Perry vs. Lansing Catholic – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 29, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft
Today, your Bleacher Denizen is at Ranney Park in Lansing (near Frandor) to watch the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Softball Classic. Tonight’s second game will feature the Ramblers of Perry as they take on the Cougars from Lansing Catholic. The winner play the winner of the other semifinal between Grand Ledge and Holt to determine this year’s champion!!
I also covered the first semifinal game of the night. Here is the play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/05/27/holt-vs-grand-ledge-hall-of-fame-softball-classic-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-29-2025-by-chuck-krafft/
Lansing Catholic won the coin toss and will be the home team tonight. Perry will be the visiting team and bat first. Here are the starting lineups!
PERRY
Teegan Hallock cf
Sara Austin p
Madison Ralston ss
Alivia Davis 1b
Bella Hamel 3b
Ava Positano c
Grace Spiess lf
Jessica Polhemus dp
Emma Winans rf
Ryleigh Allen will play second base, but will not bat.
LANSING CATHOLIC
Austynn Arellano rf
Alyssa LaConte ss
Avery Dunneback 3b
Taylor Dunneback c
Zoey Gruber p
Natalie Young 2b
Sydney Convey rf
Katy Howard 1b
Ava Garcia lf
It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen whose career in baseball and softball never really got started. He was showing some promise as an outfielder with a strong throwing arm. However, everything was ruined when the baseball and softball powers that be ruled that he was no longer allowed to use a shoulder cannon to throw the ball to the infield.
Catholic PItcher Zoe Gruber struck out Perry’s leadoff batter in the top of the first inning and retired the next hitter on a fly to second base. Madison Ralston drew a walk. Zoe Gruber got the next Rambler hitter to fly out to center field to end the inning.
Austynn Arellano walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Catholic. Sara Austin struck out the next Cougar hitter. Austynn Arellano advanced to second base when Avery Dunneback lined a single to left field. Sara Austin retired the next two Catholic hitters on a foul popup to the catcher and a sharp grounder to third base.
Zoey Austin retired the three Perry hitters in the top of the second inning on a foul fly to first base, a popup to the catcher and a strikeout.
Sara Austin struck out the first two Catholic batters in the bottom of the second inning and got the third out on a bouncer to the shortstop.
Jessica Polhemus was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the third inning for Perry. Jessica Polhemus advanced to second base when Emma Winans was safe at first base when an error was made on her sacrifice bunt. Teagen Hallock lined a single to center field. Jessica Polhemus went to third base and Emma Winans to second base. Perry had the bases loaded with no one out.
Zoey Gruber struck out the next Perry hitter. Jessica Polhemus scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Madison Ralston. Alivia Davis cracked double out to the center field fence to drive in Emma Winans and Teegan Hallock. Alivia Davis advanced to third base on a throwing error. Bella Hamel retired the next Rambler batter on a grounder to shortstop to end the inning.
Perry scored three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead.
Sara Austin retired Catholic’s leadoff hitter in the bottom of the third inning on a squib to the catcher. Austynn Arellano lined a single to right field and stole second base. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Alyssa LaConte lined a single to center field to drive Austynn Arellano home. Alyssa LaConte took second base on a groundout to the shortstop by Avery Dunneback.
Taylor Dunneback was intentionally walked. Alyssa LaConte advanced to thirs base and Taylor Dunneback to second base on a wild pitch. Zoey Gruber walked to load the bases. Natalie Young lined a single to center field to drive in Alyssa LaConte and Taylor Dunneback. Zoe Gruber went to third base. Sara Austin retired the next hitter on a foul popup to first base to end the inning.
Catholic scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Ava Positano was safe at first base when her third strike was not caught to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Perry. She advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Grace Spiess. Zoey Gruber struck out the next Rambler hitter. Emma Winans was hit on the helmet by a pitch and went to first base. Teegan Hallock singled to center field. Catholic Center Fielder Austynn Arellano first the ball to Catcher Taylor Dunneback to get the runner from second base into a rundown. Taylor Dunneback threw to her twin sister Avery Dunneback at third base, who tagged the runner for the third out.
Sara Austin retired the three Cougar batters in the bottom of the fourth inning on a fly to center field, a strikeout and a fly to the pitcher.
Zoey Gruber retired the three Rambler batters in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to the shortstop, a strikeout and a line drive to second base.
Sara Austin retired the Catholic leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning on a bouncer to second base. Avery Dunneback lined a single to center field and stole second base. Ryleigh Allen reacted quickly to catch a line drive to second base for the second out. Avery Dunneback got back to second base quickly to avoid being doubled off. Zoey Gruber lined an inside the park home run to center field; she and Avery Dunneback both scored.
Natalie Young singled up the middle and took second base on a wild pitch. Catholic made its third out on a one-hopper to the shortstop to end the inning.
Lansing Catholic scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 5-3 lead.
Zoey Gruber struck out Perry’s leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning. Ava Positano singled to center field. Grace Spiess walked and Ava Positano moved to second base. Catholic Catcher Taylor Dunneback made an alert grab of a short, soft foul fly to get the second out. Emma Winans lined a single to center field. Catholic Center Fielder Austynn Arellano made a fine throw to Catcher Taylor Dunneback, who made a great throw to second base to catch a runner who had rounded the base too far for the third out.
Sara Austin retired the three Cougar hitters in the bottom of the sixth inning on two strikeouts and a fly to the shortstop.
In the top of the seventh inning, Zoey Gruber retired the Rambler leadoff batter on a grounder to the pitcher. Sara Austin walked and went to second base when Madison Ralston lined a single to left field. Zoey Gruber struck out the next Perry batter and got the third out on a grounder to the shortstop.
Lansing Catholic’s Zoey Gruber was named “Player of the Game!”
Lansing Catholic won this game 5-3 and will play Grand Ledge in Wednesday’s Tournament Final.
Alivia Davis had a double and two RBI for Perry. Teagan Hallock had two singles. Madison Ralston had a single and one RBI. Ava Positano and Emma Winans also had singles for Perry.
Sara Austin pitched the complete game for Perry. She gave up seven hits and struck out six batters.
Zoey Gruber had a home run and two RBI for Catholic. Natalie Young had two singles and two RBI. Alyssa LaConte had one single and one RBI. Avery Dunneback had two singles. Austynn Arellano had one single.
Zoey Gruber pitched the complete game for Catholic. She gave up six hits and struck out seven batters.