Photos by Izzy Deal for CatchMark
District titles and 30-win seasons are becoming commonplace for the Ravenna softball program.
The Bulldogs reached both milestones Saturday (June 1) at Montague.
Division 3 fifth-ranked Ravenna dominated North Muskegon in the semifinals (14-3 in five innings) and Kent City in the finals (17-0 in three innings) en route to a third straight district championship.
It also marks the third consecutive 30-win season for the Bulldogs (31-8), who advance to this Saturday’s regional at Coloma. Ravenna takes on Kalamazoo Christian in a 10 a.m. regional semifinal game. Kalamazoo Christian defeated Parchment, 5-1, to win its district title.
Coloma and Grandville Calvin Christian square off in the 12 p.m. regional semifinal with the championship game slated for 2 p.m.
In Ravenna’s district semifinal win over West Michigan Conference Rivers Division foe North Muskegon, the Bulldogs scored four runs in the first, two in the second, and eight in the fourth.
Ravenna’s Emily Postema went 3-for-3 with a home run, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Reese Herremans also had three hits, including a double and triple, and she scored three runs. Sydney Morrissey and Natalie Rosel had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs. Rosel, Addison Gillard, Riley Homoly, and Taylor Nutt added doubles for the ‘Dogs. Gillard picked up the pitching win, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Braedi Baker paced North Muskegon (21-16) with two hits, including a double. She took the pitching loss for the Norse, allowing 10 earned runs on 13 hits with one strikeout and three walks.
Photos by Izzy Deal for CatchMark
In Ravenna’s district finals win over Kent City, Rosel pitched a perfect game. The left-handed freshman struck out eight. The Bulldogs scored one run in the first and three runs in the second before they erupted for 13 runs in the third.
Morrissey led Ravenna offensively, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Postema, Nutt, and Kendra Denhof had two hits each for the Bulldogs. Postema, Rosel, and Nutt each had doubles. Postema drove in three runs and scored three. Macy Nelson was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Lylah Larson took the pitching loss for Kent City (19-17) after she picked up the win in a 5-4 comeback victory over Montague in the district semifinals. Against Ravenna in the finals, she allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits with one strikeout and three walks in two innings of work.
In Kent City’s district semifinal rally against Montague, the Eagles scored five runs in the sixth to wipe out a 3-0 deficit. Kennedy Johnson went 3-for-4, including a double and home run, with three RBIs and two runs to lead Montague (13-19). Abby Thommen had two hits for the Wildcats.
Photos by Sophia Hall and Letisha Mikkelsen for CatchMark
