Softball

Sara Hansen put together one of the best softball seasons in MHSAA history this spring. And here's the most incredible part -- she's still got two more high school seasons to play. We caught up with Hansen last week while the National Federation of State High School...

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart's Sara Hansen helped her softball team this spring to its first MHSAA Semifinals appearance since 1994. That, in itself, was plenty to celebrate.

It's likely that few gave the Dansville softball team a shot to win the Division 4 championship last weekend, given the two-time reigning champion sitting on the opposite side of the bracket. But the Aggies thought they had a chance. And that’s what longtime coac...

A pair of Ishpeming Westwood golfers and the Dansville softball team receive the final Second Half High 5s of the 2011-12 school year.

Dansville’s three  MHSAA Semifinal games over the last four seasons included a nine-run loss to Petersburg-Summerfield in 2010, the first of two straight seasons the Bulldogs went on to win the Division 4 title. It was fair to expect a similar result in Satu...

The combined numbers put up Mattawan and Hudsonville in Saturday’s Division 1 Final at Bailey Park indicate a game that came down to just one play. And Eagles junior shortstop Danielle Freeman made it when she slid into home safely to give her team a 2-1 win in 1...

The legend of Livonia Ladywood sophomore Lauren Hayes sprouted with two outs left in Friday’s Division 2 Semifinal at Bailey Park. It grew exponentially in Saturday’s championship game.

Clinton seniors Tierney Nelson, Haley Mercy and Abi Clark finished their four-year varsity careers and fourth trips to Bailey Park with their team’s second-straight Division 3 championship Saturday. Nelson struck out seven and gave up six hits as the Redskins wer...

Dansville catcher Rebekah Guy waited four years for Friday’s tears of joy, and through two Semifinals losses when the tears were sorrowful. And her coach Mick Ream pointed out Friday that he’s been waiting 31 years to coach his team in an MHSAA championship ...

Hudsonville had scored at least 10 runs in 16 games this season heading into Friday’s Semifinals at Bailey Park. Simply put, the Eagles can hit. But their performance against Garden City might’ve redefined just how well.

Briana Combs carried Livonia Ladywood as long as she could Friday before her left knee said no more. But thanks to the equally heroic relief of sophomore Lauren Hayes, Combs and the Blazers will get a chance Saturday to win their first MHSAA championship.

Tierney Nelson is feeling a little old this weekend at Bailey Park. It’s all relative, of course, to the fact she’s finishing her Clinton career with a fourth and final trip to the MHSAA Softball Finals.

Three of last season's MHSAA softball champions will return to Battle Creek's Bailey Park on Friday looking to make it two -- or in Petersburg-Summerfield's case, three -- in a row. Get up to speed by checking out this weekend's schedule, followed by a look at each of ...

Brad Walraven didn't set out to become a high school softball coach. But few in the nation -- yes, nation -- have had more success.

Sunglasses on whether it’s sunny or not, fastballs blazing and drop-balls dipping, Decatur senior Erika Southworth is an intimidating foe for those who dare step into the batters box. But that’s just her on-field persona. When games are done, she talks with...

None of this week's High 5s honorees knows much about losing. Ann Arbor Pioneer's Drake Johnson is unequaled in his best race, Decatur's Erika Southworth has averaged more than 25 wins pitching each season of high school, and the Remus Chippewa Hills girls track team ha...

Two future Big Ten athletes and a two-time reigning MHSAA champion have already made some significant strides this spring.

A decade ago, when second-grader Sarah Appold decided she wanted to give pitching a try, her dad Randy built her a pitching mound in the backyard. It clearly got some use.

A couple record-setting pitchers and one of this season's golf championship contenders received this week's Second Half High 5s.