 35-5, No. 3
Coach: Rachel Carlson, seventh season (179-47)
League finish: First in Lakeland Athletic Conference
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2021.
Players to watch: Caitlyn Horvath, jr. CF (.504, 58 R); Hannah Herman, sr. SS (.504, 51 R, 48 RBI); Camille Lozmack, sr. 3B/P (.476, 45 R, 55 RBI, 15-1 pitching, 2.04 ERA); Hailee Kara, sr. P/IF (.375, 41 RBI, 19-4 pitching, 3.18 ERA, 145 K/141 IP).
Outlook: Herman, Lozmack and Kara were in the starting lineup as freshman for Buchanan’s first championship game and will try to lead the Bucks to their first title as seniors. Herman, Kara and Horvath were all-state first-team selections a year ago, and Herman has signed with Michigan State and Kara with Western Michigan. Buchanan defeated No. 5 Ravenna in the Quarterfinal to advance. Four more regulars entered this week hitting at least .358, with senior Faith Bartley (.444) and sophomore Aspen Berry (.397, 54 runs, 10 home runs, 46 RBI) nearest the top of the list.
CLARE
Record/rank: 36-5-1, No. 8
Coach: Shane Kelly, third season (86-28-2)
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Alissa Brandon, jr. 2B (.439, 60 R, 14 2B, 38 RBI, 18 SB); Madison Jones, jr. P (.345, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 26-4 pitching, 1.86 ERA, 250 K/188 2/3 IP); Morgan Campbell, jr. 1B (.410, 34 R, 34 RBI); Tessa Kelly, jr. SS (.403, 42 R, 11 HR, 56 RBI).
Outlook: Clare is playing in its first Semifinal since 1986, and with only two seniors may be on the verge of an extended run among the elite. The Pioneers defeated honorable mentions New Lothrop and Standish-Sterling on the way to East Lansing and are on an 11-0-1 run heading into this weekend. Freshman Breez Yarger (.415, 25 RBI) and junior Addison McMillan (.397, 55 runs, 17 doubles, 45 RBI) are also among leading hitters for a lineup averaging .366 overall.
EVART
Record/rank: 35-4, No. 4
Coach: Shaun Gray, first season (35-4)
League finish: Tied for first in Highland Conference
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Kyrah Gray, soph. P (.391, 54 R, 11 3B, 36 RBI); Allyson Theunick, sr. C (.354, 51 R, 10 HR, 41 RBI); Katelyn Gostlin, sr. OF (.339, 35 R, 31 RBI); Mattisen Tiedt, soph. IF (.383, 32 R, 36 RBI, 6-0 pitching).
Outlook: Evart is back at the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons, thanks to a Quarterfinal win over honorable mention Gladstone. The Wildcats also have recent sweeps of No. 5 Ravenna and Division 4 top-ranked Unionville-Sebewaing and an early sweep of Clare to their credit, and they split the Highland Conference title with Division 4 No. 8 Beal City. Theunick earned an all-state honorable mention last season and was part of the 2022 championship game lineup along with Gostlin and seniors Kayanne Tiedt and Brooklyn Decker.
OTTAWA LAKE WHITEFORD
Record/rank: 29-5-1, honorable mention
Coach: Matt VanBrandt, fourth season (138-15-1)
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1987), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Unity Nelson, sr. P/IF (.429, 26 RBI, 18-2 pitching, 0.82 ERA, 260 K/127 2/3); Shaylin Alexander, sr. C/OF (.369, 38 R); Karlei Conard, sr. 1B/P (.418, 11 2B, 28 RBI, 9-3 pitching); Koralynn Billau, soph. 2B (.381, 30 R, 16 SB).
Outlook: Whiteford finished runner-up in Division 3 last season and Division 4 in 2022, and brought back all-state first-teamers Nelson and senior catcher Kaydence Sheldon this spring. The Bobcats have defeated No. 9 Leslie and honorable mentions Clinton and Algonac during this tournament run after navigating a regular-season schedule filled with strong larger opponents – and defeating Division 1 No. 5 Saline and Division 2 No. 9 Trenton and honorable mentions Milan and Carleton Airport among others. Junior Brooklyn Mills (.359, 35 runs) and sophomore Addeson Cousino (.333) bolster the lineup. Nelson will continue at North Dakota.
Division 4
HILLMAN
Record/rank: 40-3, No. 7
Coach: Jason Weiland, first season (40-3)
League finish: First in North Star League Little Dipper
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1996.
Players to watch: Cassidy Benac, sr. 1B (.449, 52 R, 26 2B, 47 RBI); Nicole Barbeau, sr. SS/P (.586, 87 R, 27 2B, 12 HR, 78 RBI, 27 SB, 14-0 pitching, 1.16 ERA, 107 K/72 IP); Gretchen Weiland, soph. P/3B (.484, 65 R, 21 2B, 47 RBI, 17-3 pitching, 1.38 ERA, 166 K/108 1/3 IP); Aubrey Weiland, fr. 3B/P (.448, 63 R, 10 3B, 50 RBI, 22 SB, 8-0 pitching, 1.02 ERA).
Outlook: Hillman has emerged after Quarterfinal trips in 2021 and 2022, paced by the most productive offense in MHSAA history. After opening the season losing 4-0 to Mendon, the Tigers have put up 561 runs – an average of 13.4 per game, and 18 more total than the previous record set by Taylor Light & Life Christian in 1993. Barbeau made the all-state first team last season, with Gretchen Weiland, Benac and senior outfielder Saige Flaugher (.313, 31 R, 20 SB) earning honorable mentions. Junior Hannah Crane (.448, 57 runs, 37 RBI, 26 stolen bases), freshman Madelyn Oswald (.433, 60 runs, 16 doubles, 47 RBI, 27 stolen bases) and junior Autumn Lis (.424, 33 runs, 32 RBI) give the team seven regulars hitting .400 or higher.
HOLTON
Record/rank: 28-12-1, No. 5
Coach: Kirk Younts, 10th season (276-77-2)
League finish: Second in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Abbie Fowler, sr. SS/P (.437, 62 R, 11 3B, 30 RBI, 29 SB, 6-2 pitching, 1.59 ERA); Ryann Robins, sr. 1B/P (.440, 47 R, 18 HR, 58 RBI, 9-4 pitching, 2.40 ERA, 116 K/84 1/3 IP); Kenzie Greene, jr. P/1B (.457, 56 R, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 12-6 pitching, 2.74 ERA, 148 K/99 1/3 IP); Grace Thompson, jr. C (.402, 39 R, 21 RBI).
Outlook: Holton just missed making the championship game in 2021 with a nine-inning Semifinal loss to Rudyard, and Robins and Fowler were in the lineup that day and have earned another opportunity at history. Those two and Thompson made the all-state first team last season, while Greene earned an honorable mention, and they make up the majority of the top of a lineup that advanced with a 12-9 Quarterfinal win over No. 8 Beal City and has scored double-digit runs in four of five postseason games. The win over the Aggies avenged a 10-4 regular-season defeat.
MENDON
Record/rank: 38-4, No. 3
Co-coaches: Steve Butler & Mike Smith, seventh seasons (172-45)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2023, Class D runner-up 1992.
Players to watch: Jadyn Samson, soph. SS/P (.574, 87 R, 42 RBI, 54 SB, 5-0 pitching, 1.50 ERA); Kaidee Gonser, jr. C (.444, 34 R, 48 RBI); Brielle Bailey, jr. 3B (.487, 56 R, 18 2B, 64 RBI); Rowan Allen, soph. P/LF (.449, 67 R, 50 RBI, 23 SB, 17-2 pitching, 1.37 ERA, 187 K/111 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Mendon was a 5-4 loss away from unseating USA last season, and the Hornets will bring seven starters back to MSU this weekend. After having only two seniors on the roster last year, Mendon doesn’t have any this time but does bring seven sophomores to go with four juniors and two freshmen. Allen earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and four more regulars join those listed above hitting at least .380: sophomore Cienna Nightingale (434, 20 doubles, 55 RBI), juniors Ally Butler (.391, 42 runs, 42 RBI) and Abby Butler (.389, 37 runs) and sophomore Taya Bingaman (.381, 39 runs, 35 RBI). Ally Butler also is 13-2 in the circle.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 29-11, No. 1
Coach: Marc Reinhardt, second season (63-21)
League finish: Tied for first in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Gabriella Crumm, sr. C (.513, 39 R, 22 2B, 11 HR, 55 RBI); Rylie Betson, sr. P/3B (.411, 34 R, 29 RBI, 15-6 pitching, 2.59 ERA, 140 K/116 IP); Ella Neumann, sr. SS (.432, 40 R, 31 RBI), Olivia Green, soph. P/1B (.406, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 11-5 pitching, 1.51 ERA, 163 K/92 2/3 IP).
Outlook: Unionville-Sebewaing has won the last four Division 4 championships, stretching five years (because of COVID-canceled 2020), and a fifth straight this weekend would tie the record set by Kalamazoo Christian from 1996-2000. USA has brought back five starters from last season’s finale and again packed the schedule with larger opponents to prepare for a run that’s included wins over No. 4 Plymouth Christian Academy and honorable mention Marlette. Crumm, Betson and senior outfielder Jenna Gremel made the all-state first team last season, and sophomore Erin Jubar (.416, 37 runs) adds a fifth .400-or-higher hitter to the lineup.
PHOTO Gaylord's Alexis Shepherd makes a play at second base during last season's Division 2 Final against Vicksburg.