EAST LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Mendon Hornets gave perennial power Unionville-Sebewaing all they wanted on Saturday before the Hornets were beaten 5-4 in the MHSAA Division Four Girls Softball finals.
USA won its record ninth MHSAA championship and it was their fourth title in a row.
Mendon grabbed a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a two-run triple by senior pitcher Lauren Schabes.
But USA took the lead for good in the top of the fourth as Jenna Gremel belted a three-run homer.
Mendon almost pulled out a dramatic victory in the last of the seventh. Brielle Bailey led off with a solid single and Abby Butler got hit by a pitch. The bases were loaded with two outs when freshman Mattea Bingaman was hit by another pitch, forcing in a run to make it 5-4 and leaving the bases loaded.
Mendon’s next hitter made contact but popped it up to pitcher Rylie Betson to end the game.
“I thought maybe the lucky leprechaun was going to sprinkle some magic dust out there for us in the last inning, but it didn’t happen,” said Steve Butler, in his sixth year as the co-head coach of Mendon, along with Mike Smith. “We battled them right to the end, and we had a chance to win and we probably should have won. I can’t ask for anything more out of these girls.”
Schabes went five innings for Mendon (35-6) and Rowan Allen, a freshman, came in and allowed no hits over the final two innings. Schabes also finished 3-for-3 at the plate.
In the girls softball finals….
Division 1
Hartland 9, Brownstown Woodhaven 1
Division 2
Gaylord 8, Vicksburg 3
Division 3
Standish-Sterling 1, Ottawa Lake Whiteford 0
In the MHSAA Baseball Finals….
Division 1
Novi 8, Brownstown Woodhaven 3
Division 2
Grand Rapids Christian 2, Grosse Pte Woods U Liggett 1
Division 3
Bridgman 7, Algonac 1
Division 4
Beal City 2, Plymouth Christian Academy 1
In the MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals…
Division 1 – June 17
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 2, Hudsonville 1
Division 2 – June 16
Grosse Pointe North 3, East Grand Rapids 2 (SO)
Division 3 – June 16
Hudsonville Unity Christian 3, Grosse Ile 0
Division 4 – June 17
Kalamazoo Christian 5, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 0
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