HOWELL — The days were dwindling before the district tournament, and Howell junior pitcher Alison Ulanowski was still waiting for a doctor’s clearance to play softball again.
Ulanowski had been out of the lineup since sustaining a concussion when she was struck in the jaw by a line drive during a game against Salem on May 11.
Finally, just two days before the Highlanders’ biggest games of the season, Ulanowski got the all clear.
“It was definitely hard,” Ulanowski said. “I had to watch a lot of the games at home because of the light and the noise bothering my head.”
When Ulanowski returned to the circle on Saturday, May 30, Howell had a decided advantage over Livingston County rivals Hartland and Brighton.
She pitched 10⅓ shutout innings in a 5-2 victory over Hartland in the semifinal and a 2-0 shutout of Brighton in the championship game.
Ulanowski relieved freshman Kate Anderson, who was Howell’s main pitcher during her absence, with two on and two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Ulanowski threw 3⅓ innings, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out there. She threw 31 strikes on 42 pitches.
She was back.
“I was definitely really nervous,” Ulanowski said. “I really didn’t think I was going to be back until next week. It was great to be back on the field again with the seniors, the last home game with them. Before the inning, I took a deep breath and just knew whatever happens happens today. I was just happy to play.”
Ulanowski went the distance in the championship game, allowing only five hits and no walks in seven innings. She needed only 78 pitches, throwing strikes on 58 of them. She has a 1.95 earned run average with 66 strikeouts and only eight walks.
“Kate Anderson has been doing a phenomenal job for us during Ali’s concussion,” Howell coach Lauren Evans said. “However, getting Ali back just gave our kids a little bit of confidence.”
Sophomore Zoey Overton hit her 11th home run of the season in the Hartland game. Emme Kottong homered for the Eagles (6-25).
Against Brighton, both of Howell’s runs came in the fourth inning. Leighton Scott hit her eighth homer of the season to break the scoreless deadlock and Sophia May singled in the second run.
Freshman Bailey Hill threw all seven innings for Brighton, allowing five hits, no walks and fanning seven.
Brighton (19-16) reached its third consecutive district championship game by rallying for a 6-4 victory over South Lyon East. Down 4-3, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the seventh.
Lauren Damron tied the game with a single, Sammie Janssen put Brighton ahead with a single and Reese Vawter tacked on an extra run with a single.
Howell repeated as district champion, while Brighton is still seeking its first title since 2004.
The Highlanders (20-15) will face Battle Creek Lakeview at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6 in a regional semifinal at Hartland. Grand Ledge and Portage Central will play in the noon semifinal.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Alison Ulanowski’s return lifts Howell to softball district title
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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