Editor’s note: Manistee did not submit info. When this story published, Manistee was unsure on the status of its team for the season.
Oakridge and Ravenna appear to be the class of the West Michigan Conference in softball in 2023, based upon recent history and on-field results early this season.
The Eagles and Bulldogs are split into the Lakes and Rivers divisions this season and they’re the overwhelming favorites to win respective titles. Those teams are not scheduled to play each other in the regular season, but they could potentially meet in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament on May 6.
Which teams will emerge and climb their way toward the top of the WMC Lakes and Rivers divisions? It should be interesting to watch.
Below are team-by-team capsules arranged alphabetically by division.
WEST MICHIGAN CONFERENCE LAKES DIVISION
FREMONT PACKERS
Coach:
Jeff Foster (2nd season)
Last Season:
N/A
Key Returners:
Sage VandenBerg (Senior, 1B)
Sophia Romine (Junior, P)
McKenzie Gugins (Junior, INF)
Rainee Dey-Rayl (Junior, C)
Savannah Keur (Junior, INF, All-Conference)
Madeline Baden (Sophomore, INF)
Newcomers:
MacKenzie Gleason (Sophomore, P-1B)
Izabel Austin (Sophomore, INF-Utility)
Hannah Mello (Junior, OF-Utility)
Baylah Parker (Junior, OF-Utility)
Elise Pfeiffer (Junior, OF-C)
***
LUDINGTON ORIOLES
Coach:
Sierra Holmes (9th season)
Last Season:
17-13 overall; 8-0 Lakes 8 Champions
Returning Starters:
Keeley Curtis (Junior, 1st Team All-Conference)
Brynn Fortner (Senior, .413 Batting Average, 1st Team All-Conference, All-District Utility Player)
Jody Meisenheimer (Junior, 1st Team All-Conference)
Ayiana Rangel (Junior, 2nd Team All-Conference)
Anna Genia, Junior
Key Returners and Newcomers:
Mya Bryant (Junior)
Savannah Hanson (Junior)
Jamie Barron (Junior)
Keely Bowman (Junior)
Julia Gilchrist (Junior)
Rylee Hardenburgh (Junior)
Taesyah Hendricks (Sophomore)
Sabrina Ramirez (Junior)
Samantha Smeltzer (Junior)
Samanatha Zwick (Sophomore)
Outlook:
“This will be an interesting season as we graduated four seniors, including our starting pitcher and catcher,” Holmes said. “We have some talented girls with experience, but a key will be how our younger girls step up as we will have many girls learning new positions.”
Holmes noted that the girls are looking forward to the challenge of a new conference.
***
MONTAGUE WILDCATS
Coach:
Randall Mikkelsen (1st year)
Last Season:
11-18
Returning Starters:
Kiara Mikkelsen (Senior, OF-Utility, .850 Fielding percentage, Aurora University commit)
Natalie Kellogg (Senior, P, 3.90 earned run average)
Kennedy Johnson (Junior, INF, .355 batting average)
Alissa Wynn (Junior, INF, .388 batting average)
Hayden Boutell (Sophomore, P-INF)
Newcomers:
Maddie Kessler (Junior, 1B-C)
Jacy Arrigotti (Junior, OF)
Regan Cederquist (Freshman, P-OF)
Chloe Boutell (Junior, OF-C)
Outlook:
“We have team speed. A lot will depend on how fast our pitching develops,” Randall Mikkelsen said. “If we can limit mistakes, we will surprise some people this season.”
Coach Mikkelsen said the motto is to strive to get better everyday. The key will be how fast the young players can mesh with the veterans.
The Wildcats are looking for good things from Kiara Mikkelsen, who will be playing at the next level next year. Coach Mikkelsen feels that Kennedy Johnson is poised for a breakout season. The Wildcats also will depend on the leadership of Alissa Wynn, who is in her third year as a starter.
***
OAKRIDGE EAGLES
Coach:
Joe Coletta (15th season)
Last Season:
28-8 overall; 14-0 WMC 1st Place
Returning Starters:
Kaelinn Josza (Junior, P-INF)
Andrea Romero-Serrano (Senior, C)
Madison Clark (Junior, INF)
Ahria Doornbos (Junior, OF)
Brenna Cabrera (Sophomore, INF)
Gracie Willea (Sophomore, OF)
Kylee Willea (Sophomore, P-INF)
Key Returners and Newcomers:
Madison Bowen (Sophomore, C-OF)
Gracie Clark (Freshman, INF-C)
Rylee Vanderputte (Sophomore, OF)
Carley Morse (Junior, OF)
Amelia Luft (Junior, OF)
Outlook:
“We have a strong work ethic, commitment and support for each other,” Coletta said. “It could take a few games to identify the right player with the right position.”
The Eagles are the clear favorites in the WMC Lakes Division as well as a good bet for another district title. Coletta is veteran coach, who has been through the battles before and knows how to get the best out of his players. His goal for each team is to compete hard and leave the program better than the players and coaches inherited.
***
ORCHARD VIEW CARDINALS
Coach:
Jerry Peterson (1st year varsity)
Last Season:
2-16
Returning Starters:
McKenzie Thiele (Junior, 1B)
Jadin Strickland (Junior, SS)
Aubree Karis (Junior, 3B)
Gabbie Mosher (Sophomore, P-Utility)
Eliana Jennings (Sophomore, 2B-Utility)
Olivia Johnson (Sophomore, OF)
Janiyah Wilson (Sophomore, OF)
Newcomers:
Abbie Cook (Freshman, 3B-OF)
Miah Peterson (Freshman, P-2B)
Elixis Scott (Freshman, OF)
Alyvia Fisher (Freshman, 1B-OF)
Outlook:
“We are a young team with a solid core and strong junior leadership,” Peterson said. “We expect this group to grow and play together for the next few years.”
***
WHITEHALL VIKINGS
Coach:
Denis Koegel (4th season)
Last Season:
10-21 overall; 6-8 WMC
Returning Starters:
Onnyka Dempsey (Senior, SS)
Hailey Carnes (Senior, OF)
Lucy Tucker (Senior, 1B-P)
Evelyn Darke (Sophomore, C-3B, .344 batting average, 5 doubles, 2 home runs, 22 RBIs, All-Conference Honorable Mention)
Lianne Fagan (Sophomore, OF-3B)
Megan LeaTrea (Sophomore, P, .410 batting average, 33 runs; 5 pitching wins)
Key Returners and Newcomers:
Taylor Ottinger (Junior, 2B)
Harper Leon (Junior, OF)
Kierra Hyrns (Junior, OF-INF)
Alison Schaeffer (Junior, OF)
Natalie Manzo (Junior, INF)
Annabel Kevwitch (Sophomore, OF-C)
Outlook:
“We had three freshmen playing critical positions for us last season,” Koegel said. “We look to have an improved offense. We need to improve our defense from last year — too many errors last year resulted in additional runs.”
The Vikings hope the growing pains from last year will pay dividends this season. Two of their top hitters were freshmen. They also are encouraged to have a healthy Onnyka Dempsey back after a wrist injury during basketball last season cost her games in 2022.
Koegel knows mistakes on the field will occur. The goal is to keep those errors from snowballing into big innings.
***
WEST MICHIGAN CONFERENCE RIVERS DIVISION
HART PIRATES
Coach:
Dean Devries (1st season)
Last Season:
19-4 Overall; 7-7 WMC District Champion; lost in Regional Semifinal
Returning Starters:
Abby Hicks (Junior, C-INF)
Gabby Schmieding (Junior, P-INF, .346 batting average)
Gabby Quijas (Junior, P-OF, .391 batting average)
Makayla Rockwell (Senior, DP-1B, .315 batting average)
Key Returners and Newcomers:
Kelsey Copenhaver (Sophomore, P-INF, .347 batting average)
Nora Chickering (Sophomore, OF)
Julia Bishop (Junior, C-DP)
McKenna Carrier (Freshman, C-INF)
Outlook:
“We’re a young team with only two seniors,” Devries said. ” We have to focus on getting better each day and rely on our junior leadership.”
The Pirates are coming off back-to-back district championships with expectations of competing for a third straight. While the top spot may be a battle between Ravenna and Holton and possibly North Muskegon, from three on down should be a dogfight in the Rivers.
***
HESPERIA PANTHERS
Coach:
Rick Martin (16th season)
Last Season:
13-18 Overall; 11-9 CSAA
Returning Starters:
Ali Townsend (Senior, SS, .500 batting average,40 runs, 7 triples, 25 rbi; All-Conference, All-District and All Region)
Triniti Tanner (Senior, C)
Abby Joppich (Junior, OF)
Kayla Rumsey (Junior, 1B)
Emma Muckey (Senior, OF)
Newcomers:
Lacey McCallum (Senior, 3B)
Mia Milner (Junior, OF)
Molly Norris (Junior, P)
Nataleigh McGahan (Junior, P)
Alex Glenn (Senior, Utility)
Grace Weberg (Junior, 2B)
Outlook:
“We are looking to be competitive and we should have sound defense,” Martin said. “Pitching will be a concern as we have two pitchers with no varsity experience.”
The goal for the Panthers is to steadily improve — maybe not be battling for the top spot, but should compete in the jam pile that is third on down in the Rivers.
***
HOLTON RED DEVILS
Coach:
Kirk Younts (9th season)
Last Season:
24-9, CSAA Silver Champions
Returning Starters:
Abbie Fowler (Junior, C-P, .468 batting average; All-State)
Ryann Robins (Junior, 1B-P, .376 batting average; All-State)
Kenzie Greene (Sophomore, SS-P, .421 batting average; Honorable Mention All-State)
Grace Thompsen (Sophomore, C-3B, .461 batting average; Honorable Mention All-State)
Lexi Bartolomeoli (Sophomore, 2B)
Aubrey Goyings (Sophomore, OF)
Emma Monette (Junior, 1B-OF)
Key Returners:
Melissa Kersting (Senior)
Lillian Mullins (Senior)
Outlook:
“We expect to battle for the conference title and hoping to make a long postseason run as well,” Younts said. “We are young but talented. Some of our players had the experience of playing in the semifinals as freshmen and they are hungry to get back there.”
Returning four players who were either All-State or All-State Honorable Mention speaks for the talent of this team. The Red Devils were swept by favored Ravenna in a WMC Rivers Division doubleheader on April 12, but the outlook is still strong for this group.
***
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL SPARTANS
Coach:
Jonathan Blake (5th season)
Last Season:
15-18
Returning Starters:
Alex Luttrell (Senior, .544 batting average, 5 triples)
Geralyn Soberalski (Senior, .967 fielding percentage)
Maxie Green (Senior)
Sarah Keefer (Senior)
Aylin Davila (Junior)
Wren Nelson (Junior)
Emily Adams (Junior)
Riley Mast (Junior)
Grace Weinert (Junior)
Key Returners and Newcomers:
Emma Reid (Senior)
Emily Campbell (Sophomore)
Elle Bendele (Sophomore)
Aubrey Chye (Freshman)
Outlook:
“If we stay healthy, we should make some noise in the conference,” Blake said. “We have solid pitching with Wren Nelson and Grace Weinert, and freshman Aubrey Chye is showing some promise as well.”
MCC should compete well in the conference and the Spartans look for district success as well.
***
NORTH MUSKEGON NORSE
Coach:
Matt Houseman (7th season)
Last Season:
14-3 Overall; 7-7 WMC
Returning Starters:
Mattie Houseman (Junior, 2B)
Maddison Balon (Junior, P, .470 batting average, 11 doubles, 8 home runs; Pitching 157 strikeouts)
Rylee Cooper (Junior, SS-3B-C, .341 batting average, 4 doubles, 3 home runs)
Lucy Fricke (Senior, OF-3B)
Baila Long (Junior, OF, .409 batting average, 8 doubles, 2 home runs)
Key Returners:
Lauren Dahlquist (Junior, 3B)
Mila Van Tol (Sophomore, OF)
Newcomers:
Audrey Brown (Freshman, C-SS)
Zoey Lemieux (Freshman, 1B)
Stine Nesland (Senior, OF, exchange student from Norway)
Abby Bamberg (Sophomore, OF)
Lidia Carty (Senior, OF)
Outlook:
“We are young and inexperienced in some areas,” Houseman said. “The girls work hard and we are expecting a good year.”
Look for the Norse to battle with Ravenna and Holton for the top spot. A lot will depend on how fast the young players develop.
***
RAVENNA BULLDOGS
Coach:
Dave Sherman (7th season)
Last Season:
30-9 Overall; 12-2, 2nd in the WMC
Returning Starters:
Emma Gillard (Senior, P-SS, .426 batting average, 13 triples, 2 home runs; Pitching 18 wins, 146 strikeouts, 1.92 earned run average, Ferris State signee)
Kara Postema (Senior, C-OF-INF, .480 batting average, 12 doubles, 2 home runs)
Emma Herremans (Sophomore, 3B, .622 batting average, 25 doubles, 12 triples, 8 home runs)
Addison Gillard (Sophomore, 1B-P, .418 batting average, 12 doubles, 2 home runs; Pitching 8 wins, 1.16 earned run average)
Ellie Solem (Senior, OF)
Kendra Denhof (Junior, 2B, .302 batting average)
Amelia Porter (Sophomore, OF)
Key Returners and Newcomers:
Alexis McMahon (Senior, OF)
Riley Homoly (Freshman, INF-P)
Emily Postema (Freshman, OF-C-2B)
Macy Nelson (Freshman, OF)
Raelyn Olson (Freshman, OF)
Outlook:
“We have strong pitching and key offensive leaders back,” Sherman said. “We look to build off of last season.”
Ravenna is the clear favorite in the WMC Rivers Division. The Bulldogs, lost a 1-0 regional finals heartbreaker to Calvin Christian last season, look to make a deep postseason run.
RELATED: Ravenna’s 2023 softball team gets hype with media-day session at CatchMark
***
SHELBY TIGERS
Coach:
Harmony Blount (5th season)
Last Season:
5-19
Returning Starters:
Claire Gowell (Senior, P-1B)
Remington Johnson (Junior, OF)
Key Returners and Newcomers:
No names submitted
Outlook:
“Things will look different as our entire infield was made up of seniors last season,” Blount said. “We have some solid athletes who are eager but new to the game.”
The Tigers will have a tall task replenishing an entire infield, however Blount said the girls have tremendous potential and she looks forward to watching them learn and grow. Because of low numbers and not having a JV team. The Tigers will play a hybrid schedule which features games with both varsity and JV opponents.
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