Perry at Dansville – – Softball – – First Game of Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 12, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen’s journey (someday, I JUST KNOW that the powers that be will start allowing to refer to my travels as an “odyssey”, but I may not be there yet) takes him to Dansville. The hometown Aggies will compete with the Ramblers from Perry in a CMAC softball game!

I entertained seniors in Frankenmuth yesterday and drove to Dansville from there this morning. This might be the best softball weather so far this year and it was a great drive to the Dansville Softball Field! Dansville has some of the nicest baseball and softball fields in the Lansing Area. It is always fun to come here to cover games!

While we wait for the Aggies and the Ramblers to commence their softball game, I hope you will enjoy this tune from my You Tube Channel. My good friend, Mark Wilcox provides the lead vocals in this cover of the Dave Clark Five’s “Because I Love You.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0_qAMF-9uA

Here are the starting lineups. Dansville is the home team. Perry will bat first.

PERRY

Teagan Hallock cf

Sara Austin p

Madison Ralston ss

Alivia Davis 1b

Bella Hamel 3b

Lila Stockenauer dp

Grace Spiess lf

Ava Positano c

Emma Winans rf

Ryleigh Allen will play second base, but will not bat.

DANSVILLE

Kaelee Foreman rf

Laci Neal ss

Ryker Graf p

Maddi Carter 2b

Bree DeLano cf

Gabby Hollon c

Katie Hamel 3b

Alaina Broyles 1b

Margo Kuznicki lf

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get his baseball or softball career going. While he was not much of a player, he is fondly remembered by umpires and opposing catchers for the cooling breezes he generated with his flailing attempts to hit baseballs and softballs.

In the top of the first inning, Dansville Pitcher Ryker Graf retired the three Perry batters on a fly to second base, a strikeout and a fly to right field where Kaelee Foreman made a great running, diving catch to secure the third out.

Perry Pitcher Sara Austin retired the first two Dansville batters in the bottom of the first inning on a grounder to second base and a strikeout. Ryker Graf walked. Lilly Quinn entered the game as a courtesy runner for Ryker Graf. Sara Austin struck out the next Aggie hitter to end the inning.

Alivia Davis singled to right field to lead off the top of the second inning for Perry. Ryker Graf struck out the next three Rambler hitters to end the inning.

Sara Austin struck out the three Aggie batters in the bottom of the second inning.

Ava Positano singled to left field to lead off the top of the third inning for Perry. Lila Stockenauer came in as a courtesy runner for Ava Positano and went to second base when Emma Winans was safe at first base on a bunt single. Lila Stockenauer went to third base and Enma Winans to second on a wild pitch. Lila Stockenauer scored and Emma Winans took third base on an RBI groundout to second base by Teagan Hallock.

Ryker Graf struck out the next batter, but Emma Winans scored when the third strike was dropped and the catcher had to throw to first base to get the out. Ryker Graf struck out the next Rambler batter. Madison Ralston made it to first base safely when her third strike was dropped and then stole second base.

Alivia Davis doubled over the center fielder’s head to drive in Madison Ralston. Bella Hamel doubled down the left field line to drive in Alivia Davis. Ryker Graf struck out the next Rambler batter to end the inning.

Perry scored four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Sara Austin retired Dansville’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the third inning on a squib to the pitcher. Margo Kuznicki walked. Sara Austin struck out the next two Aggie batters to complete the inning.

Ryker Graf retired the first two Perry hitters in the top of the fourth inning on a strikeout and a groundout to second base. Emma Winans ws hit by a pitch and stole second base. Ryker Graf struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Ryker Graf was safe on an error to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Dansville. Sara Austin struck out the next two Aggie hitters and retired the next batter on a grounder to first base.

Sara Austin crunched a home run over the center field fence to lead off the top of the fifth inning for Perry. Madison Ralston doubled down the left field line. Ryker Graf retired the next Rambler batter on a popup to second base. Bella Hamel singled down the third base line and Madison Ralston moved up to third base. Ryker Graf retired the next two Perry batters on a popup to the pitcher and a strikeout.

Sara Austin struck out the three Aggie batters in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Ava Positano was safe at first base to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Perry after she ran to first base when her third strike was not caught. Ryker Graf got the next Rambler batter to bunt into a double play. Teagan Hallock walked, stole second base and went to third base on a wild pitch. Ryker Graf struck out the next batter for the third out.

Sara Austin struck out the three Aggie batters in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Ryker Graf got the Perry leadoff batter in the top of the seventh inning out on a popup to the shortstop. Alivia Davis was safe at first on an error. Jess Polhemus pinch ran for Alivia Davis; she went to third base when Bella Hamel blasted a double out to the left field fence. Jess Polhemus scored and Bella Hamel took third base on a wild pitch.

Lila Stackenauer drew a walk. Ryleigh Allen pinch ran for Lila Stackenauer. Bella Hamel scored and Ryleigh Allen took third base on an RBI groundout to the pitcher by Grace Spiess. Ava Positano singled to center field to drive Ryleigh Allen home. Ryker Graf struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Perry scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take an 8-0 lead.

Maddi Carter was safe at second base on an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for Dansville. Sara Austin struck out the next Aggie hitter. Gabby Hollon singled to short left field and Maddi Carter advanced to third base. Maddi Carter scored and Gabby Hollon advanced to second base on an RBI groundout to first base by Katie Hamel. Sara Austin struck out the next batter to end the game.

Dansville scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to shave the Perry lead to 8-1.

Perry won the opening game of this double header by the final score of 8-1.

Gabby Hollon had a single for Dansville. Katie Hamel had one RBI.

Ryker Graf pitched the complete game for Dansville and struck out thirteen Perry batters.

Sara Austin had a home run and one RBI for Perry. Bella Hamel had two doubles, a single and one RBI. Alivia Davis had a double, a single and one RBI. Ava Positano had two singles and one RBI. Emma Winans had one single. Teagan Hallock had one RBI.

In addition to hitting the home run, Sara Austin pitched a great complete game for Perry. She gave up one hit and one unearned run while striking out sixteen batters.

I also covered the second game. Here is that play by play. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/05/13/perry-at-dansville-softball-second-game-of-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-may-12-2025-by-chuck-krafft/