Grand Ledge vs. Williamston – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 21, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, in the last of the quarterfinal games of the Hall of Game Softball Classic sponsored by the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame, the Comets from Grand Ledge will compete with the Hornets from Williamston. Ranney Park is a beautiful softball park and I’d like to give kudos to Hall of Fame Director, who has done a magnificent job preparing the field for the tournament.

Waverly and Fowler put on an extra-inning thriller in the first game of the evening. Here is the play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/05/22/fowlerville-vs-waverly-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-21-2024-by-chuck-krafft/

Here are the starting lineups.

WILLIAMSTON

Jaiden Griffith p

Thea Fortin ss

Ava Jolin 2b

Anna Judit 3b

Shea O’Neil dp

Abby Stiffler c

Allison Kane rf

Tamara Sleight cf

Alice Ahern will play first base, but not bat.

GRAND LEDGE

Kailey Nelson 2b

Gianna Nacarotto ss

Jade Queen cf

Tomia Geter p

Kaysen Strohaver dp

Zoe Hart 1b

Bella Perez rf

Adyson Fulton 3b

Kaylee Costello lf

Madison Wohlscheid will catch, but will not bat.

Let’s take a look at this game through the eyes of a seasoned (hopefully not aging) Bleacher Denizen who was never able to make much of a dent in the baseball or softball world. Your Bleacher Denizen was a demon on the bases until the powers that be declared that the jet pack he used while running the bases was illegal.

Grand Ledge Pitcher Tomia Geter retired Williamston’s leadoff batter on a fly to center field. Thea Fortin walked, but was forced out at second base when Ava Jolin was safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Ava Jolin took second base on a passed ball. Tomia Geter retired the next hitter on a fly to the pitcher to end the inning.

Williamston Pitcher Jaiden Griffith retired Grand Ledge’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning and struck out the next batter. Jade Queen singled to right field and moved to second base when Tomia Geter was safe at first base on an error. The next Comet hitter popped up to first base to end the inning.

Tomia Geter retired the Hornet leadoff batter in the top of the second inning on a fly to center field. Abby Stiffler was safe at first base on an error. Julia Belloli entered the game as a courtesy runner for Abby Stiffler. Allison Kane singled to left field and Julia Belloli advanced to second base. Julia Belloli went to third base and Allison Kane to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Tamara Sleight. Katie Bush doubled off the center field fence to drive in Julia Belloli and Allison Kane. Tomia Geter retired the next hitter on a popup to the shortstop to end the inning.

Williamston scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Jaiden Griffith struck out the Comet leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second inning. Bella Perez walked. Grand Ledge made its final two outs of the inning on a fly to the pitcher and a grounder to third base.

Tomia Geter struck out Williamston’s first two batters in the top of the third inning. Anna Judit walked and went to second and then third base on wild pitches. The Hornets made their third out of the inning on a grounder to third base.

Jaiden Griffith retired the first two Comet hitters in the bottom of the third inning on a grounder to shortstop and a strikeout. Jade Queen blasted a double off the center field fence. Grand Ledge made its third out on a popup to second base.

Abby Stiffler walked to lead off the top of the fourth inning for the Hornets. She advanced to second base on a single to left field by Allison Kane. Abby Stiffler went to third base and Allison Kane to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Tamara Sleight. Tomia Geter struck out the next Williamston batter. Jaiden Griffith tripled to deep center field to drive in Abby Stiffler and Allison Kane. (She showed some really impressive speed; most hitters would have only gotten a double.) Comet Second Baseman Kaily Nelson made a fine catch in short right field to end the inning.

Williamston scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 4-0.

Jaiden Griffith retired the Grand Ledge leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth inning on a grounder to third base. Zoe Hart doubled down the left field line. Bella Perez walked. Adyson Fulton singled to right field to drive Zoe Hart home as Bella Perez moved to third base. Adyson Fulton advanced to second base on a throw.

Indya Fitzpatrick pinch hit and drew a walk to load the bases. Kailey Nelson lined a single to left field to drive in Bella Perez as Adyson Fulton went to third base and Indya Fitzpatrick to second base. Adyson Fulton was out at home and Gianna Naccarato was safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Indya Fitzpatrick went to third base and Kailey Nelson to second base on the play.

Jade Queen walked to force Indya Fitzpatrick home as Kailey Nelson moved to third base and Gianna Naccarato to second base. Grand Ledge made its final out of the inning on a popup to the pitcher.

Grand Ledge scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Williamston lead to 4-3.

Tomia Geter struck out the Hornet leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning. Anna Judit walked and went to second base on a single to right field by Shea O’Neil. Anna Judit took third base on a fly to center field by Abby Stiffler. Anna Judit scored and Shea O’Neil advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Tomia Geter struck out the next hitter to end the inning.

Williamston scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to boost its lead to 5-3.

Kaysen Strohaver singled to right field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Grand Ledge and went to second base on a wild pitch. She had to hold at second base when Zoe Hart blooped a single to right field. Jaiden Griffith retired the next three Comet hitters on two flies to center field and a strikeout.

Tamara Sleight and Katie Bush walked to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Williamston. Tamara Sleight advanced to third base and Katie Bush to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jaiden Griffith. Tomia Geter retired the next two Hornet batters on a grounder to the pitcher and a fly to center field where Jade Green made a classic grab to hold Williamston scoreless for the inning.

Kailey Nelson beat out an infield single to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Grand Ledge. Kailey Nelson advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Gianna Nacarotto walked. Jade Green was safe at first base and Kailey Nelson out at third base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the pitcher. Gianna Nacarotto advanced to second base on the play. Hornet First Baseman Alice Ahern made and excellent catch of a soft fly by the next Comet hitter to record the second out of the inning.

Gianna Nacarotto went to third base and Jade Green to second base on a wild pitch. Kaysen Strohaver walked to load the bases. Zoe Hart walked to force Gianna Nacarotto home as Jade Green went to third base and Kaysen Strohaver to second base. Bella Perez doubled to center field to drive Jade Queen and Kaysen Strohaver home. Zoe Hart advanced to third base.

Adyson Fulton walked. Zoe Hart scored, Bella Perez took third base and Adyson Fulton went to second base on an errant pickoff throw. Indya Fitzpatrick walked. The next Comet hitter was out on a fine catch by Hornet Right Fielder Allison Kane to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead.

Hornet leadoff batter Anna Judit was hit by a pitch to open the top of the seventh inning. Anna Judit went to second base on a wild pitch. Tomia Geter struck out the next hitter and got the second out of the inning on a line drive to second base. Anna Judit took third base on a wild pitch. Allison Kane walked. Tomia Geter struck out the next Hornet batter to end the game.

Grand Ledge won this quarterfinal game by a 7-5 score and will play Fowlerville in Wednesday’s semifinal game.

Jaiden Griffith had a triple and two RBI for Williamston. Katie Bush had a double and two RBI. Allison Kane had two singles. She O’Neil had one single.

Jaiden Griffith pitched the entire game for Williamston and struck out four batters.

Grand Ledge’s Bella Perez had a double and two RBI. Because she drove in the tying and eventual winning run late in the game, she was awarded the Applegate Home Comfort Player of the Game trophy. Zoe Hart had a double, a single and one RBI. Jade Queen had a double and one RBI. Kailey Nelson had two singles and one RBI. Adyson Fulton had a single and one RBI. Kaysen Strohaver had a single.

Tomia Geter pitched the complete game for Grand Ledge and struck out seven Williamston batters.