Sports reporter Brandon Folsom names the Hometown Life’s All-Area softball team.
Reminder: HTL covers teams in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Canton, Commerce Twp., Farmington, Farmington Hills, Garden City, Livonia, Milford, Northville, Novi, Plymouth, Redford, South Lyon, Wayne, Westland, White Lake and Wixom.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Havanna Bissett, South Lyon
When pitcher Ava Bradshaw suffered an injury in the 2024 state semifinal, backup Havanna Bissett was forced to come in cold. By the time she played herself into a groove, it was too late. Lake Orion had already rallied and held on to advance to the championship.
Bissett got her redemption this spring, leading the Lions back to Michigan State. Only this time, she was fully prepared, pushing them past Utica Ford in the final four to help them return to the championship for the first time since 2021.
The junior wasn’t the best pitcher around metro Detroit, nor was she the fastest or strongest. But she was the most resilient, and that was a big reason why South Lyon pulled off upset after upset during the postseason.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jerry Shippe, South Lyon
It doesn’t matter how talented a roster you bring back, taking over a program one year after it plays in the final four is a daunting task. Yet, Jerry Shippe, who had spent the previous season as the JV coach, made the most of his promotion, helping the Lions return to MSU and become the state runners-up.
Hometown Life’s 2025 All-Area softball team
INFIELDERS
Marisa Merz, senior, Milford (Oakland University)
Hannah Simko, senior, Plymouth (Bowling Green)
Charlie Lambert, senior, Farmington Hills Mercy (Central Michigan)
Izzy Nooe, senior, South Lyon (Bethel women’s basketball)
Ella Stoops, senior, Livonia Stevenson (Sacred Heart)
Emma McAvoy, senior, Plymouth (Michigan-Dearborn)
Sophie Paryaski, senior, Plymouth Christian Academy (Alma)
Katelyn Stallings, senior, Walled Lake Northern (Mott)
Kylie Greene, junior, Farmington (Northwood)
Alyssa Goldman, sophomore, White Lake Lakeland
OUTFIELDERS
Anna Carlson, senior, Bloomfield Hills (Maine)
Sophia Chaput, junior, Farmington Hills Mercy (Oakland)
Brynn Taliercio, senior, White Lake Lakeland (Grand Valley)
Brinley Eckerman, senior, Livonia Stevenson (Northwood)
Elaina Braunscheidel, senior, Livonia Stevenson (Albion)
Evangeline Greenwald, senior, Detroit Country Day (Macalester)
Makenna Kresbaugh, sophomore, Walled Lake Northern
Avery Bourlier, senior, South Lyon
Jacey Roy, junior, Birmingham Groves
PITCHERS
Havanna Bissett, junior, South Lyon
Mary Gugala, junior, Northville
Kaitlyn Pallozzi, senior, Farmington Hills Mercy (Alabama)
Lyla Turmell, junior, Walled Lake Northern (Toledo)
Clara Groen, junior, Plymouth Christian Academy
Shannon McAuliffe, junior, Salem
Anna Battagin, senior, Livonia Churchill (Madonna)
CATCHERS
Evelyn Miller, senior, Farmington Hills Mercy (Loyola-Chicago)
Chloe Paryaski, senior, Plymouth Christian Academy (Alma)
Sam Farrell, senior, Westland John Glenn (Saint Vincent College)
Becky Reddeman, senior, Lutheran Westland (Wisconsin Lutheran)
UTILITY PLAYERS/DESIGNATED HITTERS
Mae Griffore, senior, Novi (Indiana Tech)
Paulina Ankawi, senior, South Lyon East (Ursuline)
Lauren Miller, senior, Farmington Hills Mercy (Lawrence Tech)
Skylar Brodie, senior, Garden City (Trine)
Izzy Bedini, senior, White Lake Lakeland
HONORABLE MENTION
INF – Claire Galatis, senior, Livonia Franklin (Schoolcraft)
INF – Mia Thurman, senior, Canton (Olivet)
INF – Corina Carrillo, senior, North Farmington (Michigan-Dearborn)
INF – Grace Salley, senior, North Farmington (Grand Rapids)
INF – Meghan Kowalyk, senior, Farmington Hills Mercy (Adrian)
INF – Sienna La Sala, senior, Bloomfield Hills (Northwood)
INF – Shaela Byrnes, junior, Walled Lake Northern
INF – Taylor Combs, junior, Walled Lake Central
INF – Jessica Fick, senior, Walled Lake Central
INF – Paige Ambler, senior, White Lake Lakeland
INF – Emily Searle, junior, White Lake Lakeland
INF – Mariah Wright, freshman, Plymouth Christian Academy
INF – Savana Mullen, sophomore, Livonia Franklin
INF – Mikayla Roberts, sophomore, Salem
INF – Charlie Lindstrom, junior, Salem
INF – Theresa Distefano, freshman, Salem
INF – Isabel Hanna, junior, Novi
INF – Kendall Heron, junior, Northville
INF – Anna O’Beirne, freshman, Northville
INF – Jocelyn Burns, freshman, Northville
INF – Vanessa Nissen, sophomore, Plymouth
INF – Ruby Hanna, sophomore, Bloomfield Hills Marian
INF – Emma Weber, senior, Birmingham Seaholm
INF – Katie Murawski, senior, Birmingham Groves
INF – Kendall Hans, sophomore, Wixom St. Catherine
INF – Helena Stoppa, senior, Livonia Churchill
INF – Ruby Wells, junior, Livonia Stevenson
INF – Avery Cipa, junior, Livonia Stevenson
INF – Olivia McPherson, junior, South Lyon East
INF – Tori Russell, junior, Milford
INF – Luren Elkins, sophomore, Milford
INF – Isabella Bracali, sophomore, South Lyon
INF – Ella Glowacki, junior, South Lyon
OUT – Ella McCue, senior, North Farmington (Schoolcraft)
OUT – Erin Torok, junior, Salem
OUT – Kennedi Adams, sophomore, Northville
OUT – Ella Tomlinson, senior, Northville
OUT – Avarielle Spuller, junior, Canton
OUT – Cameron Zaid, freshman, Walled Lake Central
OUT – Gracie Griffis, junior, Bloomfield Hills Marian
OUT – Gigi Hill, junior, Birmingham Seaholm
OUT – Grace Lamott, sophomore, Farmington
OUT – Raegan Eddington, freshman, Detroit Country Day
OUT – Kaitlynn Elkins, senior, Milford (Oakland CC)
OUT – Amanda Thibault, senior, Livonia Churchill (Madonna)
OUT – Grace Fornash, senior, Livonia Churchill
P – Mckenna Moore, senior, Livonia Franklin (Madonna)
P – Katelyn Ruth, senior, Lutheran Westland (Wisconsin Lutheran)
P – Betty Adams, senior, Livonia Churchill (Michigan-Dearborn)
P – Soseh Broglin, senior, Wixom St. Catherine (Dayton)
P – Grace Main, senior, Bloomfield Hills (Alma)
P – Skylar Weil, sophomore, Plymouth
P – Sophia Porterfield, sophomore, Farmington
P – Katelynn Cole, freshman, Walled Lake Central
P – Georgia Zilka, senior, Bloomfield Hills Marian
P – Sydney West, junior, Garden City
P – Juliette Hauser, sophomore, Detroit Country Day
C – Grace Wonfor, senior, Livonia Franklin (Schoolcraft)
C – Natalie McCall, senior, Plymouth (Lansing)
C – Ryley Frank, senior, Canton (Albion)
C – Angelina Ankawi, senior, South Lyon East (Ursuline)
C – Ameah Adams, senior, Livonia Clarenceville
C – Ava Hierlihy, sophomore, Bloomfield Hills Marian
C – Meagan Lowes, senior, Novi
C – Izzy Rogers, senior, Walled Lake Central
C – Sami Allen, junior, Birmingham Seaholm
C – Autumn Marok, junior, Farmington
U – Lila Nursey, sophomore, Birmingham Seaholm
U – Mirissa Brown, senior, Detroit Country Day
U – Rylee Miller, freshman, South Lyon
U – Aydan Soper, junior, Livonia Churchill
DH – Alayna Crosby, senior, Livonia Stevenson (Henry Ford)
DH – Abby Parrinello, junior, Northville
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on Twitter at @folsombrandonj.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Folsom’s favorites: Hometown Life’s 2025 All-Area softball team
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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