Not much went wrong for Airport’s softball team Saturday.
The Jets were in control almost the entire day in winning their third consecutive regional championship.
But there was a soft groan that went through the Airport dugout when the coaches and players received news that Paw Paw had been knocked out of the state tournament.
The Jets wanted another shot at the team that had ended their state-championship dreams last spring.
“After our loss to Paw Paw (last season), we knew we both returned our entire rosters and would have a great chance of squaring off in the postseason,” Airport coach Jessica Irwin said. “When the brackets were released that was something Coach Jim (Duffy) and I mapped out right away and shared with our kids.
“It was our goal to make it to that game no matter who was on the other side. Our kids were embracing that matchup to unfold this year.”
Airport didn’t get the match it wanted, but its dream of capturing the school’s first state softball title remains alive.
Whiteford and Summerfield also will be chasing title this week as the state tournaments resume with quarterfinal games on Tuesday, June 9.
Division 2
Airport’s quarterfinal matchup against Farmington Hills Mercy at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Ypsilanti Lincoln has a personal aspect for Irwin.
“The coaches for Farmington Mercy are the sister (Sara McGavin) and father (Alec Lesko) of my best friend and college teammate/roomate (Kelly Lesko),” she said. “She was the maid of honor in my wedding. Sara’s daughter is Mercy’s starting pitcher and hits second in their lineup. Mr. Lesko has always been a mentor in this game for me so it will be fun to be in opposite dugouts this go round.”
Airport carries 35-5 record and No. 5 state ranking into the contest. Mercy is unranked.
The same is true of the team the Jets would face in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Michigan State – Ogemaw Heights or Sparta.
“Out of all the quarterfinal matchups, those are the teams I know the least amount about,” Irwin said. “Should we win Tuesday, we will dig deeper into their lineups.”
The state’s other heavy hitters are on the other side of the bracket including No. 1 Stevensville Lakeshore, No. 6 Frankenmuth, No. 8 Hudsonville Unity Christian and honorable mention Armada.
“Frankenmuth and Stevensville Lakeshore are both very tough teams,” Irwin said. “Frankenmuth has a really good pitcher that has controlled a lot of games this year.”
The Jets will not feel like underdogs no matter who they play.
“Our kids are focused and driven to collect three more wins this season,” Irwin said. “We strive to stay disciplined at the plate and coach our kids to attach the strike they are looking for.
“In the circle, it is nice to have depth so we have options when we feel it’s time to make a change. Defensively, we have been steady all year and it seems every game a new player makes a big play to steal hits from the other team.”
Division 3
Defending state champion Grass Lake is the next obstacle in Whiteford’s path. The teams will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Novi.
“We’ve been tracking their schedule throughout the year, knowing that there always was the chance we would have this game,” Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said. “We have some common opponents.”
“They are aggressive on the bases and they will try to pick off runners if they stray off. I guess you can call that aggressive on defense.”
Whiteford hopes to limit Grass Lake’s opportunities to be aggressive by keepings runners off base.
“Pitching will be the key for us,” VanBrandt said. “We have some good data on their hitters. If Peyton Welch is throwing well, we have a good chance. We are going to have to mix in a few more pitches against Grass Lake hitters, throw more spin pitches. That’s what she has been waiting to throw.”
A win Tuesday good set up a possible rematch against Evart in the state semifinals at 10 a.m. Friday at Michigan State. Evart faces Boyne City in the quarterfinals.
“I know Evart has not lost a game,” VanBrandt said. “They beat us in the state finals two years ago.”
Evart pitcher Kyrah Gray was a sophomore that year and outdueled Whiteford’s Unity Nelson. The roles are reversed this year. Whiteford’s Welch is a sophomore.
“We would love a rematch,” VanBrandt said.
Evart is ranked No. 1 in the state and Grass Lake is No. 4. Whiteford (23-11) ended the regular season as an honorable mention choice in the coaches’ poll.
Still alive on the other side of the bracket are No. 3 Ravenna, Bronson, Millington and New Lothrop.
“I feel great about this team,” VanBrandt said. “They put in the work. Even if we get behind a run or two, they are scrappy and can come back. It’s been a real joy to coach this team.”
Division 4
Like Whiteford, Summerfield gets the defending champion in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs venture to Battle Creek’s Flannery Park to play Mendon at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Mendon is ranked No. 1 again this spring.
“We have to limit our errors and be aggressive on the bases, especially our first two hitters in the lineup who are slappers,” Summerfield coach Christine Zappone said.
Summerfield (20-12) was on top of its game Saturday in winning a regional championship for the first time since 2012.
“That was the best game we’ve played all season,” Zappone said of a 3-1 verdict over Dansville in the finals. “It helps that we played solid teams all season, especially in the Michigan Challenge.”
Summerfield pitcher Brea Olmstead, who was outstanding in the Regional, has extra motivation in the closing stages of the state tournament.
She had committed to play softball at Lourdes, but that school closed recently. Currently she plans to play golf next year at Adrian College, but would rather be back on the diamond.
“I have a lot of faith in her,” Zappone said.
A win Tuesday, wound send Summerfield into the semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday at Michigan State against Norway or No. 2 Hillman.
The other side of the bracket features No. 5, Bellaire, No. 8 Fowler, No. 9 Brown City and Byron.
“There has been a lot of fan and community support,” Zappone said. “A lot of people have reached out.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Airport, Whiteford, Summerfield softball resume state-title quest
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Niles Kruger, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
