Photos courtesy of Dan Packard
As has been custom to its softball program, Holton put itself in position to win a regional title Saturday in Division 4 action at Onekama.
Holton had no trouble at all with the host team in the regional semifinals, winning 10-0 in five innings. However, in the finals, the Red Devils fell just short despite a late rally in a 5-4 loss to Lake Leelanau St. Mary.
Holton closes a strong season with a 30-10-1 record.
Here are more details and notables from the regional:
- Holton’s Kenzie Greene earned the pitching win against Onekama. She allowed no runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Ryann Robins pitched an inning of relief, striking out one and walking one.
- Gracie Thompsen powered the Red Devils in the semifinals with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.
- Robins and Melissa Kersting had two hits each for Holton against Onekama. Kersting drove in two runs and scored one.
- Abbie Fowler had a hit, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Red Devils in the semifinals.
- In the regional final, Holton fell behind 2-0 in the first inning. The Red Devils pulled within 2-1 in the fourth, but St. Mary answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame and tacked on another in the sixth for a 5-1 lead.
- Holton mounted a seventh-inning rally, scoring three runs and putting two more on base but leaving them there to end the game. The rally began with one out when Greene reached on an error and advanced to second base. Thompsen followed with a double to score Green, then Robins hit a two-run home run to pull the Red Devils within 5-4 still with only one out. Sydney McCormick and Aubrey Goyings hit back-to-back singles to give Holton a chance, but the next two batters went down in order to end the game.
- Thompson finished 3-for-4 in the finals. Robins, McCormick and Goyings had two hits apiece against St. Mary. Goyings homered in the fourth inning for the Red Devils.
- Fowler took the pitching loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks in six innings.
- St. Mary advances to Tuesday’s state quarterfinal against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart at Alma College.
Photos courtesy of Dan Packard
