Dansville vs. Mendon – – MHSAA Softball Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 11, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

This afternoon, the Mendon Hornets will take on the Aggies from Dansville in the MHSAA Division 4 Softball Quarterfinal at Jackson College. Congratulations to both of these teams for an excellent tournament run.

The Mendon Hornets beat Marcellus and Centreville in the district as well as Martin and Burr Oak in the regional to reach this point.

The Dansville Aggies beat Bellevue and Potterville in the district as well as Petersburg Summerfield and Reading in the regional to get her.

Here are the starting lineups. Dansville is the home team today, so Mendon will bat first.

MENDON

Jadyn Samson ss

Rowan Allen p

Kaidee Gonser lf

Mattea Bingaman cf

Brielle Bailey 3b

Ally Butler 1b

Cienna Nightingale c

Abby Butler rf

Gracie Schultz dp

Brooke Gerth will play second base, but will not bat.

DANSVILLE

Bree DeLano cf

Laci Neal ss

Ryker Graf p

Maddi Carter 2b

Gabby Hollon c

Chloe Moore 3b

Halle Service rf

Marleana Farr 1b

Margo Kuznicki dp

Alaina Broyles will play left field, but will not bat.

Let us now look at the events of this game through the somewhat observant eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when he attempted to play softball. He was showing a lot of promise as a great throwing outfielder, but alas, everything changed when the softball powers that be refused to allow him to continue using his shoulder cannon to make his throws.

Dansville Pitcher Ryker Graf retired the three Mendon hitters in the top of the first inning on two strikeouts and a roller to the pitcher.

Mendon Pitcher Rowan Allen struck out the first two Dansville batters in the bottom of the first inning. Ryker Graf singled to right field and went to second base when Maddi Carter was safe on an error. Rowan Allen struck out the next Aggie hitter to end the inning.

Mattea Bingaman singled to left field to lead off the top of the second inning for the Hornets. Aggie Pitcher Ryker Graf struck out the next Mendon hitter. Mattea Bingaman stole second base and then stole third base. The next Hornet batter was out on a grounder to the pitcher; Ryker Graf was able to make sure Mattea Bingaman stayed on third base. Cienna Nightingale walked. Abby Butler was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ryker Graf retired the next Hornet batter on a grounder to second base to end the inning.

Hornet Pitcher Rowan Allen retired the Aggie leadoff batter in the bottom of the second inning on a popup to the pitcher. Mendon Shortstop Jadyn Samson made a fine running catch to snare a soft liner for the second Aggie out. Marleana Farr was hit by a pitch. Rowan Allen struck out the next Aggie batter to end the inning.

Jadyn Samson doubled to center field to lead off the top of the third inning for Mendon. Ryker Graf struck out the next Hornet hitter. Jadyn Samson went to third base on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by Kaidee Gonser. Ryker Graf got Mendon’s third out on a grounder to third base.

Mendon scored one run in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Rowan Allen retired Dansville’s third inning leadoff batter on a popup to the pitcher. Laci Neal walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Rowan Allen struck out the next Aggie batter. Laci Neal took third base on a passed ball. Rowan Allen struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Brielle Bailey bounced a single to left field to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Mendon and advanced to second base when Ally Butler walked. Cienna Nightingale singled to left field to drive in Brielle Bailey; Ally Butler advanced to second base. Abby Butler beat out a beautiful bunt she placed to the left side of the infield; Ally Butler took third base and Cienna Nightingale second base. Aggie Pitcher Ryker Graf retired the next Hornet batter on a soft line drive to the shortstop.

Jadyn Samson singled to left field to drive in Ally Butler and Cienna Nightingale. Abby Butler went to third base and Jadyn Samson took second base on the throw home. Rowan Allen tripled to center field to drive in Abby Butler and Jadyn Samson. Ryker Graf struck out the next Hornet hitter. Mattea Bingaman tripled down the left field line to drive Rowan Allen home. Mendon made its final out of the inning on a fly to right field.

Mendon scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning to push its lead to 7-0.

Rowan Allen retired the first two Aggie hitters in the bottom of the fourth inning on a bouncer to the pitcher and a fly to the pitcher where she got out of the pitcher’s circle really quickly to catch the ball. Halle Service walked. Rowan Allen struck out the next Dansville batter to end the inning.

Laci Neal came in to pitch for Dansville. Ryker Graf went to center field. Bree DeLano came in to play second base and Maddi Carter moved to shortstop.

Laci Neal retired the Hornet leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to the pitcher. Cienna Nightingale doubled to the left field fence. Destiny Newton entered the game as a courtesy runner for Cienna Nightingale. Abby Butler was safe at first base when her third strike was dropped and she beat the throw. Destiny Newton advanced to third base. Abby Butler stole second base.

Gracie Schultz singled off the shortstop’s glove to drive in Destiny Newton; Abby Butler advanced to third base. Gracie Schultz stole second base. Laci Neal struck out the next Hornet hitter. Rowan Allen hit a three run inside the park homer to right field; Abby Butler and Gracie Schultz also scored.

Kaidee Gonser was hit by a pitch. Kaidee Gonser advanced to second base and then to third base on two wild pitches. Mattea Bingaman walked. Mattea Bingaman stole second base. Kaidee Gonser scored and Mattea Bingaman advanced to third base on a passed ball. Laci Neal retired the next Hornet hitter on a bouncer to the pitcher to end the inning.

Mendon scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 12-0.

Rowan Allen retired the three Dansville hitters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a bouncer to the pitcher, a fly where Hornet Shortstop Jadyn Samson ranged back into left field to make the catch and a strikeout.

Because Mendon had a 12-0 lead in the fifth inning, the mercy rule was invoked and Mendon won the game.

Ryker Graf had a single for Dansville. She also pitched four innings and struck out five Hornet batters. Laci Neal pitched one inning and struck out two batters.

Rowan Allen had a triple, a home run and five RBI for Mendon. Jadyn Samson had a double, a single and two RBI. Mattea Bingaman had a single, a triple and one RBI. Cienna Nightingale had a double, a single and one RBI. Gracie Schultz had a single and one RBI. Brielle Bailey and Abby Butler each had a single. Kaidee Gonser had one RBI.

Mendon will play either Unionville-Sebewaing, the defending state champs in Friday afternoon’s semifinal game.