MENOMINEE — Extra innings was required to determine a winner of Friday’s MHSAA Division 3 District 66 championship, and after eight frames of high tension softball between Menominee and Gladstone, everything came down to a nail-biting defensive play.
With the Braves nursing a one-run lead, Addy Johnson and Ava Johnson worked consecutive one-out walks to move the potential tying run into scoring position.
Savannah Houle stepped into the batter’s box and pushed a Montgomery Pepin fastball into center field, where, despite having the sun directly in her eyes, Emma Trombley tracked the ball into her glove perfectly for the second out.
That’s when the drama began.
Sadie Betzinger, who was brought in to courtesy run for Johnson at second base, tagged up and made a mad dash for third base.
As a packed crowd held its breath, Trombley swiftly transferred the ball to her throwing hand and uncorked a missile to Morgan Sundquist.
Trombley’s arm proved to be a hair faster than Betzinger’s legs, as the relay throw arrived just in time for Gladstone’s third baseman to apply the tag, completing the double play and sending a stunned Maroons team walking off its home field as the Braves celebrated a 4-3 triumph.
Gladstone, who defeated Iron Mountain 18-0 in its semifinal game, has now won 11 straight district championships. And Menominee was one out away from ending the Braves’ historic streak.
Ava Johnson got on base thanks to a free pass in the bottom of the sixth, stole second base and moved up to third on a single by Houle before scoring on a wild pitch to put the Maroons on top 3-2.
Lauren Sundquist led off the top of the seventh with a single and put herself into scoring position by swiping second, but Kam Olson was able to strike out Reese Herioux before forcing Pepin to ground out, putting Menominee on the precipice of victory.
Instead, Samantha Drielick managed to smoke a double into center field, which allowed Sundquist to sprint past home plate.
Olson set down Madison Sundquist on strikes to end the inning, but the damage was done and the two teams entered extra innings deadlocked at 3-3.
“This will be a tough one to get over. We knew we had a chance when Montgomery Pepin had 90-some pitches against Iron Mountain, so we were right where we wanted to be and we left it all out on the field,” Menominee coach Dale Olsen said. “We were one catch away from ending that, and I couldn’t be any prouder of these girls for hanging in there and giving it everything they had.”
Menominee, who throttled Manistique 10-0 in its semifinal matchup, gave Gladstone everything it could handle and more.
The Braves struck first in the top of the second after Allison Larson scored on an error, but the Maroons responded in its half of the inning, with Olson scoring on a wild pitch to knot matters up at 1-1.
Menominee grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth after Addy Johnson scored, thanks to an error by the Braves, but Gladstone struck back in the top of the fifth after Drielick collected an RBI-ground that allowed Herioux to score, making it a 2-2 game.
Matters were much easier for Menominee against the Emeralds.
Menominee quickly faced two outs in the bottom of the second, but Ella Barker and Elena Murphy both tallied RBIs while Manistique pitcher Alexis McDade issued five straight walks to score two more runs for the Maroons.
Kadyn Olsen scored on an error to make it a 5-0 contest, and the Maroons were off the races, as ribbies from Mady Barker and Olson helped Menominee seize a 9-0 cushion in the bottom of the third.
Olsen put the finishing touches on Menominee’s semifinal win in the bottom of the fifth, belting an RBI-single that scored Phoebe Barrette and ended the game via the 10-run mercy rule.
Menominee wraps up the 2024 season with an overall record of 18-18.
“I could not be prouder of where we ended up,” Coach Olsen said. “There were some lulls in the middle of the season, but these girls were playing exactly how we wanted them to be at the end. I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of them. I’m so proud of them.”
History made
Friday was a significant day for the Menominee softball program.
The Maroons hosted the MHSAA District tournament for the first time ever, and with fans from all four teams packing the stands, Dale Olsen was over the moon with how the event turned out.
“This was a great success. So many people and community members pitched in to make this possible, and they all deserve recognition,” he enthused. “There’s simply just too many to name, but they know who they are, and they helped make this a great success.”
Cream of the crop
One day before Menominee hosted the District tournament, the coach of the Great Northern Conference convened to make their selections for the GNC All-Conference teams.
Six Maroons were rewarded for their stellar seasons with All-GNC honors. Mady Barker (infield) and Olsen (catcher) both garnered First Team accolades. Barrette was named a Second Team outfielder, while Olson (pitcher), Murphy (infield) and Addy Johnson (infield) were all Honorable Mention.
The final goodbye
Not lost on anyone involved with Maroons softball was the fact that Friday marked the final games in the careers of seniors Mady Barker, Olson, Barrette, Alyssa Graves and Jada Schuette.
Barker leaves as the program’s career leader in every major hitting category, while Olson owns every pitching record in Menominee High School history.
A visibly emotional Dale Olsen choked up and fought back tears when asked to speak on the quintet.
“It’s the worst part about coaching because you develop a rapport and you really miss them,” he said. “I’m really going to miss those girls.”
Menominee 10 — Manistique 0 (District semifinals)
Menominee 054 01x x — 10
Manistique 000 00x x — 0
WP: Olson 5IP, H, 11K
LP: McDade 4IP, 8H, 10R, 5ER, 8BB, K
Leading hitters (Menominee): Murphy 2x3, 2R, RBI; Olsen 2x3, R, BB, 3B, 2RBI; M. Barker 2x2, R, BB, 2B, 2RBI; Olson 1x2, BB, 2RBI; Ad. Johnson 0x1, 2BB, 2SB
Leading hitters (Manistique): Ava Kusnier 1x2
Gladstone 4 — Menominee 3 (District championship)
Gladstone 010 010 1 1 — 4
Menominee 010 101 0 0 — 3
WP: Pepin 7 2/3IP, 4H, 3R, 2ER, 7BB, 12K
LP: Olson 8IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 5BB, 10K
Leading hitters (Menominee): E. Barker 0x2, SAC, RBI; Ad. Johnson 2x3, R, BB; Olsen 1x4, 2B; Av, Johnson 0x0, R, 4BB, SB
Leading hitters (Gladstone): Drielick 1x3, 2B, 2RBI; L. Sundquist 4x4, 2R, BB, 4SB, RBI; M. Sundquist 2x4; Herioux 1x3, 2B, 2BB, SB
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