East vs. West – – Hall of Fame All-Star Softball Game – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 27, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft
Tonight’s second All-Star game will be between the East Team and the West Team. The North competed against the South in an exciting pitcher’s duel in tonight’s first game. Here is the play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/06/30/north-vs-south-hall-of-fame-all-star-softball-game-the-bleacher-denizen-june-30-2025-by-chuck-krafft/
The East Team and the West Team have some of the top graduating seniors who played softball this past season!
Here are the players on the EAST Team:
Talia Dunn, East Lansing
Thea Fortin, Williamston
Lainey Fargue, Haslett
Nevaeh Vasquez, East Lansing
Payden Whitmore, Haslett
Madison Ralston, Perry
Teagen Hallock, Perry
Katie Bush, Williamston
Mackenzie Burns, Pinckney
Sara Austin, Perry
Shelby Austin, Morrice
Here are the players on the WEST team:
Zoe Hart, Grand Ledge
Kaya Canfield, Fulton
Autumn Reffitt, Portland
Zoe Schneider, Fulton
Kerigan Schroeder, Lakewood
Madison Martin, Lansing Catholic
Gianna Naccarato, Grand Ledge
Eli Richards, Lakewood
Shayla Kiser, Grand Ledge
Bailee Fish, Portland
Faith McCarthy, Grand Ledge
Jaci Canfield, Fulton
Anastasia Seidelman, Portland
Kaysen Strohaver, Grand Ledge
The West team won the coin toss and will bat last. Your Bleacher Denizen sang the National Anthem.
It is now time to look at the events of this game through the aging eyes of an Ancient Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get his softball career going. It seems that coaches can be prejudiced against players who never hit the ball. Oh well, opposing catchers and umpires loved the cooling breezes generated by my flailing attempts to make contact.
Shayla Kiser will be the first pitcher for the West team.
East Leadoff Batter Nevaeh Vasquez was safe at first on an error and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Bush. Nevaeh Vasquez scored when Payden Whitmore was safe at first base on an error. Payden Whitmore was out at second base and Talia Dunn safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Talia Dunn took third base when Thea Fortin singled to right field. Thea Fortin stole second base. Sara Austin blasted a home run over the left field fence. The East team made its third out when Zoe Hart made a fine running catch of a foul fly to right field.
East scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Thea Fortin was the starting pitcher for the East team.
Thea Fortin retired the three West hitters in the top of the first inning on a strikeout, a fly to the shortstop and a grounder to second base.
Shayla KIser retired the first two East hitters in the top of the second inning on a fly to second base and a fly to the shortstop. Mackenzie Burns doubled to center field. Madison Ralston belted a double off the center field fence to drive Mackenzie Burns home. Nevaeh Vasquez singled to drive Madison Ralston home. The West made its third out when the East catcher fired the ball to second base to catch Nevaeh Vasquez trying to take second base on the throw home.
The West team scored two runs in the top of the second inning to extend its lead to 6-0.
Thea Fortin retired the first two East hitters in the bottom of the second inning on a groundout to third base and a strikeout. Gianna Naccarato blasted a home run over the right field fence. East made its third out on a fly to left field.
East scored one run in the bottom of the second inning to trim the West lead to 6-1.
Katie Bush bounced a single to left field to lead off the top of the third inning for the West team and advanced to second base on a single up the middle by Payden Whitmore. Katie Bush was out at third base and Talia Dunn safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Payden Whitmore advanced to second base on the play.
Payden Whitmore raced home on a single to left field by Thea Fortin. West Catcher Bailee Fish fired the ball to third base to retire the runner trying to advancd; Thea Fortin went to second base on the throw. The next East hitter was out on a bouncer to the pitcher to end the inning.
East scored one run in the top of the third inning to boost its lead to 7-1.
Faith McCarthy lined a single to right field to lead off the bottom of the third inning for the West team and went to second base when Shayla Kiser walked. Anastasia Seidelman walked to load the bases. Faith McCarthy scored on Bailee Fish’s RBI fielder’s choice groundout to the shortstop. Shayla Kiser was out at third base. Anastasia Seidelman scored on a single to right field by Eli Richards. Bailee Fish advanced to third base and Eli Richards went to second base on the throw home.
Thea Fortin struck out the next two West hitters to end the inning.
West scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to trim the East lead to 7-3.
Jaci Canfield came in to pitch for the West team.
Teagen Hallock was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fourth inning for the East team and went to second base on a single to center field by Shelby Austin. Lainey Fargue was safe at first base when her flare fell in short left field. West Shortstop Gianna Naccarato alertly fired the ball to third base to force Teagen Hallock, who had to wait to see if the ball would be caught. Shelby Austin advanced to second base on the play.
Mackenzie Burns pounded a home run over the left field fence to drive herself, Shelby Austin and Lainey Fargue home. Madison Ralston blooped a single to right field and took second base on a wild pitch. Madison Ralston advanced to third base on a groundout to third base by Nevaeh Vasquez. Katie Bush lined a single to center field to drive Madison Ralston home. Katie Bush went to second base on a wild pitch. Payden Whitmore walked.
Katie Bush advanced to third base and Payden Whitmore to second base on a wild pitch. Katie Bush scored and Payden Whitmore went to third base on a wild pitch. Talia Dunn pounded a double to right field to drive Payden Whitmore home. Thea Fortin singled to left field to drive Talia Dunn home. Thea Fortin advanced to second base on the throw home.
Sara Austin singled to left field and Thea Fortin went to third base. Teagen Hallock singled to left field to drive Thea Fortin home. Sara Austin advanced to third base. Shelby Austin singled to left field; Sara Austin went to third base and Teagen Hallock to second. Lainey Fargue walked to force Sara Austin home. Teagen Hallock went to third base and Shelby Austin to second.
Shayla Kiser came back in to pitch for the West team.
Mackenzie Burns doubled to right field to drive Teagen Hallock and Shelby Austin home as Lainey Fargue advanced to third base. Lainey Fargue scored and Mackenzie Burns advanced to third base on a single to right field by Madison Ralston. An East base runner was called for leaving the base early for the third East out.
East scored twelve runs in the top of the fourth inning to push its lead to 19-3.
Sara Austin came in to pitch for the West team.
Sara Austin struck out the West leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth inning. Zoe Schneider was safe at first base on an error. Sara Austin struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Nevaeh Vasquez blooped a single to right field to lead off the top of the fifth inning for the East team. Nevaeh Vasquez went to second base when Katie Bush was safe at first base on an error. Bailee Fish made a great diving stop at second base to throw Payden Whitmore out at first. Nevaeh Vasquez advanced to third base and Katie Bush went to second base on the play.
Talia Dunn singled to right field. Nevaeh Vasquez scored and Katie Bush advanced to third base. Talia Dunn advanced to second base and Katie Bush held at third base on a groundout to the pitcher by Thea Fortin. Shayla Kiser retired the next East hitter on a bouncer to third base to end the inning.
East scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 20-3.
Gianna Naccarato beat out a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for the West team. Sara Austin struck out the next West batter. Thea Fortin made a leaping catch of a drive toward left field by Faith McCarthy. She threw to first base to double the runner off and end the inning.
The game was stopped at this point. The East All-Stars won this game by the final score of 20-3.
Gianna Naccarato had a home run, a single and one RBI for the West All-Stars. Eli Richards had a single and one RBI. Faith McCarthy had one single. Bailee Fish had one RBI.
Mackenzie Bush had a home run, two doubles and five RBI for the East All-Stars. Sara Austin had a home run, a single and three RBI. Madison Ralston had a double, two singles and two RBI. Thea Fortin had three singles and two RBI. Talia Dunn had a double, a single and two RBI.
Nevaeh Vasquez had two singles and one RBI. Katie Bush had a double, a single and one RBI. Shelby Austin had two singles. Payden Whitmore and Teagen Hallock each had one single.
Thea Fortin pitched three innings for the East team and struck out four batters. Sara Austin pitched two shutout innings and struck out four batters.