Perry Vs. Williamston – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 23, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft
This yeare’s Hall of Fame Softball Classic has been delayed for three days by rain, but it’s Friday today, and it looks like we can all step out of our arks and play some softball! In tonight’d first game, the Perry Ramblers will compete with the Williamston Hornets.
As this is the start of Memorial Day Weekend, I hope you will enjoy this video of “God Bless America” from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VraFwDVK2js&list=PLSir_FEyxp2cICQCJwNPltnMXYnrT9yhM&index=3
Here are the starting lineups. Williamston will be the home team and Perry will bat first.
PERRY
Teagen Hallock cf
Sara Austin p
Madison Ralston ss
Alivia Davis 1b
Bella Hamel 3b
Ava Positano c
Grace Spiess lf
Lila Stockenauer dp
Emma Winans rf
Ryleigh Allen will play second base, but will not bat.
WILLIAMSTON
Jaiden Griffeth ss
Katie Bush rf
Thea Fortin p
Shea O’Neil 1b
Julia Belloli 2b
Anna Judit 3b
Keira Heathcock dp
Annabelle Wortman c
Sidney Fortin lf
Tamara Sleight will play left field, but will not bat.
It is now time to look through the events of the game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get very far in his baseball career. However, he is proud to report that many umpires and opposing catchers thanked him for the cooling breezes generated by his (not very successful) swings at baseballs!
In the top of the first inning, Williamston Pitcher Thea Fortin retired all three Perry batters on a fly to right field, a popup to the shortstop and a foul popup to first base.
Jaiden Grieffeth walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Williamston. She stole second base and then third base. Katie Bush walked and stole second base. Sara Austin struck out the next three Hornet batters to end the inning.
Thea Fortin struck out Perry’s leadoff batter in the top of the second inning. Bella Hamel singled to right field. Thea Fortin induced the next Rambler hitter to hit a grounder to shortstop Jaiden Griffeth, who vacummed up the ball, stepped on second base and fired the ball to first base to complete an inning-ending double play.
Anna Judit walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Williamston. Sara Austin struck out the next Hornet batter. Anna Judit advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Sara Austin struck out the next two Williamston batters to end the inning.
After two innings, the game was tied at 0-0.
Thea Fortin retired the three Perry hitters in the top of the third inning on a grounder to the shortstop, a strikeout and a fly to right field where Katie Bush made a fine running catch.
Jaiden Griffeth hit a single that traveled about a foot from home plate, but she is so fast, it is nearly impossible for any normal human to throw her out (or catch her stealing.) Jaiden Griffeth stole second base. The next Hornet batter was out when Bella Hamel made a nice running catch to snag a foul fly at third base. Jaiden Griffeth took third base on a sacrifice bunt by Thea Fortin. Sara Austin struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Thea Fortin retired the Rambler leadoff batter in the top of the fourth inning on a ground ball to shortstop Jaiden Griffeth. (Jaiden Griffeth throws harder than any softball infielder I have ever seen!) Sara Austin blasted a double off the center field fence. Thea Fortin got the next Rambler batter out on a foul popup to the catcher where Annabelle Wortman made a nice grab. Sara Austin took third base on a wild pitch before Perry made its third out on a fly to center field.
Sara Austin struck out the first two Williamston hitters in the bottom of the fourth inning and got the third out on a line drive to the shortstop.
After four full innings, the game remained tied at 0-0.
Bella Hamel drilled a shot off the third baseman’s glove for a single to lead off the top of the fifth inning for Perry. Ava Positano placed a bunt perfectly between the pitcher and the third baseman for a single; Bella Hamel advanced to second base. Grace Spiess followed up with a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.
The next Perry batter hit a squib to Catcher Annabelle Wortman, who alertly threw to first base to complete a double play. This left Perry with two outs and runners at second and third base. Emma Winans singled to right field and Ava Positano scored from third base as Grace Spiess advanced to third base. Teagen Hallock walked to load the bases. Thea Fortin struck out the next Rambler batter to hold Perry to one run for the inning.
Perry scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Annabelle Wortman singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Perry. Pyper Horstman entered the game as a courtesy runner for Annabelle Wortman and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Sidney Fortin. Sara Austin retired the next two Hornet hitters on a fly to left field and a strikeout to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, Williamston Left Fielder Sidney Fortin made a great diving effort, but Madison Ralston’s drive fell in for a leadoff double. Jaiden Griffeth ranged back into center field to catch a looping fly ball for the first Rambler out. Sidney Fortin made a fine running catch in left field to record the second out. Tamara Sleight made a great running catch in center field to get the third Perry out.
Sara Austin struck out Williamston’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shea O’Neil walked. Reece Langdon came in as a pinch runner for Shea O’Neil. Sara Austin struck out the next two Williamston hitters to end the inning.
After six innings, Perry continued to hold its 1-0 lead.
Thea Fortin struck out Perry’s leadoff batter in the top of the seventh inning and retired pinch hitter Ryleigh Allen on a fly to the shortstop. Emma Winans singled and raced to third base on a line drive single to right field by Teagen Hallock. (She beat an excellent throw from right field to third base by Katie Bush.) Teagen Hallock went to second base on the throw to third base. The next Perry batter was out on a line drive to the pitcher.
Sara Austin struck out the three Williamston batters in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Perry won this exciting game by the score of 1-0 and will play Lansing Catholic in the semifinal on Tuesday.
Perry Right Fielder Emma Winans had two singles and the only RBI of the game. She was named the player of the game!!
Jaiden Griffeth and Annabelle Wortman each had one single for Williamston.
Thea Fortin pitched the entire game for Williamston. She gave up only one run while striking out three batters.
Emma Winans had two singles and one RBI for Perry. Bella Hamel had two singles. Sara Austin and Madison Ralston each had one double. Teegan Hallock, Ava Positano and Grace Spiess each had a single.
Sara Austin pitched a brilliant complete game shutout. She gave up only two hits and struck out sixteen Williamston batters.
I also covered the night’s second game where Eaton Rapids played Lansing Catholic (which is how I knew they would be Perry’s semifinal opponent.) Here is the play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/05/24/eaton-rapids-vs-lansing-catholic-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-23-2025-by-chuck-krafft/