LANSING — It didn’t come easy.
But Division 3 No. 9-ranked Lansing Catholic has given itself a shot at a repeat at the Greater Lansing Hall of Fame Softball Classic.
Alyssa LaConte delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning to help the Cougars rally to an 8-5 victory over DeWitt in a semifinal Thursday, May 21, at Ranney Park.
The win sets up Lansing Catholic for a rematch with Grand Ledge in the championship game Friday, May 22.
“It’s unbelievable,, especially to do it in this style,” Lansing Catholic coach Amy Poljan said. “I had hoped they had it in them and they did have it in them and I was proud of them. They found some grit in them that you always hope you have. You just hope you can get it out of yourself when it comes.”
Zoey Gruber had another big performance while helping the Cougars score a combined six runs in the seventh and eighth innings as they overcame a 5-1 deficit.
Gruber hit a two-run home run on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the seventh that helped force extra innings. She also was also the winning pitcher and kept DeWitt off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth. DeWitt stranded runners on second and third in the seventh and failed to push across the runner in the eighth.
“That was a really tough game and it took everyone and 100% effort,” Gruber said. “It feels great.”
The clutch home run marked the second straight game with a long ball for Gruber, who also homered in the May 20 win over Fowler.
“Don’t get me wrong, I was nervous, but I was praying there in that box,” Gruber said. “I just knew to leave everything on the field. (It was) what do I have to lose right now.”
Tess Rypstra went 4-for-5 to lead DeWitt, while Ellery Harshmsn and Kiley Zatkin each drove in two runs.
GRAND LEDGE 8, LAINGSBBURG 1
Kailey Nelson hit a home run and Amelia Bernard and Abbey Fiero each had a double among their three hits while driving in a run to help the Comets return to the Softball Classic championship game with their win over Division 3 No. 8-ranked Laingsburg.
Tomia Geter added two doubles and and RBI and earned the pitching victory for Division 1 honorable mention Grand Ledge. The Comets scored in every inning but the second and fifth.
Bella Latuszek, who became Laingsburg’s career RBI leader with her three-run home run on May 20, drove in the lone run for the Wolfpack. She has 201 career RBIs.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing Catholic, Grand Ledge earn rematch in Softball Classic final
Reporting by Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
