RAVENNA — Ravenna’s softball team faced a little adversity in Game 1 of a West Michigan Conference Rivers Division doubleheader Wednesday against visiting Holton.
The Red Devils pushed across three runs in the fourth inning to take a two-run lead over the favored Bulldogs in a matchup billed as the CatchMark SportsNet WMC Game(s) of the Week.
Then Ravenna’s bats awakened. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth en route to a 9-3 victory over the Red Devils. Ravenna completed the sweep with an 11-0, five-inning victory in Game 2.
CatchMark SportsNet produced a livestream of Game 1. You can watch that here:
Here is a highlight and reaction video from the doubleheader. Hear from Ravenna freshmen Riley Homoly and Emily Postema, as well as Bulldogs coach Dave Sherman and Holton coach Kirk Younts:
Here are more details and notables, followed by a TikTok featuring the CatchMark SportsNet Game of the Week Players of the Game(s): Riley Homoly and Emily Postema:
In Game 1, Ravenna’s Emma Gillard pitched a complete game. The right-hander allowed three unearned runs on two hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk. She helped her own cause with a big, two-run double in the fourth to put the Bulldogs ahead for good.
Homoly was 3-for-3 for the Bulldogs in the first game, while Kara Postema and Ellie Solem were both 2-for-2. One of Solem’s hits was a double. Emma Herremans went 2-for-4 with two doubles.
Ravenna’s Emily Postema doubled in Game 1, while Addison Gillard also had a hit.
Abbie Fowler took the loss in relief for Holton in Game 1. The left-hander allowed four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking one.
In the first game, Fowler, Kenzie Greene and Ryann Robins had hits for the Red Devils.
In Game 2, Ravenna’s Addison Gillard earned the pitching win. The right-hander allowed one hit with five strikeouts and one walk in three innings. Homoly pitched the final two innings and notched a pair of strikeouts.
Ravenna’s Emily Postema was 3-for-3 in the nightcap, while Homoly was 2-for-3 with a double. Emma Gillard went 2-for-2, while Herremans was 1-for-3.
In Game 2, Robins took the loss for Holton. The right-hander allowed 11 runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and seven walks.
Grace Thompson had the lone hit for the Red Devils in the nightcap.
Ravenna was listed in the honorable mention section of the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 3 preseason rankings. Holton was No. 2 in the Division 4 poll. Those rankings were dated March 17 and no new polls had been released when this story published.
Ravenna hosts the Kubasiak Memorial Tournament this Saturday. Also on Saturday, Holton hosts a six-team tournament featuring a number of squads ranked in Division 4.