Warriors Survive; Advance to First Ever Softball State Semifinal

Reese Lape batted two hits for the Warriors in the quarterfinal win. Photos by Sean Walicki, JTV Sports.

David Rice & Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Tuesday June 10th

(6-10-2025, 9:45PM): Grass Lake takes down the Wolfpack of Laingsburg in a high scoring affair to advance to the semifinals for the first time in school history.

The scoring started early and often in this quarterfinal match up. Laingsburg’s Bella Latuszek got an RBI double off of a ball hit deep into right field. Then Addy Buchin hit Latuszek home while getting thrown out at 1st to take the 2-0 advantage.

Bottom of the first, the Warriors matched the Wolfpack’s scoring effort. The bases were loaded after a double by Leilah Smith and a single off a bunt by Makenzie Hilberer. Morgan Conrad was thrown out at first, but was able to send Bree Salts home to end the first inning at 2-2.

Laingsburg responded with a big 3rd inning. Peyton Stahr hit a grounder past the shortstop for an RBI single. Followed by Harper Strouse sending a ball to deep center field for a 2-RBI double that got the Wolfpack the lead at 5-4. Alaina Asher topped off the inning with an RBI single to extend the lead 6-4.

The Wolfpack’s momentum carried over into the 4th as Latuszek sent a line drive to centerfield for a single as LHS led 7-4 in the 4th.

Bottom of the 4th, the Warriors, seemingly unbothered by the 3 run hole, stormed back. Emily Brown sent a line drive into center field for a single and Salts sent her home with a deep shot to the center field track for an RBI double. An RBI triple from Kennedy Collins gave GL the lead back

Buchin hit a 2-RBI double for the Wolfpack but LHS ultimately came up short as Grass Lake held on to win 10-9 and advance to their first ever semifinal game at MSU.

Bree Salts batted 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs to lead the Warriors, Leliah Smith, Kennedy Collins and Reese Lape each added two hits. Morgan Conrad earned the pitching win, throwing all seven innings and 126 total pitches. Bella Latuszek batted 3-for-4 to lead Laingsburg.

“We were the home team today, so getting to move on to the next round for the first time makes this season even more fun” said Grass Lake coach Roger Cook. “This win represents not just Grass Lake as a community but all of Jackson County. It’ll be exciting to step onto the field at MSU for the first time and hopefully we can keep this rolling”.

“We are all about having our pitchers back, this is a game of runs” said GL catcher Bree Salts. “That last out was just a lot of excitement, getting to this stage for the first time in school history with these girls has been amazing”.

Grass Lake will face Algonac (24-14-1) in the MHSAA D3 State Semifinals on Friday at 3:00pm at Secchia Stadium at Michigan State University.