Photos by Letisha Mikkelsen for CatchMark
Several Class of 2023 softball players from the West Michigan Conference enjoyed one last hurrah in Tuesday night’s Next Level Players Senior All-Star Game at Muskegon Community College.
Fresh off their historic season, members of Ravenna’s softball team made their presence felt and helped lead their Red team to an 11-3 victory over the Blue squad.
Ravenna’s Emma Gillard set the tone for the Red, going 2-for-3 with a triple, double, and three runs scored. The Ferris State University signee and Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 3 first-team all-stater also earned the pitching win, scattering three hits, striking out four, and walking none in three innings of work.
During the high school season, Gillard led Ravenna to a 36-6 record with WMC Rivers Division, Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Tier 1, district, and regional titles, as well a Division 3 state semifinal appearance.
Here are other details and notables from Tuesday’s all-star game, which was organized by Matt Houseman, North Muskegon’s softball coach, who runs Next Level Players. Mike Rose Landscape & Irrigation sponsored the game:
- The all-star game was originally scheduled for June 27, but air-quality concerns forced the contest to be postponed to July 11.
- Tuesday’s game was scoreless through three innings. The Red team scored two runs in the fourth and three runs in the sixth before it erupted for six runs in the seventh. The Blue team scored all three of its runs in the seventh.
- Montague’s Kiara Mikkelsen, who has signed with Aurora University, scored three runs for the Red team. She walked three times and was hit by pitch. Her father, Montague head softball coach Randall Mikkelsen, was a coach for the Red squad.
- Ravenna’s Kara Postema, who has signed with Cornerstone University, was 1-for-3 with two runs scored for the Red team.
- Mona Shores’ Hannah Geoghan was 2-for-4 with a double for the Red squad. She also scored a run.
- Whitehall’s Onnyka Dempsey and Ravenna’s Alexis McMahon singled and scored runs for the Red team.
- Kent City’s Jacee Hoffman, Mona Shores’ Mia Geoghan, Fruitport’s Teagen Schultz, Grant’s Emma Bliss, and Grant’s Taylee Self also had hits for the Red team.
- Grand Haven’s Savannah Collins led the Blue team with two triples and a run scored.
- Grant’s Jayci Hance had a hit and scored a run for the Blue squad.
- Grand Haven’s Claire Rademaker scored a run for the Blue team, while Oakridge’s Andrea Romero-Serrano, Fruitport’s Olive Staal and Kadence Springstead, Grand Haven’s Hannah Aldred, and North Muskegon’s Lidia Carty also had hits for the Blue squad.
- Joining Randall Mikkelsen on the Red team coaching staff were Ravenna’s Dave Sherman and Mona Shores’ Matt Geoghan.
- The Blue team coaches were Grant’s Shelley Hance, Fruitport’s Doug Staal, and Kent City’s Amber Larson.
