Holt vs. Laingsburg – – Hall of Fame Softball Classic Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 19, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft
Today, your Bleacher Denizen is at Lansing’s Ranney Park getting ready to cover the softball quarterfinal game at the Hall of Fame Softball Classic. The first game featured an exciting contest between Fowler and Grand Ledge. The play by play of that game is recorded here.
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In the second game of this doubleheader, the Wolfpack from Laingsburg will take on the Rams from Holt. The field at Ranney Park is beautfully maintained by Hall of Director Executive Bob Every, as always!
While we wait for the game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this original tune from my You Tube Channel. It features an office worker who is having Walter Mitty fantasies! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc
It is a cold day for softball, but the teams and fans are eager to play the game. Your Bleacher Denizen sang the National Anthem and thankfully, no one had to go directly to their ear specialist for special treatment!
In this game, Holt won the coin toss and will bat last. Here are the starting lineups:
LAINGSBURG
Savvy Stirm 1b
Alayna Merrell 2b
Bella Latuszek ss
Addy Buchin p
Peyton Stahr 3b
Harper Strouse cf
Makenna Johnston rf
Alaina Asher lf
JuJu Matuszek c
HOLT
Kara Sandberg lf
Olivia Root c
Eeva Luoma cf
Marlie Rehm 3b
Sadie Laubenthal ss
Grace Atkinson dp
Paeton Vandlen lf
Lola Knox 1b
Lynnae Hill 2b
Layla Binkley will play right field, but not bat.
The Bleacher Denizen sang the National Anthem and it was time to start the game!
Holt PItcher Kara Sandberg retired the three Laingsburg hitters in the first inning on a grounder to the shortstop, a strikeout and a grounder to second base.
Kara Sandberg walked to lead off the top of the first inning for Laingsburg. Harper Vandlen entered the game as a courtesy runner for Kara Sandberg. Harper Vandlen advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Olivia Root. The next batter was out on a fly to center fielder Harper Strouse, who fired the ball to second base to double off the runner and end the inning.
Kara Sandberg retired the three Wolfpack hitters in the top of the second inning on a line drive to first base, a grounder to second base where Lynaee Hill made a nice play to her right and a strikeout.
Laingsburg PItcher Addy Buchin retired Holt’s leadoff on a grounder to shortstop. Sadie Laubenthal made a bid for a single up the middle, but the ball flukishly hit the pitching rubber and rolled directly to Laingsburg Shortstop Bella Latuszek, who threw her out at first base. Holt made its third out on a bouncer to the pitcher.
After two full innings, the game was tied at 0-0.
Kara Sandberg retired the three Laingsburg hitters in the top of the third inning on a grounder to second base, a fly to center field and a strikeout.
Addy Buchin struck out the first two Ram hitters in the bottom of the third inning and got the third out on a fly to third base.
Savvy Stirm an Alayna Merrell walked to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Laingsburg. Bella Latuszek lined a single to center field to drive Savvy Stirm home with the game’s first run as Alayna Merrell advanced to second base. Bella Latuszek was out at second base and Addy Buchin safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to second base. Alayna Merrell took third base on the play.
Jaylynn Smith entered the game as a courtesy runner for Addy Buchin. Kara Sandberg struck out the next Wolfpack batter. Jaylynn Smith stole second base. Kara Sandberg struck out the next Laingsburg hitter to end the inning.
Laingsburg scored one run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Addy Buchin retired Holt’s leadoff batter in the top of the fourth inning on a grounder to second base. Olivia Root got Holt’s first hit by beating out an infield single and went to second base on a wild pitch. The next batter was out on a fly to center field. Laingsburg center fielder Harper Strouse made a great try, but Marlie Rehm’s drive went over the center field fence for a two run homer to give Holt the lead. Addy Buchin retired the next hitter on a one hopper to the pitcher to end the inning.
Holt scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Kara Sandberg retired Laingsburg’s leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a fly to center field. Alaina Asher lined a single up the middle and took second base on a sacrifice bunt by JuJu Latuszek. Holt second baseman Lynaee Hill made a nice running catch to get the third out.
Grace Atkinson singled to right field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Holt. The next Ram hitter was out on a fly to right field. When a throw sailed into the stands, the umpire sent Grace Atkinson to third base. Lola Knox walked. Lynnae Hill walked to load the bases. Grace Atkinson and Lola Knox scored when Kara Sandberg was safe at first base on an error. Lynnae HIll advanced to second base on the play.
Harper Vandlen entered the game as a courtesy runner for Kara Sandberg. Lynnae Hill stole third base and Harper Vandlen stole second base. Lynnae Hill and Harper Vandlen scored on a single to center field by Olivia Root. Olivia Root advanced to second base on the throw back to the infield and took third base on a groundout to second base by Eeva Luoma. Olivia Root scored on a wild pitch.
Marlie Rehm singled to center field. Anna Macqueen went in as a pinch runner for Marlie Rehm. Holt made its third out on a fly to right field.
Holt scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to boost its lead to 7-1.
Kara Sandberg struck out the Wolfpack leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth inning. Bella Latuszek lined a single to center field. Kara Sandberg retired the next Laingburg batter on a fly to the shortstop. Peyton Stahr crushed a two run homer over the left field fence. Bella Latuszek also scored on the play. Harper Strouse pounded a double to deep left field. Makenna Johnston singled to left field and drove Harper Strouse home. Eeva Luoma made a fantastic diving catch in center field to get the third Wolfpack out.
Laingsburg scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut Holt’s lead to 7-4.
Addy Buchin retired Holt’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the sixth inning on a bouncer to the pitcher. Paeton Vandlen singled up the middle. The next Ram hitter lined out to third base. Paeton Vandlen alertly got back to first base just before the throw from Laingsburg third baseman Peyton Stahr got there to avoid being doubled off. Makenna Johnston made a nice running catch in right field to get the third Ram out of the inning.
Kara Sandberg retired the three Laingsburg hitters in the top of the seventh inning on a fly to first base, a popup to second base and a grounder to second base.
Holt won this game by the score of 7-4. The Rans will play the Comets from Grand Ledge in Wednesday’s semifinal game.
Peyton Stahr had a home run and two RBI for Laingsburg. Bella Latuszek had two singles and one RBI. Makenna Johnston had a single and one RBI. Harper Strouse had a double. Alaina Asher had a single.
Addy Buchin pitched the complete game for Laingsburg and struck out two batters while giving up just six hits.
Marlie Rehm had a home run, a single and two RBI for Holt. Olivia Root had two singles and two RBI. Grace Atkinson and Paeton Vandlen each had a single. Kara Sandberg had one RBI.
Kara Sandberg pitched the complete game for Holt. She struck out six batters and allowed only six hits.