Lansing Catholic Cross Country coach Tim Simpson motions to members of the boys team behind him as he accepts the award for Team of the Year at the Lansing State Journal’s Greater Lansing Sports Awards Show show Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at the Lansing Center.

The Lansing State Journal honored the best area high school athletes Tuesday night at the inaugural LSJ Greater Lansing Sports Awards Banquet. Washington Redskins quarterback and former Spartan star Kirk Cousins spoke at the event, and a good time was had by all. Photos of athletes and families in attendance can be found at zenfolio.com.

Here is a full list of the award recipients: 

Female athlete of the year: Renee Sturm, Williamston

Male athlete of the year: Tony Poljan, Lansing Catholic

Team of the year: Lansing Catholic boys cross country

Coach of the year: Nick Binder, Mason

Prep stars shine at Greater Lansing Sports Awards banquet

Comeback player of the year: Kamrin Reed, Holt

Video of the year: Clay Soule, Dansville

Courage award: Brendan Brown, Mason

Scholar-athlete of the year: Lindsey Carlson, Charlotte

Kirk Cousins to headline LSJ’s sports awards dinner

Boys cross country runner of the year: Noah Jacobs, Corunna

Girls cross country runner of the year: Stephanie Vanis, East Lansing

Girls golfer of the year: Jessica Kim, Okemos

Boys soccer player of the year: Leutrim Shefkiu, Mason

Girls swimmer of the year: Freyja Garbaccio, Okemos

Girls diver of the year: Mary Phillips, East Lansing

Boys tennis player of the year: Alex Reinbold, Charlotte

Volleyball player of the year: Meredith Norris, Corunna

Boys water polo player of the year: Andrew Himebaugh, Okemos

Football offensive player of the year: Jared Smith, Pewamo-Westphalia

Football defensive player of the year: Jace Demenov, Ithaca

Full list of athletes invited to Greater Lansing Sports Awards

Boys basketball player of the year: Brandon Johns, East Lansing

Girls basketball player of the year: Taryn McCutcheon, East Lansing

Hockey player of the year: Anders Staky, Okemos

Boys swimmer of the year: Joey Lashbrook, Waverly/Lansing Catholic

Boys diver of the year: Riese Penn, Ionia

Wrestler of the year: Ian Parker, St. Johns

Gymnast of the year: Rachel Hogan, Grand Ledge

Boys golfer of the year: Ian Carroll, East Lansing

Boys lacrosse player of the year: Bennett Sherman, Okemos

Girls lacrosse player of the year: Angela Palmer, Okemos

Girls soccer player of the year: Danielle Stephan, DeWitt

Baseball player of the year: Brendan Baker: Grand Ledge

Softball player of the year: Bry Chapman, Holt

Girls tennis player of the year: Alisa Sabotic, Okemos

Boys track runner of the year: Noah Jacobs, Corunna

Girls track runner of the year: Taylor Manson, East Lansing

Girls water polo player of the year: Sarah Williams, Okemos

Haslett’s Luke Sleeper winds up for a pitch Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at Kircher-Municipal Park.

Here is a look at the baseball and softball leaders in mid-Michigan

BATTING AVERAGE
Michael Stygles, DeWitt – .504
Keaghan Sutliff, Ovid-Elsie – .480
Brett Pung, Portland – .467
Hunter Ruhstorfer, Haslett – .457
Andrew Miranda, Lansing Christian – .456
Adam Proctor, St. Johns – .437
Tyler Brown, Holt – .436
Luke LaLumia, Grand Ledge – .436
Brendan Baker, Grand Ledge – .434
Jon Hull, Lansing Christian – .426
Josh Robinson, DeWitt – .424
Nolan Knauf, DeWitt – .423
Donovan Tarn, DeWitt – .421
Treyvin Groesser, Portland – .417

HOME RUNS
Brendan Schrauben, St. Patrick -7
Adam Proctor, St. Johns – 7
Will Nagel, DeWitt – 6
Cal Johnston, Grand Ledge – 5
Keaghan Sutliff, Ovid-Elsie – 5
Donovan Tarn, DeWitt – 5
Luke LaLumia, Grand Ledge – 4
Michael Stygles, DeWitt – 4
Xavier Farr, Grand Ledge – 3
Nick Lett, Potterville – 3
J. Feldpausch, Fowler – 2
Treyvin Groesser, Portland – 2
Zach Hanes, Grand Ledge – 2
Nic Olson, Lansing Catholic – 2
Josh Robinson, DeWitt – 2
Hunter Ruhstorfer, Haslett – 2
Dallas Watts, Fowler – 2

RBI
Will Nagel, DeWitt – 44
Michael Stygles, DeWitt – 43
Brendan Schrauben, St. Patrick – 40
Cooper Alspaugh, Grand Ledge – 37
Burrell Jones, Holt – 36
Adam Proctor, St. Johns – 35
Tyler Brown, Holt – 35
Donovan Tarn, DeWitt – 35
Jesse Heikkinen, Holt – 35
Keaghan Sutliff, Ovid-Elsie – 29
Hunter Ruhstorfer, Haslett – 29
Dallas Watts, Fowler – 29
Haydin Brandt, Portland – 28
Treyvin Groesser, Portland – 28
Nathan Lehnert, St. Patrick – 28
Brock Pringle, Haslett – 28
Brendan Baker, Grand Ledge – 27
Josh Robinson, DeWitt – 27
Nick Lett, Potterville – 25
Xavier Farr, Grand Ledge – 24
Cal Johnston, Grand Ledge – 23
Addi Swarthout, St. Johns – 23
Parker Ackerman, St. Johns – 22
Mark Brooks, Portland – 22
Zach Hanes, Grand Ledge – 22

STOLEN BASES
Drew Stavischeck, Holt – 37
Graham Smith, St. Patrick – 32
Justin Young, Dansville – 26
Carter Frantz, Dansville – 23
Dan Mackowiak, St. Patrick – 22
Dylan Pitcher, Potterville – 22
Zach Yarger, Potterville – 22
Nick Coyne, St. Patrick – 20
Alex Hudak, St. Johns – 20
Devon Kelley, Ovid-Elsie – 20

PITCHING W-L
Jacob Songer, Grand Ledge – 10-1
Burrell Jones, Holt – 8-1
Jesse Heikkinen, Holt – 7-1
Hunter Ruhstorfer, Haslett – 7-1
Luke Sleeper, Haslett – 7-1
Haydin Brandt, Portland – 6-1
Frankie Posadas, St. Johns – 6-1
Sam Davison, Grand Ledge – 5-1
Wyatt Rush, Grand Ledge – 5-1
Trevor Trierweiler, Portland – 8-2
Scott Barger, Holt – 6-2
Taylor Cusick, Lansing Christian – 9-4
Jesse Giraud, Owosso – 7-4

ERA
Sam Davison, Grand Ledge – 0.53
Trevor Trierweiler, Portland – 0.97
Jacob Songer, Grand Ledge – 1.06
Jesse Heikkinen, Holt – 1.10
Wyatt Rush, Grand Ledge – 1.19
Hunter Ruhstorfer, Haslett – 1.24
Michael Stygles, DeWitt – 1.31
Burrell Jones, Holt – 1.52
Taylor Cusick, Lansing Christian – 1.53
Robert Butterson, Holt – 1.67
Luke Sleeper, Haslett – 1.88
Jesse Giraud, Owosso – 2.13

STRIKEOUTS
​Taylor Cusick, Lansing Christian – 123
Dane Armbrustmacher, Fowler – 120
Zach Yarger, Potterville – 112
Travis Moyer, St. Patrick – 93
Trevor Trierweiler, Portland – 88
Jesse Heikkinen, Holt – 82
Keaghan Sutliff, Ovid-Elsie – 85
Luke Sleeper, Haslett – 76
Donovan Tarn, DeWitt – 73
Jacob Songer, Grand Ledge – 64
Haydin Brandt, Portland – 58
Burrell Jones, Holt – 56
Wyatt Rush, Grand Ledge – 55
Drake Nover, Owosso – 53
Drew Conlin, Haslett – 52
Jesse Giraud, Owosso – 50

Averi Munro of Morrice swinga away during the Orioles’ Softball Classic first round game with Holt Tuesday May 17, 2016 at Ranney Park in Lansing. KEVIN W. FOWLER PHOTO

SOFTBALL
BATTING AVERAGE
Averi Munro, Morrice – .649
Madeline Stump, Waverly – .618
Taylor Schmitt, Fowler – .570
Jessica Eva, Morrice – .554
Lindsay Goodman, Grand Ledge – .516
Jolie Weber, Fowler – .514
Taryn Peru, Bath – .514
Jordan Richmond, Olivet – .514
Mikailah Jackson, Waverly – .510
Kaitlynn Johnson, East Lansing – .507
Keelin McManus, Haslett – .506
Kylee Kiczenski, Morrice – .505
Elly Wythe, Eaton Rapids – .500
Tori Hyde, Corunna – .500
Andrea Petrowitz, East Lansing – .500

HOME RUNS
Mikailah Jackson, Waverly – 11
Lindsay Goodman, Grand Ledge – 9
Averi Munro, Morrice – 9
Madeline Stump, Waverly – 8
Brenna Madry, Olivet – 7
Jordan Richmond, Olivet – 7
Emily Songer, Grand Ledge – 7
Jamie Carroll, St. Johns – 6
Michele Hannah, Laingsburg – 6
Aubrie Benward, Eaton Rapids – 5
Jaclyn Groves, Olivet – 5
Bailey Holtham, Bath – 5
Keelin McManus, Haslett – 5
Kylee Chaffin, Ithaca – 4
Carrie Cramer, Grand Ledge – 4
Kahlei Ethridge, Grand Ledge – 4
Shelby Steele, Eaton Rapids – 4
Kaitlynn Johnson, East Lansing -3
Kara Mott, Olivet – 3
Kate Senneker, Lakewood – 3
Sierra Stoepker, Lakewood – 3
Mackenzie Thelen, Pewamo-Westphalia – 3
Kemmie Shunk, Alma – 3
Elly Wythe, Eaton Rapids – 3

RBI
Averi Munro, Morrice – 93
Lindsay Goodman, Grand Ledge – 58
Kylee Chaffin, Ithaca – 57
Kahlei Ethridge, Grand Ledge – 54
Emily Songer, Grand Ledge – 54
Mikailah Jackson, Waverly – 54
Madeline Stump, Waverly – 48
Kylee Kiczensk, Morrice – 46
Shelby Steele, Eaton Rapids – 46
Aubrie Benward, Eaton Rapids – 45
Kennedy Koenigsknecht, Fowler – 44
Andrea Petrowitz, East Lansing – 44
Keelin McManus, Haslett – 43
Jordan Richmond, Olivet – 42
Jamie Carroll, St. Johns – 41
Taryn Peru, Bath – 40
Brenna Madry, Olivet – 39

STOLEN BASES
Taylor Schmitt, Fowler – 55
Brooklyn Dolloff, Ithaca – 43
Ashley White, Ionia – 42
Skye Rivett, Corunna – 41
Ashtyn Livermore, Lakewood – 39
Katie Eppard, Laingsburg – 33
Kendall Smith, St. Johns – 32
Averi Munro, Morrice – 31
Kemmie Shunk, Alma – 30
Tori Hyde, Corunna – 26
Jessica Eva, Morrice – 24
McKenzie Anderson, Eaton Rapids – 23
Madeline Stump, Waverly – 23

PITCHING W-L
Kennedy Geiger, Lakewood – 19-2
Connor Proctor, Fulton – 29-5
Adrianna Novara, Portland – 11-2 
Maranda Barton, Lakewood – 10-2 
Shelby Steele, Eaton Rapids – 18-4
Aubrie Benward, Eaton Rapids – 13-3
Shelby Battley, Portland – 12-4 
Julie O’Berry, Morrice – 16-6
Erin Hunt, Webberville – 21-9

ERA
Erin Hunt, Webberville – 0.83
Kennedy Geiger, Lakewood – 1.05
Connor Proctor, Fulton – 1.06
Shelby Steele, Eaton Rapids – 1.54
Maranda Barton, Lakewood – 1.79
Aubrie Benward, Eaton Rapids – 2.29
Amanda Efaw, Alma – 2.40
Sally Patterson, Okemos – 2.97

STRIKEOUTS
Erin Hunt, Webberville – 435
Connor Proctor, Fulton – 426
Sally Patterson, Okemos – 220
Kennedy Geiger, Lakewood – 213
Shelby Steele, Eaton Rapids – 197
Mikailah Jackson, Waverly – 187
Maegan Jodway, Owosso – 181
Kylee Chaffin, Ithaca – 174
Andrea Petrowitz, East Lansing – 140
Emma Kyes, Bath – 131
Amanda Efaw, Alma – 126
Danielle Shaw, Alma – 121
Lauren Schafer, Pewamo-Westphalia – 121 
Shawna Morton, Olivet – 115
Aubrie Benward, Eaton Rapids – 113

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Junior pitcher Erin Hunt poses with Webberville’s district championship trophy.

Erin Hunt initially wanted nothing to do with pitching.

She was a shortstop and that is all she wanted to be.

That eventually changed.

“I was on this team and they only had one pitcher and they needed another one,” Hunt said. “My mom kind of forced me into it at first, but now I never look back. I’m so happy she did.”

Hunt now can’t see herself anywhere but standing in the pitcher’s circle.

And the junior has thrived doing just that for the Webberville softball team this spring.

Hunt, who was voted the LSJ prep athlete of the week, has 21 pitching victories and has ranked among the area’s strikeout leaders in a strong junior season.

And the latest bright moment for Hunt came last weekend when she had a pair of strong outings to help Webberville capture a Division 3 district title. She tossed a no-hitter in a 2-1 victory over Hanover-Horton in the district final and struck out 19 in a semifinal victory over Leslie.

“She’s her best in the biggest games,” Webberville coach Andrew Smith said. “We played Holt this year, which is I don’t know how many times our size, and she gave up one hit and no earned runs and lost 1-0 on a suicide squeeze. She battled her tail off all game long against Holt and they ended up winning their district. She’s as good as anyone out there, it doesn’t matter what size the school is.”

Being a part of a district championship team was something Hunt described as “awesome.” And it was a special accomplishment considering the uncertainty she felt starting the season and when she and three other Dansville students joined the Webberville program as part of a co-op between the schools.

“I was extremely nervous at first because there’s so much that can go wrong,” Hunt said. “It’s like a science experiment putting girls from different schools together and asking them to play ball. I was so relieved when it happened. Coach Smith has been great.  He’s helped each and every single one of us and the communities have both been amazing about it.”

And with things going well now, Hunt would like to help Webberville add to its success. The state tournament run continues for the Spartans in Saturday’s regional at Leslie where they will face Parchment. The winner will face Laingsburg or Bronson in the regional final.

“I’m so excited,” Hunt said. “I know I have a great team backing me up and I think we can do really well.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Kate Buckland and the Okemos softball team have overcome adversity this spring to capture a district title.

Okemos pitcher Sally Patterson and catcher Kate Buckland hug after the Chiefs beat St. Johns 3-1 to win the Division 1 softball final in East Lansing.

The script wasn’t quite what Kate Buckland had in mind for her senior season.

The same thing was the case for the Okemos softball team.

But both managed to get through adversity.

And that’s why Okemos (18-14) captured its first district title since 2012 last week and will compete in Saturday’s Division 1 regional at Holt.

“I knew we could do this from day one,” Okemos coach Chrissy Schoonover said. “It just wasn’t the way that I scripted up.

“The day after we created our team we met in my classroom and talked about goals for the season and it was unanimous that we want to win a district title. The way that they played and the mindset that they had from that morning, it was just so awesome to see it come together. They did what they needed to do playing whatever role the team needed to finally get it together. It was so exciting.”

Finding its footing amid adversity with two big pieces to their team out was vital for the Chiefs.

Buckland was hindered by a rib injury that impacted her performance early in the season. There were times when the Mercer-bound catcher couldn’t play her normal position and also missed games and left others early.

That was part of a rash of injuries for Okemos, which also lost starting shortstop Emily Weiss and had to shuffle players around during what was a 4-10 start to the season.

“It was this ‘Oh crap’ moment and what are we going to do?” Schoonover said. “That was two huge pieces of our puzzle.”

But things eventually came together for the Chiefs. And it was the positive example set by Buckland gutting through her injury to contribute on the field and other areas that helped Okemos as it found its footing.

“It’s hard, especially your senior year when you get an injury like that,” Buckland said. “During your senior year you really want to show your teammates how hard you can work and how you can push yourself. Especially with that injury, there were a couple of innings where I couldn’t play and I had to sit out and be kind of a cheerleader.

“It was a blessing and a curse. It was a curse because I couldn’t catch, but at the same time I got to cheer my teammates on and kind of just support them from a different area on the field.”

Schoonover said Buckland doing whatever she could despite dealing with the injury a majority of the season spoke volumes about her leadership. And Okemos took its lead from Buckland while putting things together and winning 14 of its last 18 games entering Saturday’s regional semifinal against Mattawan.

Buckland picked things up at the plate as the spring progressed to aid the late season surge for Okemos.

And she knows no matter how things go Saturday, this season will be a success story because of what the Chiefs overcame to win a district title.

“(It was) team togetherness and unity, because we couldn’t have bounced back from the season and how it started to how it has been ending without it,” Buckland said. “We kind of grew together. At the beginning of the season we said this is what our record is and how can we change it and how can we work together to fix where we’re at right now? We kind of worked it out as a team. It ended up working out for us.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

SATURDAY’S REGIONALS

BASEBALL
DIVISION 1 AT HOLT
Howell vs. Holt, 10 a.m.
Okemos vs. Portage Northern, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 2 AT HOPE COLLEGE
Lakewood vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 11 a.m.
Championship, 4 p.m.

DIVISION 2 AT FOWLERVILLE
Eaton Rapids vs. DeWitt, 10 a.m.
Fowlerville vs. Portland, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 3 AT LESLIE
Ovid-Elsie vs. Bronson, 10 a.m.
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Parchment, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.

DIVISION 4 AT MERRILL
Portland St. Patrick vs. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran, 10 a.m.
Potterville vs. Bay City All Saints, noon
Championship, 2:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL
DIVISION 1 AT HOLT
Okemos vs. Mattawan, 10 a.m.
Howell vs. Holt, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 2 AT FOWLERVILLE
Fowlerville vs. Alma, 10 a.m.
Eaton Rapids vs. Lansing Catholic, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 3 AT LESLIE
Webberville vs. Parchment, 10 a.m.
Laingsburg vs. Bronson, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 4 AT MERRILL
Fulton vs. Saginaw MLS, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.

Baseball on the Infield Dirt

HOLT – In order for the Holt baseball team to make school history, coach Nate Potts knew his team would have to play some of its best innings early in Saturday’s Division 1 regional tournament.

One win would give this Rams club the most ever in a season. Another victory would give them their first regional title in school history.

But awaiting Holt in the semifinals was No. 6-ranked Howell, and the Highlanders had plans of their own.

After taking a 2-0 lead into the top of the fifth inning, the Rams eventually fell short to Howell, 6-4, in the opening round of the regional tournament held at Holt High School.

“Howell comes out of one of the toughest districts in the State of Michigan,” said Potts, whose team tied the 2005 and 2012 teams for most wins a season (30). “There’s always a good chance that whoever comes out of this region goes all the way to the finals. And we knew that.

“For us to get what we got out of them today was remarkable. …I was proud of the way we came out, and I was proud of the way we finished.”

Okemos’ A.J. Matusz delivers a pitch against Portage Northern in their Division 1 regional semifinal game Saturday, June 11, 2016, at Holt High School. Okemos fell 13-3.

Holt jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Burrell Jones’ stand-up triple scored Tyler Brown. The Rams (30-10) tacked on another run in the bottom of the third after Jesse Heikkinen’s sacrifice fly brought in Drew Stavischeck from third.

Despite the fact that a ground-rule double from the Highlanders’ Bryan Rendell negated two runs in the top of the fifth, Howell went on to score three runs in the inning and never trailed again.

“I think they got a lot of momentum there,” said Heikkinen, a Michigan State commit, who recorded four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work on the mound. “We kept fighting. We left it all out there.”

Holt, trailing 6-2, went on to add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Okemos found itself as the last remaining CAAC Blue team after the Rams went down early Saturday morning. However, in the tournament’s following game, the Chiefs eventually fell to Portage Northern, 13-3, in the bottom of the sixth.

Okemos, which won its first district title since 2007 last week, scored the game’s first run in the top of the first. After the Huskies’ Michael Lincoln walked lead-off hitter Nathan Dane, Luke Stagg’s single four batters later brought Dane home.

Portage Northern quickly tied it up on its first at-bat of the day when Tommy Henry hit a solo home run over the right-field fence. The Huskies went on to add another run before the inning was over.

Going into the top of the fourth, down 6-1, the Chiefs (12-16-2) were able to bring in two runs before two outs were recorded in the inning. Okemos had the bases loaded with just one out on the board, but a fly out by Dane and a strikeout on Billy Brehm stopped the Chiefs from threatening any further.

“It seemed like every time we got the bases full we left a couple out there, and every time they did they brought them all in,” Stagg said. “That was a big difference in the game.”

For coach Phil Magsig, watching his ball club finish the season with a postseason run was promising, as Okemos started the year 0-10-2.

“We just take it one step at a time,” he said. “That’s what’s kind of fun about districts – no matter what your record is going into it, anybody can win it. We proved it this year.”

Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.

Michael Stygles of DeWitt cheers as he raises the Division 2 Regional championship trophy after the Panthers’ defeat of Portland Saturday June 11, 2016 at Fowlerville High School. KEVIN W. FOWLER PHOTO

FOWLERVILLE – Donovan Tarn has been part of teams that have reached the state semifinals and quarterfinals.

The DeWitt senior wants to accomplish even more.

And Tarn played a role in giving the Panther baseball team a shot to do just that Saturday.

Tarn earned a pitching win and delivered the game-clinching RBI while helping DeWitt to a 12-2, five-inning mercy-rule victory over Portland in a Division 2 regional final at Fowlerville.

The win gave the Panthers their third consecutive regional title and sends them into Tuesday’s 1 p.m. quarterfinal at the University of Michigan against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.

“It’s special,” Tarn said. “We went back-to-back-to-back. That’s so rare to do in any sport – to win three regional titles in a row. It’s honestly crazy. I never could (have) expected it. I’m just so proud of our whole team. It was unreal.”

Michael Stygles said the regional title shows how good the DeWitt baseball program has become.

“We’re all very proud that we got this far,” Stygles said. “It’s very, very fun winning all these games this late in the season and I hope we keep doing it.”

Tarn’s day on the mound was about to be over after the Panthers held a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. But the DeWitt bats came to life and made it not necessary for the game to continue beyond the inning.

The Panthers exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth with Tarn’s leadoff double kicking off the inning. After the Panthers batted through the order, Tarn’s hit in the gap ended the game, plating Mark Connelly with the clinching run.

Trevor Kapp, Nolan Knauf, Stygles and Connelly also drove in runs during the seven-run fifth for the Panthers.

“Really all day we hit the ball well,” said DeWitt coach Alan Shankel, whose team opened the regional with a 2-1 victory over Eaton Rapids.

“Eaton Rapids made some tremendous defensive plays on us and kept us from really getting out. We’ve been hitting the ball pretty well all year and I’m just happy that we could break loose there in the fifth.”

The Panthers are now two wins away from playing for a state title and Tarn is trying to do all he can to get that opportunity.

“I just want to make it to that last Saturday – June 18,” Tarn said. “I want to do that. I’ve made it to a semifinal, I’ve made it to a quarterfinal, I’ve won regional titles. There’s one that I haven’t made it to, and that’s the state finals.”

Portland, the CAAC White champion, reached the regional final with a 6-1 victory over Fowlerville.

Mark Brooks, Treyvin Groesser and Haydin Brandt each drove in two runs, while Trevor Trierweiler struck out 10 in the semifinal win for the Raiders.

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Megan Doyle ,14, of Lansing Catholic greets her teammates at homeplate after hitting her second homerun of the game in the 4th inning. The 3 run blast cut the Alma lead to 1.

FOWLERVILLE – Megan Doyle didn’t get many opportunities to hit during the season.

The Lansing Catholic pitcher wanted to prove herself Saturday and help her team more than just in the circle

And Doyle made her point.

Doyle stepped up with two home runs and five RBI for Lansing Catholic in Saturday’s Division 2 regional final. It just wasn’t enough for the Cougars, who suffered an 8-6 loss to Alma in the championship contest at Fowlerville.

The loss ended an unexpected state tournament run for the Cougars, who rallied to beat DeWitt in last week’s district final and then avenged earlier losses to league rival Eaton Rapids on Saturday to earn a shot at a regional title.

“We really found ourselves in the last few weeks and we really pulled through and worked really hard to finish our season strong,” said Doyle, who added a double in the title game.

The tournament run has been equally unexpected for Alma, which had a number of freshmen and sophomores contribute to its regional title.

“No way in the world we expected this this year,” Alma coach Phil Block said. “It’s kind of a Cinderella story with this group. We’ve got seven freshman or sophomore starters of our nine. Everything is a bonus for us. It’s great for the town, it’s great for our softball program.”

And the regional title was also for missing teammate and starting junior shortstop Evelyn VanDeMark, who is fighting bone cancer.

“She worked her butt off and the team remembers her,” Block said. “She worked all winter and she’s a swimmer. She’s fighting this cancer and we’re all behind her.”

Alma (23-17) never trailed in the title game, jumping out to a 5-0 lead while capturing a regional title for the first time since 2002.

But Doyle did her part to give the Cougars (17-17) a shot. She had a two-run home run in the second inning and then capped a four-run fourth with a three-run homer that cut Alma’s lead to 7-6.

Sophomore Amanda Efaw then took over in the circle and kept Lansing Catholic scoreless the rest of the way. Efaw hurled four scoreless innings and allowed just two base runners

One of those base runners was Doyle, who had a one-out double in the sixth. But Efaw got a ground out and a diving catch by her center fielder to help Alma maintain its lead.

“It was close,” Lansing Catholic coach Hub Waite said of his team’s comeback attempt. “I can’t say enough about the kids. They fought hard, they hit well.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Lansing State Journal prep athlete of the week

The high school sports season is entering its final week.

The latest LSJ prep athlete of the week candidates were among the standouts from last week’s action, which included the state golf finals and baseball and softball regionals. Voting is open until noon Wednesday and the winner will be featured in the print edition of the LSJ.

MEGAN DOYLE, LANSING CATHOLIC SOFTBALL: The pitcher helped the Cougars reach the regional final where they fell to Alma. Doyle picked up the pitching victory in a 6-4 semifinal victory over Eaton Rapids. She followed by going 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double and five RBI in the 8-6 championship game loss to Alma.

NATHAN LEHNERT, PORTLAND ST. PATRICK  BASEBALL: The freshman helped the Shamrocks capture their first regional title since 2012 with a strong outing on the mound in the semifinal. Lehnert struck out 12 and didn’t allow a walk or an earned run in St. Patrick’s 6-1 victory over Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in the semi.

HAILEY LEISTER, ALMA SOFTBALL: The freshman was a key part of the Panther offense during their 8-6 victory over Lansing Catholic in Saturday’s Division 2 regional final. Leister had three hits, three runs and an RBI to send the Panthers into Tuesday’s state quarterfinal.

ERIC NUNN, ST. JOHNS GOLF: The junior helped the Redwings capture the Division 2 state title on Saturday. The state title was the first of St. Johns in 55 years. He carded a two-day score of 139 to tie for the individual title before falling in the one-hole playoff. Nunn’s efforts helped St. Johns finish with a score of 597 – four strokes ahead of runner-up East Lansiing.

Vote for LSJ athlete of week: June 6-11 (poll 9444204) | Polldaddy.com

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Brendan Schrauben

Brendan Schrauben was up for the task.

The junior knew his team needed someone to fill a void behind the plate if the Portland St. Patrick baseball team wanted to reach its lofty goals.

And Schrauben has filled that void while also serving as a key hitter for the Shamrocks, who are three wins away from a state title.

Schrauben’s transition from shortstop to catcher has played a large role for St. Patrick, which will try to add to its school record win total when it faces defending state champion Muskegon Catholic Central in a Division 4 quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon at Central Michigan University.

“I was ready to do whatever we needed,” Schrauben said. “Whatever I had to do to make an impact I was ready to do, and catching is something that’s pretty natural for me.”

Catching wasn’t completely foreign to Schrauben, who had played the position through his middle school days. He also played it minimally as a freshman before primarily serving as the Shamrocks’ shortstop last spring.

But St. Patrick coach Bryan Scheurer knew in order for his team to be the best it could this year, it needed Schrauben to move behind the plate.

“You can’t be weak at the catcher position because otherwise walks or singles turn into doubles and triples and teams find that out fast,” Scheurer said. “You can’t hide a catcher and want to be a high-level baseball team. We try to expose other team’s weaknesses in that way and we’re sure not going to let that be one of ours. I think he just noticed this matters and I’m helping us and this is a big deal.”

Travis Moyer, who has been the Shamrocks’ pitching ace this spring, has been impressed with the job his close friend Schrauben has done behind the plate.

“He’s done a great job there, an unbelievable job really, and he’s made us a great team,” Moyer said. “Knowing our team needed a solid catcher back there kind of helped him with the situation and adapting to that. He wanted to be good for the team and help the team out as much as possible.”

And Schrauben’s presence behind the plate has provided St. Patrick with the boost it was hoping for. The Shamrocks, who captured their first regional crown since 2010, have a school record 32 victories entering their 1 p.m. matchup against Muskegon Catholic Central.

“It just made us as a team the best we can be,” Scheurer said. “Our kids are awesome at knowing that sometimes what’s best for the team is more important than what’s best for you individually.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

TUESDAY’S QUARTERFINALS

BASEBALL
DIVISION 2
At University of Michigan: DeWitt vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 1 p.m.

DIVISION 4
At Central Michigan University: Portland St. Patrick vs. Muskegon Catholic Central, 1 p.m.

SOFTBALL
DIVISION 2
At University of Michigan: Alma vs. Livonia Ladywood, 1 p.m.

DIVISION 3
At Bailey Park (Battle Creek): Webberville vs. Grandville Calvin Christian, 3:30 p.m.

Pitcher Donovan Tarn of DeWitt pumps his fist after the Panthers got the last out in their Division 2 state quarterfinal win over Gabriel Richard Tuesday June 14, 2016 at Ray Fisher Stadium on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.

ANN ARBOR – By his own high standards, Donovan Tarn wasn’t pleased with how his season began.

But the DeWitt senior is in the midst of a strong finish that could get even better in a few days.

Tarn has been a driving force in the DeWitt baseball team’s chase for a Division 2 state championship. He has delivered on the mound and at the plate for the Division 2 honorable mention Panthers, who have a chance to move another step closer to a state title when they face No. 3-ranked Holland Christian in a state semifinal at 9 a.m. Thursday at Michigan State University’s McLane Stadium.

And it was Tarn’s efforts at the plate and on the mound in Tuesday’s 4-3 comeback quarterfinal win over Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard that has DeWitt two wins away from a state championship. Tarn drove in the game-tying run during the Panthers’ four-run sixth, and that helped back his complete game outing on the mound where he struck out seven and scattered six hits.

“I can’t say enough about him,” DeWitt coach Alan Shankel said. “We were on this field (at the University of Michigan) last year. He didn’t throw after a shutout in regionals and when we get done he said to me, ‘I should have thrown.’ And we said to him at that time, ‘Next year.’ We’re just fortunate to have the chance for him to do it and for him to come through and do what he did was awesome.

“He’s a senior leader. Obviously he knows that the end of his playing days are over soon. He wants to take advantage of every opportunity he gets. He’s been the heartbeat, he’s been the guy that’s pushing and wants it. (We’ve had) just great high school leadership out of him and we’re happy to have him.”

Tarn has delivered throughout the stretch run of the regular season and during the state tournament for the Panthers (30-9-1). That has included homering twice in a district championship victory over Lansing Catholic and igniting the seven-run inning that turned what was a close game into a mercy-rule victory over Portland in Saturday’s regional final.

“I had kind of a slow start by my standards,” said Tarn, who is now hitting .429 with five homers, 13 doubles and 39 RBI and sports a 2.30 earned run average and has 79 strikeouts on the mound. “My teammates helped pick me up. They saw that common goal with me. The state championship is really what drives me and that’s what I want to get.”

And the Panthers know Tarn will do all in his power to try to give DeWitt an opportunity to play for its third state championship and first since 1993.

“At the beginning of the year he was kind of struggling but at the end of the year his bat has started to come alive and his pitching is just dominant,” DeWitt junior Michael Stygles said. “He’s dominant. He always has the potential to get a big hit or big run when he needs to. He’s been that senior leader that’s always ready to hit and always focused on the mound.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS
(at Michigan State University)

THURSDAY
BASEBALL
9 a.m. – Division 2: DeWitt vs. Holland Christian
11:30 a.m. – Division 2: Linden vs. Dearborn Divine Child
2:30 p.m. Division 1: Traverse City West vs. Warren DeLaSalle
5 p.m. – Division 1: Saline vs. Hartland
SOFTBALL
10 a.m. – Division 1: Midland vs. Macomb Dakota
12:30 p.m. – Division 1: Mattawan vs. Farmington Hills Mercy
3 p.m. – Division 2: Vicksburg vs. Livonia Ladywood
5:30 p.m. – Division 2: Escanaba vs. Richmond

FRIDAY
BASEBALL
9 a.m. – Division 4: Centreville vs. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian
11:30 a.m. – Division 4: Portland St. Patrick vs. Gaylord St. Mary’s
2:30 p.m. – Division 3: New Lothrop vs. Jackson Lumen Christi
5 p.m. – Division 3: Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett vs. Mason County Central
SOFTBALL
10 a.m. – Division 3: Millington vs. Grandville Calvin Christian
12:30 p.m. – Division 3: Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central vs. Gladstone
3 p.m. – Division 4: Unionville-Sebewaing vs. Morenci
5:30 p.m. – Division 4: Indian River Inland Lakes vs. Holton

Averi Munro, shown sliding safely into second base during a game last month, is among the mid-Michigan seniors playing in Friday’s Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame all-star softball game.

Averi Munro started her varsity softball career with a focus on just putting the ball in play.

The recent Morrice graduate did that in record-setting fashion.

Munro left a big mark with her bat for the Orioles, setting numerous school single-season and career offensive marks while etching her name in the MHSAA record books.

And she will represent Morrice one more time Friday evening when she is among the mid-Michigan seniors playing in the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame all-star softball games at Ranney Park.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to play with all these great athletes that I’ve faced over the years or played with,” said Munro, who is among 52 area seniors slated to play Friday.

Munro, a shortstop that is signed to continue her career at Alma College, was one of mid-Michigan’s most accomplished softball players. She concluded her prep career ranked in the top-10 in MHSAA history in career home runs (30), triples (30) doubles (67), hits (271), batting average (.631), runs (266) and RBI (287).

Munro didn’t think she was capable of achieving many of those accomplishments as a freshman.

“I knew I wanted to have a good batting average,” Munro said. “I didn’t actually know I’d be a power hitter at that time. My freshman year I didn’t know what my outcome would be, but as I started hitting them out my goals changed a little bit to get some of the records.

“It’s a great accomplishment for me. Being able to play with the team I had and my dad as the coach, it’s been great. It’s just amazing feeling to know that I hold those records because I love this small town community and I love Morrice.”

The success Munro experienced the last four years she credits to her father, Gene, who is Morrice’s varsity softball coach. Munro leaned on her father for support while following in his footsteps by setting career records on the diamond. Gene Munro also was a record-setting baseball player at Morrice and hit 22 home runs during his varsity career.

He’s enjoyed seeing what Averi has accomplished and said plenty of work has gone into her success.

“She can hit,” Gene Munro said. “She works on her hitting, she takes a lot of pride in her hitting. She’s got a real good arm. It’s been a pleasure to coach Averi. You couldn’t ask for a better team player. If I ask her to bunt, she’s going to bunt. If I ask her to pitch or catch, she’s going to go do those. She’s just a great team player and it’s been a joy for me to coach Averi with the way she puts her love into the game.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

ALL-STAR SOFTBALL GAMES

When: 6 p.m., 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Ranney Park

Price: $5, free for children 12 and under

Lansing Catholic’s Tony Poljan is the LSJ’s 2016 senior male athlete of the year.

Tony Poljan didn’t have a choice.

Growing up in a household with seven competitive kids, the recent Lansing Catholic graduate learned quickly he needed to be the best he could at all times in order to survive.

Poljan, the middle of the seven, knew losing to a sibling was a possibility if he wasn’t at his best in whatever the competition was on any given day.

“Anything we do from playing bocce ball to backyard football, volleyball, fishing and swimming — it’s just always competitive because no one wants to lose,” Poljan said.

“I’d definitely say we are a competitive family. That was one of the main things that pushed me to be the person I am today.”

That competitiveness at home started with mother, Amy, and father, Rick, who both were college athletes. Amy is in the Indiana University hall of fame after a record-setting career as a softball pitcher, while Rick played football at Central Michigan.

And Poljan used the benefits he got from stiff athletic competition at home to lead the Lansing Catholic football and boys basketball programs to plenty of success. He was one of the driving forces on Lansing Catholic teams that ranked among the best in the state, and he is the Lansing State Journal’s senior male athlete of the year.

“It definitely helped having a lot of guys loving to do what they do best, which is playing sports,” Poljan said. “I’m just very happy I got to contribute in a way I could contribute to those great teams and those great successes we’ve had with some of those teams at Lansing Catholic.”

Poljan earned Associated Press first team all-state in both football and basketball as a senior to cap a standout varsity athletic career with the Cougars. He was a part of four league championship basketball teams and helped Lansing Catholic to a 19-2 record and a No. 3 ranking in Class B in the final Associated Press regular season poll.

Tony Poljan became Lansing Catholic’s career basketball scoring leader in March.

The 6-foot-7 Poljan capped his high school basketball career by setting the school’s career scoring record at 1,345 points. That broke the old record of 1,305 points that was set by Ralph Coleman, who played for what was then the St. Mary Cathedral Big Blues from 1953-56.

But it was as at quarterback where Poljan really flourished, especially in his final two seasons when he set numerous records and guided the Cougars to state tournament runs that went into late November. Poljan guided Lansing Catholic to a 24-3 mark in his final two seasons. He finished his varsity career with 6,179 passing yards and 59 TD passes and also rushed for 3,044 yards.

It was more than Poljan’s towering 6-foot-7 frame that led to that success. Lansing Catholic coach Jim Ahern said Poljan complemented his natural talent with hard work.

“Even though he had physical ability, he worked really hard,” said Ahern, who witnessed Poljan make significant strides and emerge as an all-state quarterback as a junior. “He was a really hard worker as far as trying to make himself better all the time. I’ve had other kids that physically have those attributes but don’t have the work ethic that he did. I think that was a big part of it.”

Ahern believes that work ethic will help Poljan find success in the Central Michigan football program. Poljan signed with CMU because of the opportunity to chase his dream of being a college quarterback.

Poljan will have a chance to follow and learn from another Lansing Catholic grad – Cooper Rush – as he tries to position himself to be the Chippewas’ starting quarterback in the future.

“I think he’s going to do well there,” Ahern said. “It’s nice that he’s got Cooper to follow and to learn from. He’s more than willing to learn. He’s a very, very coachable kid even though he’s got all this talent. He’ll listen and try to do what you tell him to do.

“He’s going to be successful in football or in anything just because of his work ethic and ability to take coaching or advice.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Holt’s Bry Chapman winds up for a pitch against Jackson in their district championship game Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Grand Ledge High School.

Having success on the softball diamond has always been important to Bry Chapman.

The recent Holt graduate has always wanted to prove her talent both in the circle and at the plate.

And she did that once again this spring while leading Holt to another successful season.

Chapman guided the Rams to CAAC Blue and district championships while repeating as the LSJ softball player of the year.

One of the biggest focuses for Chapman this spring was helping Holt prove that its dominant 2015 season wasn’t a fluke. And she did her part in making that happen by being the pitching ace and one of the main cogs in the middle of the Rams’ lineup.

“I think we were able to prove we weren’t a fluke and that we belonged at the top of the (CAAC) Blue and at the top of our district,” Chapman said. “We were always told that teams like Grand Ledge were gunning for us, and that it was going to be harder this year because of how successful we were last year. I think we just proved to ourselves that we were as good as we believed we were and we could do whatever we believed in.

“When you win the league and you win the (Softball) Classic the year before, people look at you as the team to beat. That puts a little bit of a different pressure on you, and you just really want to be able to prove to your fans and your teammates and everyone watching that you are good and you can do it.”

This year’s league title was the second straight for Holt, which also accomplished a program first by winning a Division 1 district title for a third consecutive year while finishing 29-9. Chapman was proud of what the Rams accomplished while playing a more challenging schedule this spring.

Softball coach of year: Fulton’s Chris Barrus

“I thought my team performed really well based on the fact that we had a lot of adversity this year,” Chapman said. “We lost some games early in the season where in the previous season we had only lost two until the end of the year. We found a way to bounce back and find our new groove because we had six-ish new players on our team this year. We really found a way to fit together well toward the end. I was really proud.”

She was also proud of the legacy she and Holt’s other seniors left. Chapman was part of a senior class that came up together through the lower levels to experience plenty of success on varsity for coach Kim Reichard.

“I was really lucky to be in one of the better senior classes at Holt for softball,” Chapman said. “I want the upcoming seniors to see that when all of your seniors buy in and they believe and they all give every single pitch 110 percent, that you can be as good as you want to be and you can accomplish your goals.

“I remember setting all the goals my freshman year and we fell short. I just remember each year my senior class getting hungrier and hungrier and just wanting to work toward that. My hope is our legacy is that drive and that following senior classes have that same passion for the game that we did.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Chris Barrus

Chris Barrus wasn’t quite sure what he was going to get out of his young team that had just four returning starters.

But the Fulton softball coach was hoping things would go well enough for his team to finish in the top portion of the CMAC and contend for a district title.

The Pirates exceeded those expectations this spring.

Fulton won CMAC and Division 4 district titles this spring – the first in school history – under Barrus, who is the softball coach of the year. The Pirates finished 32-7 and had a 13-win improvement in a spring that featured historic accomplishments.

“I did not expect that,” Barrus said. “Did I think that we had a good chance of getting a district title?  Yeah, as the year went along (I did). But not to win a league title and then win a district title and then able to get to a regional final. I was very surprised by that.”

Fulton had big holes to fill with its entire infield departed from the 2015 team that finished 19-13. Barrus put his focus on getting his younger group to believe in themselves and believe they were capable of having success.

That worked with a smaller senior class led by standout senior pitcher Connor Proctor leading the way and getting the rest of the Pirates to buy into Barrus’ message.

Softball player of year: Holt’s Bry Chapman

“They really stepped up and just showed the girls what needed to be done,” Barrus said. “They came to practice every day just wanting to get better and working hard. They showed the younger girls this is what we have to do to become a team. If it was not for them and the way they led this team this year, we would not have done what we did.”

A road doubleheader sweep of Bath – who Barrus viewed as one of the teams to beat in the CMAC – was a key turning point for Fulton. Barrus entered the doubleheader hoping for a split and got more than that. And that set things in motion for the school’s first-ever softball league title.

“It’s humbling that I was able to be a part of getting the first league title and first district title,” Barrus said. “I was humbled to be able to be a part of this team and see this group of girls play the way they did. They just came to work every day. Every day they wanted to get better. They kept believing in themselves and they worked hard. I was very proud to see that they accomplished this.”

Barrus hopes this year’s success will give the Pirates momentum for the future.

“We haven’t had a JV program for the last three years,” Barrus said. “Hopefully this will build on that and we’ll get some more girls to come out and get the JV program going again. Hopefully we’ll keep building.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

Meet the Lansing State Journal 2016 Softball Dream Team.

DREAM TEAM

Kate Buckland, Okemos – Division 1 honorable mention all-state

Bry Chapman, Holt

Olivia Cottom, Holt

Kennedy Geiger, Lakewood

Lindsay Goodman, Grand Ledge

Abby Grys, Portland – Division 2 honorable mention all-state

Erin Hunt, Webberville – Division 3 first team all-state

Averi Munro, Morrice – Division 4 first team all-state

Olivia Roe, Portland

Jorie Rutkowski, Portland – Division 2 honorable mention all-state

Connor Proctor, Fulton – Division 4 first team all-state

Emily Songer, Grand Ledge

Abby VanLake, DeWitt

Elly Wythe, Eaton Rapids – Division 2 first team all-state

Coach: Chris Barrus, Fulton

Softball player of year: Holt’s Bry Chapman
Softball coach of year: Fulton’s Chris Barrus

DIVISION 1 ALL-AREA
Kendall Bird, Holt
Jamie Carroll, St. Johns
Tracee Hartley, Holt
Kahlei Ethridge, Grand Ledge
Mikailah Jackson, Waverly
Elizabeth Knox, Okemos
Mackinley Lane, Holt
Sally Patterson, Okemos
Andrea Petrowitz, East Lansing
Kasey Ramirez, Holt
Adriann Simison, St. Johns
Maddie Stump, Waverly
Kenzie Trierweiler, Grand Ledge
Coaches:  Kim Reichard, Holt / Chrissy Schoonover, Okemos

DIVISION 1 ALL-AREA HONORABLE MENTION
Nina Bennett, Grand Ledge
Cecilia David, Everett
Seneca DeSander, St. Johns
Kaitlynn Johnson, East Lansing
Hope Morrissey, Okemos
Bri Rodriguez, Grand Ledge
Kayla Sadler, Holt
Kendall Smith, St. Johns
Brittany VanHorn, St. Johns

DIVISION 2 ALL-AREA
Maranda Barton, Lakewood
Emily Barker, Lakewood
Shelby Battley, Portland
Aubrie Benward, Eaton Rapids
Rachel Click, Portland
Ally Hawkins, DeWitt
Aaron Kietzman, Lakewood
Autumn Kissman, Mason
Ashtyn Livermore, Lakewood
Clair Phifer, Lansing Catholic
Rebecka Poljan, Lansing Catholic
Jordan Richmond, Olivet
Kortney Simon, DeWitt
Shelby Steele, Eaton Rapids
Nikki Willard, DeWitt
Coach: Steve Spetoskey, Lakewood

DIVISION 2 HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AREA
McKenzie Anderson, Eaton Rapids
Samantha Challender, Ionia
Hannah DeJaegher, Eastern
Amanda Efaw, Alma
Jaclyn Groves, Olivet
Tori Hyde, Corunna
Madelyn Irelan, Owosso
Maegan Jodway, Owosso
Kate Jones, Owosso
Brenna Madry, Olivet
Sarah Matlock, Fowlerville
Janelle McCoy, Mason
Keelin McManus, Haslett
Kalise Moeckel, Williamston
Kara Mott, Olivet
Shawna Morton, Olivet
Sam Munson, Haslett
Adrianna Novara, Portland
Haley Overholtz, Eaton Rapids
Erin Painter, Haslett
Carlie Palmore, Eastern
Raeanna Peters, Ionia
Kayla Sanford, Lansing Catholic
Anna Walta, Mason
Ashley White, Ionia
Val Winn, Fowlerville
Riley Wertz, Charlotte
Yasmeen Mack, Sexton

DIVISION 3 ALL-AREA
Kayla Belles, Ithaca
Taylor Buck, Bath
Kylee Chaffin, Ithaca
Brooklyn Dolloff, Ithaca
Katie Eppard, Laingsburg
Michelle Hannah, Laingsburg
Bailey Holtham, Bath
Josie Manion, Saranac
Taylor Medina, Maple Valley
Madelyn Miller, Saranac
Alyssa Nurenburg, Pewamo-Westphalia
Taryn Peru, Bath
MacKenzie Thelen, Pewamo-Westphalia
Coach: Andrew Smith, Webberville / Darren Buck, Bath

DIVISION 3 HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AREA
Tyler Adkins, Laingsburg
Faye Bayer, Laingsburg
Andrea Chipman, Saraanc
Kelsey Coulter, Saranac
Emma Kyes, Bath
Michaela Johnson, Maple Valley
Emily Morris, Maple Valley
Kassidy Moffitt, Bath
Lindsey Smith, Laingsburg
Kenzie Wirth, Pewamo-Westphalia

DIVISION 4 ALL-AREA
Jessica Eva, Morrice
Taylor Hewitt, Morrice
Kylee Kiczenski, Morrice
Kennedy Koenigsknecht, Fowler
Jenna Lehman, Portland St. Patrick
Kirsten Maniez, Fulton
Julie O’Berry, Morrice
Taylor Schmitt, Fowler
Jolie Weber, Fowler
Jadyn Wood, Morrice
Coach: Gene Munro, Morrice

DIVISION 4 HONORABLE MENTION
Chloe Cross, Portland St. Patrick
Chloe Fife, Fulton
Brea Kubasczyk, Potterville
Emily Miros, Portland St. Patrick
Kelsey Schneider, Portland ST. Patrick

Kate Buckland

Kate Buckland spent her entire high school softball career hoping her play on the field would result in all-state accolades.

It finally did this spring for the catcher and recent Okemos graduate, despite a rib injury that impacted her performance in the season’s early stages.

Buckland bounced back from that injury to finish the season strong and help Okemos capture a district title while earning Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association honorable mention all-state honors in Division 1.

And those all-state accolades have resulted in Buckland getting a final opportunity to represent Okemos at the MHSSCA all-star games Wednesday at Central Michigan University’s Jonker Stadium.

“I was unbelievably happy and really surprised (to get all-state) because I know coming off an injury in your senior season and to go on to be named all-state honorable mention is really hard,” Buckland said. “I was just happy and honored to finally have got that.”

Buckland is one of four players from Mid-Michigan on rosters for Wednesday’s all-star games. Ithaca’s Brooklyn Dolloff will play in the Division 3 contest, while Fulton’s Connor Proctor and Morrice’s Averi Munro will each be in the Division 4 game. Webberville’s Andy Smith is one of the coaches for the Division 3 contest.

Buckland, who will continue her softball career at Division 1 Mercer University, is looking forward to playing with some of the state’s top recently graduated seniors as she makes her final preparations for college.

“I’m just really excited for it because you get to play with the best in the state,” Buckland said. “I’ve gotten to know a couple of girls through travel ball, so getting to face off with them on the same field at the same time is going to be a really cool experience. I’m excited for it.”

Buckland, who leaves for Mercer in a month, has been focused on staying healthy and keeping up with her training, conditioning and weight lifting so she’s prepared as much as possible when she arrives on the Macon, Ga., campus.

And Buckland would like to be a part of an incoming freshman class that helps Mercer bounce back from a 23-35 season next year.

“I just want to go down there and help my team,” Buckland said. “Last season was a little bit of struggle for Mercer, but I know this year we have a really good freshman class. I’m really hoping I can really work hard to (help) improve our season and hopefully win a championship in the (Southern Conference). We’ll see.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

MHSSCA All-Star games

When: Wednesday (Division 1 – 9:30 a.m./ Division 2 – 11:30 a.m. / Division 3 – 1:30 p.m./ Division 4 – 3:30 p.m.)

Where: Central Michigan University’s Jonker Stadium

Mid-Michigan participants: Division 1 – Kate Buckland, Okemos; Division 3 – Brooklyn Dolloff, Ithaca / Andy Smith, Webberville coach; Division 4 – Averi Munro, Morrice / Connor Proctor, Fulton.