2019 Northern Classic
2019 Northern Classic Recap
It was the worst of times....it was the best of times.
This year's Northern Classic was an exercise in yelling at Mother Nature for the torrential downpour on Friday and again on early Saturday morning, then working to get the fields ready for the rest of the tournament. Once the games started, the action was fast and furious and resulted in champions being crowned in four divisions.
In the 10U group, 231 Fusion Fastpitch made it two Traverse City tournaments titles in a row. Last week's Spring Splash winner, the Fusion team silenced the TC Thunder, 10-0, in the Northern Classic final.
In the 12U group, Jake Johnston's Mt. Pleasant Drillers team beat the TC Thunder, 16-1, to win the Northern Classic title. The Drillers advanced to the finals with a win over the TC Waves, while Jason Hamilton's Thunder squad downed the West Michigan Outlaws Blue to join the medal round.
In 14U, the 231 Fusion - Tiesworth (Juli Tiesworth) squad edged Ben Lundquist's Cadillac Express, 3-2, in the championship game.
Finally, in the 16U group co-champions Elite 16U and Mid-Michigan Bolts earned crowns based on their 3-0 record and low number of runs allowed in 3 games of pool play. The West Michigan Outlaws earned third place honors with a 3-0 record but more runs allowed, while Warrior Nation was top among a group of 2-and-1 teams and captured fourth place.
THANK YOU to all of the teams that hung in there and waited for the fields to clear and become playable. Also, a special thank you to Phil Meeker for helping so much at SEAS, and all of the parents who chipped in to get the field at TC West ready on Saturday.
(Above, the 231 Fusion - Tiesworth team joins the Cadillac Express after the championship game to pose for the cameras. Congratulations, Ladies!
Northern Classic All-Tournament Team
Here are the All-Tournament Team selections for the 2019 Northern Classic. Congratulation, Ladies!!! Above, the Mid-Michigan Bolts and Elite 16U teams--co-champions in the 16U division--get together following play on Sunday.
Coaches: If your team is not shown and you'd like to nominate your players, please email JSBrunner777@yahoo.com with your selections.
10U Division
Jillian Moazeni - 231 Fusion
Delaney Witkop - 231 Fusion
Claire McDaniel - 231 Fusion
Piper Cavanaugh - 231 Fusion
Mallorie Louch - Mid-Michigan Heat
Grace Flansberg - Mid-Michigan Heat
Brooklyn Fischer - TC Thunder
Claire Hurley - TC Thunder
Grace Merchant - TC Thunder
Reese Jones - TC Thunder
Anika Peterson - TC Waves
Taryn Beamish - TC Waves
12U Division
Autumn McSawby - Northwest Wild
Kayla Milarch - Northwest Wild
Lauren Tkach - TC Waves
Hannah Fellows - TC Waves
Zoey Jetter - TC Waves
Camryn Craig - TC Waves
Grace Lewis - TC Thunder
Lucy Uy - TC Thunder
Ella Schram - TC Thunder
Jordan LaFleur - TC Thunder
Addison Spicer - Michigan Blasters
Emmalee Shankel - Michigan Blasters
Hunter St. Peter - 231 Fusion
Adriana Sackett - 231 Fusion
Rylie Groggo - Michigan Rage
Melody Filipiak - Michigan Rage
14U Division
Karly Roelofs - TC Thunder 14U
Emma Blach - TC Thunder 14U
Jordyn Grant - Motor City Hit Dogs
Hope Sneizek - Motor City Hit Dogs
Caitlin Butzin - TC Thunder 13U
Kelsey Quiggin - TC Thunder 13U
Brooklyn Hoffert - Cadillac Express
Ashlyn Lundquist - Cadillac Express
Georgia Meyer - Cadillac Express
Jacelyn Moggo - Cadillac Express
Kaci Sowers - 231 Fusion
Sophie Wisniski - 231 Fusion
Jaycee Mitchell - 231 Fusion
Brooke Meeker - 231 Fusion
Maggie Napont - TC Waves 13U
Brooke Smith - TC Waves 13U
16U Division
Reagan Middleton - Northwest Wild
Jazmyn Correl - Northwest Wild
Madison Wilkinson - Moran Iron Works Vulcans
Shelby Yoder - Moran Iron Works Vulcans
Anna Terwilliger - MBS Jets Gold 15U
Kindra Winters - MBS Jets Gold 15U
Ashley Chmielewski - Roscommon Royals
Allison Brown - Roscommon Royals
Karlee Erickson - Roscommon Royals
2018 Northern Classic
2018 Northern Classic Recap
Drillers Capture 10U Title!! Eagles Fly High In 12U!! Newcomers Niles Nitro Mop Up In 14U!! Young Elite Team Cream Of The 16U Crop!!
Wow, were there some good softball players in town for the 2018 Northern Classic! Home runs were flying out of ballparks in Traverse City so fast that the local sporting goods store experienced a run on replacement softballs. Tim Weber's 12U Diamonds team hit three in one game! Westside Softball's girls hit a few in 16U, as did players from the MBS Jets. And word traveled fast about a rocket launch from a 14U Niles Nitro player that cleared the 230-foot fence at Traverse City West.
For those who prefer pitching and defense, there was plenty of that to see, also. William Sebald's 16U MBS Jets collectively made play after remarkable defensive play, especially the Jets shortstop. A few girls were hitting 60 mph from the pitching circle in the 16U division. Overall, it was a great weekend of highly entertaining softball in Traverse City.
The tournament winners? Lots of variety there, too. In the 10U group, the Mt. Pleasant Drillers knocked off the 231 Fusion in the championship final. In 12U, Bob Swierkos' Hartland-based Eagles team edged the Gaylord-based Sandlot Slammers, 3-0, to win the Northern Classic title. The Drillers defeated Alpena's Thundercats to win the 12U consolation bracket.
In the 14U group, Rich Johnson's Niles Nitro team slipped by the 231 Fusion Fastpitch squad, 5-4, in the nailbiting title game. For the Fusion, it was the second straight weekend in which they reached the championship final. Mark Young's Niles Nitro squad captured the consolation bracket title with a win over the Northwest Wild.
And in 16U--perhaps the most exciting division of all--the young Elite 15U team edged the MBS Jets, 9-8, to win that organization's second Northern Classic title (the Elite 10U squad captured the crown last year). Earlier, the Jets rallied in the bottom of the last inning of the semifinals to defeat the 231 Fusion, 7-6, and advance to the title game.
Congratulations to all of the 2018 Northern Classic title winners, and THANK YOU to all of the teams that participated this year!
All Tournament Team
Congratulations to all of the players that made the All-Tournament team!
10U Division
Ava Rospierski-Alpena Thundercats
Paige Samp-Alpena Thundercats
Ashlyn Cummings-TC Waves
Anika Peterson-TC Waves
Zoe Plunkett-Eagles Fastpitch
Morgan Piotrovsky-Eagles Fastpitch
12U Division
Vanessa Diaz-Pinckney Pirates
Lauren Boivin-Pinckney Pirates
Aliah Diehl-Northwest Wild
Kalee Gelakoskey-Northwest Wild
Lydia Heymes-231 Fusion 12U
Peyton Metz-231 Fusion 12U
Olivia Mikowski-231 Fusion 12U
Maraya Buell-TC Thunder 12U
Kelsey Quiggin-TC Thunder 12U
Harley Bear-Diamonds
Grace Siekman-Diamonds
Ellen Roggenbeck-TC Waves 12U
Abby LIdstrom-TC Waves 12U
Rylea Beamish-TC Waves 12U
14U Division
McKenna Salley-Monroe Lady Titans
Harley Lambert-Monroe Lady Titans
Gabby Buehrer-Monroe Lady Titans
Maggie Thiel-MBS Jets Black
Kindra Winters-MBS Jets Black
McKenna Gilde-Cadillac Express
Ashlyn Lundquist-Cadillac Express
Sierra Carpenter-Niles Nitro - Johnson
Haley Scott-Niles Nitro - Johnson
Olivia Elliott-Niles Nitro - Johnson
Sadie Sheipline-Niles Nitro - Johnson
Kaci Sowers-231 Fusion
Ava Tiesworth-231 Fusion
Sophie Wisniski-231 Fusion
Addy Witkowski-231 Fusion
Sophia Pavese-Niles Nitro - Young
Taylor Young-Niles Nitro - Young
Madison Wilkinson-Moran Iron Works Vulcans Black
Jaime Burke-Moran Iron Works Vulcans BlackAudrey Benedict-TC Thunder 13U
Alice Blanchard-TC Thunder 13U
Kiersten Ihrke-Oxford Wildcats
Maria Raab-Oxford Wildcats
Hadley Goodell-Blitz Fastpitch
Nicole Rodammer-Blitz Fastpitch
Aliah Diehl-Northwest Wild
Kalee Gelakoskey-Northwest Wild
Autumn Kimsel-Alpena Thundercats
Elysa Kelley-Alpena Thundercats
16U Division
Kam Myers-Quad City Storm
Maddie Morgan-Quad City Storm
Kiaya Withey-Central Michigan Edge
Alaina Boulieux-Central Michigan Edge
Kaitlyn Schaub-Northwest Wild
Alexandra Kirt-Northwest Wild
Lily Briggs-231 Fusion
Aubrey Haddix-231 Fusion
Additional All-Tournament
Selections (No Team Or
Age Group Indicated)
Emilee Curtis
Bree Harris
Katie Marsik
Maddy Thompson
Camryn Craig
Daisie Brewer
Delana Kirt
Northern Classic Champions
Above, the 2016 16U Division champions, TC Thunder
Check out the teams that have hoisted the Northern Classic Championship Trophy.
2019
10U Division - 231 Fusion Fastpitch
12U Division - Mt. Pleasant Drillers - Johnston
14U Division - 231 Fusion - Tiesworth
16U Division - Elite 16U and Mid-Michigan Bolts (co-champions)
2018
10U Division-Mt. Pleasant Drillers
12U Division-Eagles Fastpitch
14U Division-Niles Nitro - Johnson
16U Division-Elite 15U
2017
10U Division-Elite 10U
12U Division-231 Fusion Fastpitch
14U Division-231 Fusion Fastpitch
16U Division-Jenison Wildcat Pride
2016
10U Division-Hudsonville Havoc
12U Division-Hudsonville Havoc
14U Division-Ogemaw Outlaws
16U Division-TC Thunder 16U
2015
10U Division-Ogemaw Outlaws
12U Division-Mid-Michigan Lightning Blue
14U Division-Morgan's Fastpitch
16U Division-Mid-Michigan Heat
2014
10U Division-Batbusters
12U Division-Mid-Michigan Heat
14U Division-Mid-Michigan Heat
16U Division-Mid-Michigan Heat
2013
12U Division-Lakeshore Storm Blue
14U Division-Queens of Diamonds
16U Division-Northern Storm
2012
12U Division-Alpena Thundercats
14U Division-West Michigan Bandits
16U Division-Thunderbirds
2011
12U Division-Petoskey Blaze
14U Division-Petoskey Blaze
16U Division-Alpena Thundercats
2010
12U Division-Traverse City Waves Gold
14U Division-Mid-Michigan Firestix
16U Division-Mid-Michigan Firestix
2009
12U Division-MBS Jets Yellow
14U Division-Moran Iron Works Vulcans
2008
12U Division-Moran Iron Works Vulcans
14U Division-Tawas Waves