Hillman vs. Mendon – – MHSAA Division 4 Softball Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 12, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft
Today, your Bleacher Denizen is at Secchia Stadium at Michigan State University to watch the Tigers from Hillman take on the Hornets from Mendon in the MHSAA Division 4 Softball Semifinal.
As we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “God Bless the USA” from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ePjJiWG5OY
Mendon is the defending Division 4 Softball Champion and is rated Number 1 in Division 4 this year. The Hornets are 30-3 so far this season. Hillman was a semifinalist last year; they enter the game with a 33-9 record and are ranked #2.
Geoff Kimmerly and the MHSAA have provided statistics for some of the top players on each of these excellent teams.
Senior Gretchen Weiland has a .560 batting average, has scored 58 runs and has driven in 56 runs. She also pitches and has a 19-5 record to go along with a 2.15 ERA and 214 strikeouts. Her Junior sister, Aubrey Weiland contributes a .411 batting average as well as 60 runs scored and 33 RBI.
Abigail Oswald has a .431 batting average as well as 59 runs scored, 34 RBI and 21 stolen bases. She also pitches; she has a 9-4 record. Madelyn Oswald, the team’s catcher has a .567 batting average as well as 59 runs scored, 20 doubles, 65 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Rylee Lis has a .384 average, 43 runs scored and 43 RBI. Brook Linseman is batting .387.
Mendon also has some players who have had great seasons. Rowan Allen has a .638 batting average as well as 63 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. She pitches and has an 18-1 record with a 2.47 ERA and 161 strikeouts. Cienna Nightingale has a .622 batting average, 68 RBI and 22 stolen bases. Jadyn Samson is batting .640 with 77 runs scored, 18 doubles, 30 RBI and 33 stolen bases. She also pitches and has an 8-2 record.
Taya Bingaman has a .641 average with 58 runs scored, 18 doubles, 60 RBI and 29 stolen bases. Sabrina Monroy has a .383 averages with 30 runs scored and 30 RBI.
Here are the starting lineups. Hillman won the coin toss and will be the home team. Mendon will bat first.
MENDON
Jadyn Samson ss
Rowan Allen p
Taya Bingaman cf
Cienna Nightingale c
Sabrina Monroy 3b
LaShell Blair rf
Maddie Rodgers dp
Brynley Jungers 1b
Brooke Gerth 2b
Abbey Meyers will play left field, but will not bat.
.HILLMAN
Abigail Oswald 2b
Aubrey Weiland ss
Gretchen Weiland p
Madelyn Oswald c
Rylee Lis 3b
Brook Linseman 1b
Peyton Banks lf
Peyton Szlag rf
Raelyn Konieczny cf
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 a baseball or softball career going. However, he proudly remembers the camaraderie he shared with the opposing catchers and umpires who loved the cooling breezes generated by the Bleacher Denizen’s attempts to hit baseballs and softballs!
Jadyn Samson was safe at first base on an error to lead off the top of the first inning for Mendon. Hillman Pitcher Gretchen Weiland struck out the next Hornet hitter. Taya Bingaman beat out a bunt single and Jadyn Samson advanced to second base. Cienna Nightingale singled to center field to drive Jadyn Samson home as Taya Bingaman advanced to third base. Cienna Nightingale stole second base. Gretchen Weiland struck out the next two Hornet batters to end the inning.
Mendon scored one run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Abigail Oswald lined a single to left field to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Hillman. Aubrey Weiland hit a popup to first base; when the ball was dropped First Baseman Brynley Jungers threw to second base to force Abigail Oswald. Aubrey Weiland was safe at first. Aubrey Weiland advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Gretchen Weiland. Rowan Allen retired the next Tiger batter on a grounder to third base to end the inning.
Gretchen Weiland struck out the three Mendon batters in the top of the second inning.
Rowan Allen retired the three Hillman batters in the bottom of the second inning on a strikeout followed by a hot bouncer to the pitcher’s circle that Rowan Allen knocked down and calmly threw to first base to retire the batter. Rowan Allen struck out the next Tiger hitter to end the inning.
Gretchen Weiland struck out Mendon’s leadoff batter in the top of the third inning. Gretchen Weiland retired the next two Hornet batters on bunts to the pitcher.
Rowan Allen retired the three Hillman batters in the bottom of the third inning on a strikeout, a grounder to first base and a fly to left field.
Cienna Nightingale tripled down the left field line to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Mendon. She scored on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by Sabrina Monroy. Gretchen Weiland struck out the next two Hornet batters to end the inning.
Mendon scored one run in the top of the fourth inning to boost its lead to 2-0.
Aubrey Weiland singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Hillman. Gretchen Weiland singled to center field and Aubrey Weiland advanced to second base. Gretchen Weiland was out at second base and Madelyn Oswald safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to second base. Aubrey Weiland advanced to third base on the play. Madelyn Oswald stole second base. Rowan Allen fielded a line drive by Rylee Lis to the pitcher and was able to double the runner off third base to end the inning.
Gretchen Weiland struck out the first two Hornet batters in the top of the fifth inning. Hillman Third Baseman Rylee Lis made a great play on a bunt to throw out the speedy Jadyn Samson at first base to end the inning.
Rowan Allen struck out the three Hillman batters in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Gretchen Weiland retired the three Mendon batters in the top of the sixth inning on a grounder to second base, a soft fly to the pitcher and another ground ball to second base.
Rowan Allen retired the three Hillman batters in the bottom of the sixth inning on a grounder to third base, a fly to center field and a grounder to second base.
Gretchen Weiland struck out the first two Hornet batters in the top of the seventh inning. Maddie Rodgers walked. Abbey Meyers pinch ran for Maddie Rodgers. Gretchen Weiland struck out the next batter to end the inning.
In the middle of the seventh inning, Mendon has a 2-0 lead. Hillman needs two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game.
Rowan Allen retired the Tiger leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh inning on a roller to the pitcher. Madelyn Oswald blasted a triple to deep right center field. Rylee Lis was safe on an error; Madelyn Oswald scored on the play. Rowan Allen struck out the next batter. Peyton Banks singled to left field and Rylee Lis advanced to second base. Clair DeVille entered the game to pinch run for Rylee Lis. Rowan Allen struck out the next batter to end the inning and the game.
Mendon won this game by the final score of 2-1 and will play the winner of Brown City and Fowler in Saturday’s final game.
Madelyn Oswald had a triple for Hillman. Abigail Oswald, Aubrey Weiland, Gretchen Weiland and Peyton Banks each had a single.
Gretchen Weiland pitched a complete game for the Tigers. She gave up two runs (only one was an earned run) and three hits while striking out fourteen batters.
Cienna Nightengale had a triple, a single and one RBI for Mendon. Taya Bingaman had a single. Sabrina Monroy had one RBI.
Rowan Allen pitched the complete game for Mendon. She gave up one unearned run and five hits while striking out eight batters.