The 2025 softball Rivers Division is loaded, following a tight race last season that saw the top four teams finish with 20+ wins. Ten of 17 All-Conference 1st-team players return to the league, as well as seven honorable mentions.
Ravenna held an undefeated conference record; Holton went 10-2, and North Muskegon and Hart each finished above .500 in league play. Shelby, who had a winless conference record, returns two of its top players, as they experienced a youthful squad last season.
The race for first place is expected to be as close as ever, so grab your popcorn, because we have some powerhouses to break down and preview ahead of conference play.
Ravenna Bulldogs
The reigning Rivers champion returns to the diamond with close to the same team as last season, as they only had one senior. Five first-team players and two honorable mentions return. After closing the regular season with a 29-8 record, the Bulldogs made a deep playoff run to the state quarterfinal, when they faced Division Three powerhouse Buchanan and lost 3-1. Senior third baseman Emma Herremans is back after hitting the cover off the ball last year. The three-time All-Stater hit a scorching .717 with eight doubles, two triples, and three home runs, despite missing half the season with a knee injury. Senior Addison Gillard is one of the Bulldogs’ top pitchers this season, as well as a key piece in the lineup. Gillard already has a homer on the season and struck out ten batters in the doubleheader split against Jenison. Juniors Emily Postema (C) and Riley Homoly (INF) will also be part of the Bulldogs’ success this season. Sophomores Reese Herremans, Natalie Rosel, and Sydney Morrissey all received All-Conference honors a year ago and are back this season.
Holton Red Devils
Even after just missing out on a first-place finish in the conference, the Red Devils made the deepest postseason run out of all, making it to the state championship game. Unionville-Sebewaing, however, would beat them 11-1, capping off a historic season for Holton. The Red Devils return three All-Staters, including their ace and their catcher. Senior backstop Grace Thompsen has been an All-State nominee since her freshman year and hit .413 with nine doubles and two homers last season. Senior Kenzie Greene is at the top of the pitching staff yet again in 2025. She finished last year with a 13-7-1 record and recorded a 2.60 ERA while striking out 161 batters. Greene rakes at the dish as well, hitting .423 with 15 doubles and 11 round-trippers. Chloe McKee and Lexi Bartolameolli are also expected to put up big numbers for the Red Devils this spring.
Hart Pirates
The Pirates lose two All-Conference first-teamers in Abby Hicks and Gabby Quijas. The two, as well as others, led them to a 3rd place finish in the conference and a run to the Division Three regional final. However, this Hart squad remains strong, with sophomore Caydence Bateson and junior Makenna Carrier leading the lineup. As a freshman, Bateson led the team with a .398 batting average. Carrier hit .358 and had the most stolen bases on the team with 29. Reese Smith is expected to log many innings inside the pitching circle this season after punching out 71 batters in 74 innings last season. Kelsey Copenhaver is back on the lineup card as well after hitting .370 with nine doubles and two home runs a year ago. Hart is set to start the new season on April 8th against conference foe Mason County Central.
North Muskegon Norsemen
An unfortunate pairing against fellow Rivers opponent Ravenna in the first round of the district playoffs last season resulted in a 13-4 defeat after a solid regular season. The Norse return two All-Conference players who will need to have similar seasons to compete in this tough division. Sophomore Braedi Baker finished 3rd on the team in batting average, as well as the team leader in stolen bases with 24. Baker will also serve as the ace of the rotation, as she has already pitched both of North Muskegon’s two games this season. Junior Audrey Brown comes off her first-team All-Conference season with hopes of repeating her .371, nine doubles, and 50 RBI season. Chloe Packard, Abby Bamburg, and Bella Sima will also be big pieces in the lineup this spring. North Muskegon looks to improve on a 21-16 record from last season, and they have all of the intangibles to do so.
Mason County Central Spartans
After an underwhelming 2024 season where they finished 10-20 and 4-8 in the conference, the Spartans look to get back on track with a reloaded lineup and pitching staff. A Conference Player of the Year dark horse candidate, Aubrey Chye, returns after hitting .425 as a sophomore and being named as an All-Conference honorable mention. Chye also pitched 45 innings and struck out 53 batters. The Spartans will miss five high-contributing seniors from last season and will rely on some newcomers to fill that void. Mason County Central will open with Hart on April 8th.
Hesperia Panthers
The Panthers finished 5-19-1 last season and had just two conference wins that came against Shelby. The lone first-team All-Conference player from last season’s team is Jeri Ward, who comes into 2025 as a junior. Ward hit .339 with three doubles and two triples last season. Outside of Ward, the Panthers come into spring with many questions around the diamond after graduating many players from last season. The team’s two best pitchers, Molly Norris and Abby Joppich, are both 2024 graduates, which leaves the Panthers’ manager Rick Martin searching for a rising arm. Hesperia will start its season with Shelby on April 8th.
Shelby Tigers
Potentially one of the biggest turnarounds in the conference this year is the Shelby Tigers. In 2024, the Tigers finished with just five wins and were winless in league play. However, the team had six players hit above .300 that recorded more than 40 PA, and all of them were underclassmen. Starting with All-Conference first-teamer Makailyn Myers, she hit .432 with three doubles, one homer, and 11 RBIs. Emma Shook was an honorable mention, as she had a BA of .357 as a freshman. The team’s ace from last year, Addison Shook, returns. Sophomores Hali Hayes, Izzy Rudat, Jayden Allen, and Stella Springer will also be back after contributing last season. Shelby will take on Bear Lake on April 4th to start its season.
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