One year ago, Ravenna softball walked off the field at Michigan State University just one run shy of playing for a state championship.
The Bulldogs battled all the way to the Division 3 state semifinals before their season ended in a hard-fought 2-1 loss to Clare. Even in defeat, it was clear Ravenna had established itself as one of the premier softball programs in the state.
Photos courtesy of Scott DeCamp Creative Solutions
Now, that same hunger has fueled the Bulldogs into 2026 and the results have been impossible to ignore.
Ravenna has stormed out to a perfect 24-0 start this spring with statement wins over Fremont, Jenison, Rockford, Wayland, Grand Haven, North Muskegon and Shelby. Along the way, the Bulldogs have looked every bit like a team determined to make another deep postseason run.
“I would say we are off to a great 6-0 with wins over Fremont, Jenison and Rockford,” coach Dave Sherman said earlier this season.
From the beginning, this team knew it would be tested. Ravenna intentionally built one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the area, matching up against larger schools and ranked programs to prepare for the postseason grind ahead.
“We put together a very tough non-league schedule to challenge us and get us ready for the postseason,” Sherman said.
So far, the Bulldogs have answered every challenge. Behind dominant pitching performances from Natalie Rosel and Sophie Robinson, Ravenna has controlled games in the circle while the offense continues to evolve into one of the team’s biggest strengths. Players like Reese Herremans, Emily Postema, Riley Homoly and Sydney Morrissey have helped create a lineup capable of producing runs from top to bottom.
“This team works very well together and has put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Sherman said. “We have seen growth in our offense which reflects the time extra work they have put in.”
That growth has shown up in different ways nearly every game. Some nights the Bulldogs win with power hitting. Other nights it’s speed, pressure on the bases or timely hitting throughout the lineup.
The latest example came in a doubleheader sweep over Shelby. Ravenna rolled to an 18-1 victory in four innings in Game 1 behind 10 strikeouts from Rosel, while Emily Postema, Riley Homoly, Sydney Morrissey and Sophie Robinson paced the offense. The Bulldogs followed it up with a 15-0 win in Game 2 as Robinson allowed just one hit in the circle while Postema powered the offense with two doubles and a home run.
Photos courtesy of Myleigh Wright Studio
With the sweep, Ravenna improved to 24-0 overall and 8-0 in the WMC Rivers Division.
“This team will score runs differently than last year’s team,” Sherman said.
But what may separate this year’s group goes beyond the stat sheet. The chemistry throughout the roster has become one of the defining characteristics of the Bulldogs’ fast start. Players constantly celebrate each other’s success, feed off one another’s energy and carry a confidence that has been built through years of playing together.
“This is a great group to coach,” Sherman said. “They have a great chemistry and are fun to watch play the game. People might not see what a close knit group of players this is and that they encourage each other every day,” he added. “I would use the word determined to describe our team.”
That determination traces back to last June at Secchia Stadium. The sting of coming within reach of the state finals has become motivation for a roster that returned with unfinished business. With much of the core back from last season’s semifinal run, Ravenna has embraced both the expectations and the pressure that come with being one of the top-ranked teams in Michigan.
Now, the next chapter of Ravenna’s season is about to begin. District play opens May 30, marking the beginning of the road back to Michigan State University and another opportunity to chase the program’s first state championship.
Ravenna will open district play in the semifinal round against White Cloud at 10 a.m. at the Newaygo softball field. The two teams have not met this season, but common opponents have painted a favorable picture for the Bulldogs, with Ravenna consistently finding success against teams White Cloud struggled against throughout the year.
Still, postseason softball brings a completely different level of pressure, something Ravenna understands well after last season’s deep tournament run.
At 24-0, the Bulldogs have already proven they can compete with anyone. The next few weeks will determine whether this determined, close-knit group can finish the journey they came so close to completing a year ago.
“Our goal is to be playing in the finals at MSU in the finals,” Sherman said.
After everything this team experienced a year ago, and everything it has accomplished already this spring. Ravenna looks poised for another shot at making that dream a reality.
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