BAY CITY, MI – A look at the high school girls sports scene in Bay County for May 20, 2025. Bay County coaches are asked to submit results, highlights and comments the night of each event by emailing lthomps2@mlive.com. Be sure to also check out our boys sports roundup.

SOFTBALL: NOTHING FAZES SPARTANS

Late-game pressure doesn’t seem to faze Pinconning.

The Spartans look at the final inning as just another chance to succeed.

Working its last-chance magic yet again, Pinconning swept Sanford Meridian 4-3 and 14-13, winning its final at-bats in both games.

“Our team’s resilience is why we keep finding ways to win these tight games,” Pinconning coach Kayla Gauthier said. “We are a young team, so we’ve had our fair share of mistakes. But these girls never seem to hang their heads.

“We stay positive, work hard, trust each other and keep fighting.”

The Spartans (17-18, 10-9) displayed that in Game 1, finding a way to win despite collecting just four hits. The game stretched into extra innings before freshman Kailee Rugenstein roped an RBI double to score the game-winning run. Layla Foco pitched all eight innings, striking out seven for the win.

Game 2 was a different kind of battle but played out in similar fashion. Meridian rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 13-13. But Pinconning turned singles by Elley Shoultes and Emma McQuarter and a throwing error into the walk-off win.

Rugenstein came up big again with two home runs and a double, knocking in five runs in the game. Ella Hunter drilled three hits for four RBIs while Shoultes and Laken Gibala each added two hits. Hunter pitched a complete game for the win.

Kate Cataline of the John Glenn softball team for 2025.Lee Thompson | lthomps2@mlive.com

SOFTBALL: GLENN WINS IN EXTRAS

In a scheduled six-inning game, John Glenn was seven innings strong.

The Bobcats stormed back to score three sixth-inning runs then added three more in the seventh to stun Tawas 10-7 in Game 1 of their non-conference doubleheader. Tawas returned the favor in Game 2, rallying for five runs in the sixth inning to snare a 9-8 victory.

“We got the breaks in the first game, Tawas got the breaks in the second game,” Glenn coach John Busch said. “Both were exciting games to watch and be part of.”

Glenn (17-13) showed some spunk in the opener, winning in come-from-behind fashion. Kate Cataline drove in three runs and Hadley Keister homered to lead the way. Dani Weiss notched the win with four strong innings of relief.

Glenn got three hits apiece from Drue Busch and Olivia Duprey in Game 2. But an 8-4 lead got away in the final inning.

Meredith Krauseneck of the Essexville Garber softball team for 2025.Courtesy

SOFTBALL: DUKES HIT 20-WIN MARK

Essexville Garber powered past Bridgeport 17-1 and 15-0 in a Tri-Valley Conference Red sweep, hitting the 20-win mark for the 11th consecutive season.

Meredith Krauseneck slammed two home runs in a three-hit, six-RBI performance in the opener for the Dukes (21-12, 8-4). Ella Kokaly added three hits to back winning pitcher Delenya Charbonneau.

Kokaly drove in three runs and Kara Kotenko tallied three hits in Game 2. Kotenko notched the victory for the Dukes.

SOFTBALL: TOUGH TASK FOR CENTRAL

Bay City Central ran into trouble in Grand Blanc, dropping 12-1 and 6-0 contests in Saginaw Valley League action.

Central (13-17-1, 8-12) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 1 only to see Grand Blanc plate the next 18 runs on the day. Kallie Kaczmarek rapped three hits for Central while Maleah Russell added two and Eli Maciejewski tripled. Grand Blanc blasted four home runs.

Grand Blanc’s Kayla Blumenschein faced the minimum 15 batters, firing a perfect game with 11 strikeouts in the five-inning nightcap.

SOFTBALL: STANDISH CAN’T SLOW CLARE

Standish-Sterling didn’t have an answer for No. 1-ranked Clare, dropping 15-3 and 6-0 decisions to the Jack Pine Conference leader.

Jaylynn Yenna hit a home run and drove in two runs for Standish-Sterling (15-13, 9-8) in the opener while Ava Briggs added two hits. Madison Jones struck out 10 for Clare (30-1).

Game 2 saw Clare’s Kyley Wyman throw a masterpiece, striking out 14 batters in a no-hitter. She also came through at the plate with a home run.

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