Warriors Score Four 7th-inning Runs ; Win First Ever Softball State Championship

Grass Lake players and staff celebrate the first ever softball state championship in school history. Photos by Samantha Wynn, JTV Sports.

David Rice & Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Saturday June 14th

(6-14-2025, 11:00PM): After reaching the quarterfinal three times, Grass Lake finally got over the hump and won it all at MSU on Saturday. GL defeated Clare 5-4 to win its first ever softball state championship, holding on after two runs in the 7th by the Pioneers.

The Warriors cracked the first run of the game in the third inning, an RBI single from Bree Salts made it a 1-0 GL lead. Three hits and a walk for the Clare offense tied it up at 1-1 in the 4th including a triple from Breez Yarger.

Both teams made it a defensive game again until the last two innings, which also became the most dramatic and nervous parts of the game. Savannah Buzzelli knocked in an RBI single to make a 2-1 Pioneers lead in the 6th.

Grass Lake answered in the 7th, Emily Brown knocked in an RBI single to even the game at 2-2. Leilah Smith continued the momentum, hitting a huge 2-RBI single to make it a 4-2 Warriors lead. Salts added an RBI on a sac fly to extend it to 5-2.

Two runs by Clare in the bottom of the 7th made the environment and game even more nerve racking for the fans at MSU. Addison McMillan hit a triple, followed by an RBI single from Tessa Kelly to make it 5-3. Yarger nailed an RBI double on a line drive to center field to make it a 5-4 game.

GL’s defense was able to close the inning out and escape with a 5-4 victory over Clare on Saturday at Secchia Stadium at MSU to win their first ever softball state championship.

Breez Yarger led Clare, batting 3-for-4 with an RBI. After almost 25 years at the helm of the Warriors, Coach Roger Cook and his three seniors for this team earned a state championship, and memories that will last a lifetime.

“We didn’t want the same result as our freshman year (2022), we knew we could achieve this and I’m proud to have done this with the other seniors and this team” said GL catcher Bree Salts, who will play next spring for Central Michigan University.

“Our 7,8, and 9 batters have stepped up as of late too, we were confident in any of the nine batters when they came to the plate. Very proud of every girl” said Grass Lake coach Roger Cook. “This win was not just for Grass Lake but for Jackson County and all of the great talent in our area and we’re happy to represent”.