Softball D3 Regional Final at Hanover Horton HS, Grass Lake vs Clinton. Photo by Sean Walicki, JTV Sports
David Rice | JTV Sports
Saturday June 6th
(6-6-2026, 5:15PM): After the Redwolves began a late rally in the 7th inning with four hits and a run, Grass Lake held on and defeated Clinton 4-2 to win its second straight softball regional championship on Saturday.
The first three innings of the contest was a defensive battle, with both teams only batting two hits each. A single in the 4th inning from Mikayla Jurek set up an RBI infield single for Kayleigh Hilberer to get the Warriors on the board and lead 1-0.
A 2-RBI single from GL catcher Chloe Hollifield, plus a fielding error from Clinton, extended the lead to 3-0 in the 6th inning. Hilberer would follow it up with an RBI single of her own to make it a 4-0 game.
Lola Szczesniak got Clinton on the board in the bottom of the 6th, hitting an RBI single to send a runner home and make it a 4-1 contest. Clinton would bat four hits in the bottom of the 7th to begin a late rally, Sierra Welch hit an RBI single to make it 4-2. Grass Lake held on defensively, winning 4-2 and keeping their title defense alive.
“I’m glad it was Chloe (Hollifield) who stepped up for us and became a hero, she’s one of our hardest workers” said Grass Lake HC Roger Cook. “We preach to everyone that you never know who will take the moment and step up. If you stay disciplined, play the game right, and live well then it will all work out. Also kudos to our pitcher Morgan Conrad for pulling through with both games. Clinton has always been a solid program and is a very well coached team.”
The defending state champ will face Ottawa Lake Whiteford in the D3 Quarterfinal on Tuesday at Novi HS. “This run the last two years has been a blessing and so exciting, said Cook. To have such a young team this year, it’s been a huge credit to our juniors and seniors to help lead this thing. We gotta get healthy for Tuesday, and hit the ball better.”
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