Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
HESPERIA — Holton’s district softball loss to Pentwater last season did not sit well with the Red Devils.
During practice Thursday, players taped their wrists and wrote “4-0” on the tape: It was the score of the stinging 2022 district finals defeat against Pentwater and a reminder they didn’t want to experience that feeling again.
No worries for Division 4 fourth-ranked Holton on Friday. The Red Devils rolled past rival and district host Hesperia in the semifinals, 15-0 in three innings, before they breezed past Mason County Eastern in the district finals, 22-0 in three innings.
It’s the eighth district championship in Kirk Younts’ 10 seasons as Holton head coach.
The Red Devils (29-9-1) advance to the June 10 Onekama regional where they’ll face the host team in a noon semifinal matchup.
Here are more details from Holton’s district victories Friday:
- In the win over Hesperia, Holton’s Sydney McCormick hit a three-run home run.
- Against Hesperia, Abbie Fowler pitched a one-hitter for the Red Devils with seven strikeouts and no walks. She also went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored.
- In the district semifinals vs. Hesperia, Ryann Robins doubled, drove in three runs and scored three runs. Emma Monette also doubled for the Red Devils, finished with two hits, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Lexi Bartolameoli was 2-for-3 for Holton in the game.
- Grace Weber managed Hesperia’s lone hit in the game vs. Holton.
- In the district finals against Mason County Eastern, Holton’s Kenzie Greene pitched a no-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk. She helped her own cause, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs.
- Fowler went 2-for-2 against MCE with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Robins was also 2-for-2 vs. MCE with a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored.
- Aubrey Goyings and Ashley VandenAkker also had doubles for Holton against Mason County Eastern, while Bartolameoli drove in two runs and scored two.
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See district softball scores, brackets for West Michigan Conference teams
