Cassopolis at Mendon – – Softball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 5, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the BleacherDenizenMobile is being pointed at Mendon, where the Hornets will host the Rangers from Cassopolis in a softball doubleheader. Mendon won the Division 4 State Title in softball last year. Because of some delays caused by weather and bus availability issues, the game was postponed until 6 PM and the teams decided to play just one game.

I had a couple extra hours, so I stopped at Gibby’s a bar/restaurant in Mendon. I had a great conversation with Brooks, the owner and also a great ‘broasted pork chop!! Everything about my dinner was excellent including the service. I totally recommend Gibby’s if you are in Mendon at meal time!!

I had covered a number of Mendon games when they played quarterfinal games against teams from the Central Michigan Athletic Conference, the league I cover most often. I also had seen some semifinal and final games at Michigan State as Mendon has had strong softball teams the last few years.

While 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

Here are the starting lineups. Cassopolis will bat first.

CASSOPOLIS

Sienna Young cf

Tori Burks c

Mady Yakel p

Ella Semgo ss

Cheyenne Redmond 1b

Rilyn Oman 3b

Katie Brady rf

JaMya Hart lf

Avery Alford 2b

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.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get his baseball or softball career off the ground when he attempted to play in the days of yore when many considered him to be “young.” However, he is proud of the love he got from opposing catchers and umpires who treasured the cooling breezes he generated with his flailing swings of the bat!!

In the top of the first inning, Mendon Pitcher Rowan Allen retired the three Cassopolis hitters on a foul fly to first base, a grounder to first base and a bid for a single by Maddy Yakel that second baseman Brooke Gerth made a great hustling, running diving catch to get the third out.

Jadyn Samson beat out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the first inning for the Hornets and went to second base on a wild pitch. Jadyn Samson stole third base. Rowan Allen walked and stole second base. Jadyn Samson scored and Rowan Allen took third base on a single by Taya Bingaman. Taya Bingaman stole second base.

Cienna Nightingale singled up the middle to drive Rowan Allen and Taya Bingaman home. Kennedi Sand entered the game as a courtesy runner for Cienna Nightingale and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Sabrina Monroy walked. Mady Yakel struck out the next three Hornet batters to end the inning.

Mendon scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Rowan Allen retired the first two Ranger hitters in the top of the second inning on a foul popup to first base and a strikeout. Rilyn Oman and Katie Brady walked. Rowan Allen struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Brooke Gerth was safe at second base on an error to lead off the bottom of the second inning. She stole second base and moved up to third base when Jadyn Samson beat out an infield single. Rowan Allen walked to load the bases. Mady Yakel struck out the next Hornet batter. Cienna Nightingale singled to left center field to drive Brooke Gerth and Jadyn Samson home. Mady Yakel struck out the next two Hornet batters to end the inning.

Mendon scored two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend its lead to 5-0.

Avery Alford beat out a bunt single to lead off the top of the third inning for Cassopolis and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Sienna Young. Avery Alford took third base on a bounce out to the pitcher by Tori Burks. Rowan Allen retired the next Ranger hitter on a fly to center field to end the inning.

Maddie Rodgers walked to lead off the bottom of the third inning for Mendon. Mady Yakel retired the next Hornet hitter on a popped up foul bunt and struck out the next batter. Jadyn Samson beat out an infield single and Maddie Rodgers moved up to third base. Mady Yakel struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Ella Smego singled to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Cassopolis. After Rowan Allen struck out the next Ranger hitter, Ella Smego stole second base. Rowan Allen struck out the next two hitters to end the inning.

Taya Bingaman beat out a bunt single to open the bottom of the fourth inning for Mendon and took second base on an overthrow. Taya Bingaman advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Cienna Nightingale walked. Kennedi Sand went in as a courtesy runner for Cienna Nightingale and stole second base. Sabrina Monroy hit a high bouncer that glanced off the pitcher’s glove for a single that drove Taya Bingaman home as Kennedi Sand took third base. Sabrina Monroy stole second base.

LaShell Blair hit a sacrifice fly that drove Kennedi Sand home as Sabrina Monroy advanced to third base. Maddie Rodgers was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Sabrina Monroy scored and Maddie Rodgers went to third base on a wild pitch. Mady Yakel struck out the next Hornet batter. Brooke Gerth singled to right field to drive Maddie Rodgers home.

Jadyn Samson singled to left field and Brooke Gerth advanced to second base. Rowan Allen walked to load the bases. Taya Bingaman singled to left field and drove Brooke Gerth and Jadyn Samson home as Rowan Allen advanced to second base. Rowan Allen stole third base. Cienna Nightingale blasted a triple to deep right center field to drive Rowan Allen and Taya Bingaman home.

Sabrina Monroy walked; ball for was a wild pitch and Cienna Nightingale scored. LaShell Blair doubled to right field to drive Sabrina Monroy home.

This run gave Mendon a 15-0 lead in the fourth inning and Mendon won the game because of the mercy rule.

Ella Smego and Avery Alford each had a single for Cassopolis. Mady Yakel pitched the complete game and struck out nine Mendon hitters.

Cienna Nightingale had a triple, a double, a single and five RBI for Mendon. (She also walked in her other plate appearance.) Jadyn Samson had four singles in four at bats. Taya Bingaman had three singles and three RBI. LaShell Blair had a double and two RBI. Brooke Gerth and Sabrina Monroy each had one single and an RBI.

Rowan Allen pitched the complete shutout four inning game for Mendon. She gave up only two hits and struck out five batters.