MUSKEGON, MI – The 2024 Michigan high school softball season has just begun, but several Muskegon-area teams are already showing impressive results and championship-level potential.
Below is an overview of five Muskegon area softball teams that are heading in the right direction for the 2024 season.
—
Ravenna (9-0)
The Bulldogs reached the Division 3 state semifinals last season and return this spring with many of the same playmakers that made that memorable run possible. Ravenna entered the season ranked No. 8 in the Division 3 poll, backing up its early season honors with a 9-0 start heading into the 2024 season.
The defending West Michigan Conference Rivers Division champions have already dominated Fremont, Holton and Shelby in a doubleheader and advanced by defeating Grant, Howard City Tri-County and Cedar Springs in the Kubasiak Neighborhood Tournament last weekend.
Emma Herremans continues to be one of the state’s top batters as the anchor of the Bulldog lineup, with Riley Homoly, Reese Herremans, Emily Postema, Sydney Morrissey and Kendra Denhoff also adding strong performances at the plate.
Addison Gillard has proven to be a top arm out of Ravenna’s circle, as evidenced by his 12-strikeout performance in a 5-0 win over Cedar Springs in the Kubasiak Tournament championship game. . Riley Homoly has also been a reliable pitcher for the Bulldogs, pitching three perfect innings against Grant in the second round of the tournament last weekend.
—
Oak Ridge (7-1)
The Eagles return most of their lineup from last year’s team, which won the Western Michigan Conference Lakes Division and also won the district title. This powerhouse program really took off in his 2024, with wins over Mona Shores, Spring Lake, Zeeland East, and dominant wins over Ludington and Whitehall in a doubleheader.
The team’s only loss was a narrow 1-0 decision to No. 4 Escanaba at the Lakeshore Grand Slam tournament last weekend.
A strong hitting lineup of Maddie Clark, Arya Doornbos, Gracie Willea, Gracie Clark, Kaylin Joza and Kelsey Osborne led the Eagles to a combined 31 points in two wins over Spring Lake and Zeeland East over the weekend. Ta.
Kylie Willea is the team’s leading pitcher so far this season with 15 strikeouts and only one run allowed in 13.1 innings. Kaylin Joza and Kelsey Osborne have also continued their efforts as elites in the circle so far this season.
—
North Muskegon (7-1)
The Norse team got off to a great start to the season with a 7-1 record, defeating Hesperia, Ludington and Mason County Central in a doubleheader. The team’s only loss was a close 6-3 decision to Granville Calvin Christian (D3 honorable mention).
North Muskegon’s sweep of Hesperia last week showed the potential danger this season saw the team go 16-0, 17-0.
Madison Barron served as the team’s anchor from the pitching circle, striking out 14 batters, walking three, and pitching a no-hitter and no runs in the opening game against Hesperia. Meanwhile, freshman Brady Baker had a complete game with seven strikeouts in three innings. Nightcap.
Barron, Byla Lang, Matty Hausman, Audrey Brown and Mila Van Tol will each be at the plate for North Muskegon as it looks to compete for the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division crown this season. Appeared.
—
Reese-Puffer (7-0-1)
The Rockets swept Mona Shores, West Ottawa, and Holland in a doubleheader to remain undefeated until mid-April, defeated Allendale 16-6, and defeated the Falcons 5-5 in the second game of the doubleheader. Despite the tie, the second game of the doubleheader was called early. darkness.
Kylie Bilek and Maddie Snyder form a dynamic duo for Reese-Puffer from the pitching staff, with Snyder recently leading the way in the team’s 12-1 win over Holland in the opening game of the OK Green Conference doubleheader. , striking out seven batters in four innings. In the nightcap, he had six strikeouts in four innings and won 11-1.
Kayleigh Jones, Megan Vermes, Laney McDaniel, Abby Critchett, Natalie Kunen, and Rowan Bloom have all had multi-hitting off the bat in games for the Rockets already, giving the team a balanced lineup. He developed this technique and gave opposing pitchers a sense of fit from the start. A few weeks into the 2024 season.
—
Grand Haven (4-3)
The Buccaneers enter the 2024 season with high expectations and a daunting schedule, and they have shown glimpses of their true potential through seven games. The team was swept by No. 2 Vicksburg (Division 2) in a nonconference road doubleheader last week, then lost 8-5 to No. 4 Hudsonville (Division 1) on Monday.
This resilient team responded Tuesday night with an impressive victory over OK Red Conference foe East Kentwood by a score of 8-2, 4-3.
Sophomore standout Lorelei Szczuk continues to evolve into a game-changing pitcher, striking out 16 batters in the team’s first-round win against the Falcons. Bry Borgman added nine strikeouts from the circle for Grand Haven in the nightcap.
Kendall Pearl, Haley Alsip, Bela Korf, Crosby Riemersma, Maya Deaton, Sami Franz and Szczuk hit in time to strengthen the Buccaneers’ balanced lineup, which will only get stronger as the season progresses. right.
—
Follow Josh VanDyke twitter and Facebook See more West Michigan sports content
Want local high school sports news delivered to your inbox every day for free? click here Sign up for local high school sports newsletters.
Do you love reading about local sports? Don’t miss out on the excitement of the upcoming season. Purchase a subscription Get full access to all MLive stories.
—
