GRAND RAPIDS – Only one out away, Grand Rapids Community College softball thought it was destined for a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series (NJCAA) last season.
Then heartbreak happened for the Raiders, who failed to hold onto a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning and suffered an 8-7 loss to Lansing Community College in a thrilling regional final.
Libby VanFleet, a former Cheboygan High School softball star and then-freshman on that GRCC team, felt the devastation on the part of herself and teammates who thought they had it.
One year later, VanFleet and her close Raider teammates got to experience the other side of that, as they returned and finished the job in impressive fashion just recently.
Now, VanFleet and GRCC softball will be going to the upcoming NJCAA Division 2 World Series – the first appearance for the Raiders since 1998 – after capturing a 6-1 victory over Lake Michigan College in a Great Lakes District B championship game at the University of Findlay (Ohio) on Saturday, May 9.
“Honestly, it was one of the most rewarding feelings that I’ve ever had in my softball career,” VanFleet said. “There was so much buildup to that moment, and just being surrounded by my best friends was one of the best feelings. It’s a good feeling that we finally got what we wanted.”
With the win, the Raiders head to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where they will participate in the NJCAA World Series, May 19-24. It’s been a dominant season for the Raiders, who make their way into the tournament with a 41-8 overall record and a current 11-game winning streak.
In two seasons at GRCC, VanFleet has been a huge part of the Raiders’ success. As a freshman, she saw plenty of time at pitcher and earned all-conference honorable mention accolades. But with the Raiders loaded with talented pitchers, VanFleet decided it was best to make her mark on a new position, which is now left field. While saying goodbye to being a pitcher was difficult, she’s fallen in love with left field, where she earned all-conference honors this season.
“I think I like it more than pitching,” VanFleet said. “(The other outfielders) are all so hard working. Everyone is diving for every single ball. It’s just good to have those people around me because I enjoy it so much. We’re together all the time at practice. We’re kind of just in our own world, but it’s fun.”
Offensively, VanFleet has provided a productive bat for GRCC, hitting .337 with 28 hits, 11 doubles, 19 RBIs and 28 runs scored in 2026. VanFleet, along with her teammates, played their roles in lifting GRCC to a Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) title with a 23-2 league record.
Prior to graduating from Cheboygan, VanFleet wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep playing softball. But with encouragement from her parents, she decided to give GRCC a go.
For her, it’s one of the best decisions she’s ever made.
“I met so many people that I never would have met if I didn’t take this opportunity, and it’s really allowed me to kind of get out of my comfort zone, and now I have 18 new best friends that I’m definitely going to stay in contact with for the rest of my life,” VanFleet said.
With the World Series approaching, it will be a dream come true for VanFleet, who never imagined she would be playing on the national stage like she’s going to be on soon.
However, the hard part will be when her GRCC career ends. While she’s currently an Aquinas College softball commit, she’ll always cherish her time with a GRCC program she loves dearly.
“Saying goodbye to all these girls, it’s going to be tough because we work together every single day, and building these relationships is something I’ve been so blessed to be a part of,” VanFleet said.
No. 16 seed GRCC will meet No. 17 Bryant and Stratton College (Wisconsin) in a World Series first-round game at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, with the winner to face top-seeded Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) later in the day.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Libby VanFleet, GRCC softball going to World Series for first time since 1998
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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