2026 Northern Classic champions!!

 What has eight legs, is red-white-and-blue, and runs real fast?  The answer?  The Midland Lady Explorers after Lily Coyle hits a grand slam!

Yep.  That happened in the 12U consolation game won by the Lady Explorers, 7-0, against the Northern Michigan Legends.  Earlier in the day, the Legends' Lily Payton belted a walkoff home run to send her team to a one-run victory and a berth in the consolation finals against the Lady Explorers.  Yep, that happened too.

But there was a LOT of action in this year's edition of the Northern Classic.  The tournament champions?  X-Factor in 10U, 231 Fusion Fastpitch in 12U, 231 Fusion - Tiesworth in 14U, and the Ogemaw Outlaws in the High School division.  Overall, it was a great weekend of softball with lots of twists and turns...

In the 10U championship game, X-Factor rallied in the bottom of the final inning to overtake Great Lakes Performance, 5-4, and capture their first Northern Classic title.  It was a GREAT game, especially for one played at the 10U level.  Both teams are pictured above....congrats, ladies!

In the 12U division, Gabe Williams' 2321 Fusion team upended perennial contender Saginaw Golds, 5-2, in the title game.  In the first game of bracket play, the Fusion avenged an earlier loss to the Flames, winning 11-0.  They kept rolling from there...

In the 14U group, the 231 Fusion - Tiesworth squad powered to the title, giving up only one run in pool play.  In bracket play, it was the Fusion over all of Saginaw--the Golds 14U (10-4), Golds 13/14U (3-2), and the Lady RiverDawgs (5-0) to earn the title.

In the high school group, Ryan Nicholson's Ogemaw Outlaws team edged the Grand Rapids Blaze, 4-2, to earn the tournament title.  That victory avenged an earlier loss to the Blaze in pool play.  Great action!

In addition to the Lady Explorers consolation bracket win in 12U, the hometown Traverse City Waves got on a roll and finished off business with a 3-1 vistory over Krash Puck in a well played consolation bracket final.

We hope the weekend in Traverse City was enjoyable!  Thank you, players, parents and fans, for participating!

  Did you see all of the great play on the Northern Classic softball fields?  Here is who was named to the All-Tournament Team (Coaches:  If you don't see your players here, send an email with your nominations to JSBrunner777@yahoo.com)  Above, the 231 Fusion and Saginaw Golds pose after the 12U championship game.

10U Division

Audrey Otto - Cadillac Vikings

Evelyn Read - Cadillac Vikings

Peyton Cairns - TC Waves 9U

Aliayah Grogan - TC Waves 9U

Aliviah Maxwell - MBS Jets

Norah Jennings - MBS Jets

Kelsee Sherrod - Great Lakes Performance

Brynn Bozell - Great Lakes Performance

12U Division

Addison Mach - Eagles Fastpitch

Alex Whitson - Eagles Fastpitch

Madelyn Carter - Krash Carter

Clara Liedke - Krash Carter

Zoie Malliwill - Midland Lady Explorers

Kylie Qualls - Midland Lady Explorers

Drew Galey - Flames

Rylie Monaghan - Flames

Hannah Johnston - Lady Bandits

Lexi Farrow - Lady Bandits

Lily Payton - Northern Michigan Legends

Lydia Kosanke - Northern Michigan Legends

Tula Taszreak - Krash Latusek

Molli Miilu - Krash Latusek

Eden Dharte - Finesse 11U

Gabbie Parrish - Finesse 11U

Madalyn Tenbusch - Saginaw Golds

Skylar Ignash - Saginaw Golds

Emma DeShone - Saginaw Golds

Charli Alcorn - Saginaw Golds

Hailey Niedzwiecki - Mid-Michigan Heat 11U

Katelyn Pifer - MId-MIchigan Heat 11U

14U Division

Maddilynn Harrington - Concord Impact

Natali Finkhousen - Concord Impact

Natalie Grobaski - Lady Lakers

Kyla Jerman - Lady Lakers

Chloe Kusowski - Mid-Michgian Bolts

Macy Prime - Mid-Michigan Bolts

Jordan Malec - Petoskey Blaze

Rachel Slater - Petoskey Blaze

Audrey Williams - 231 Fusion Tiesworth

Izzy Edmonds - 231 Fusion Tiesworth

Autum McSawby - 231 Fusion Tiesworth

Haleigh Yocom - 231 Fusion Tiesworth

Shayler McIntyre - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Emma Myers - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Keeley Peace - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Samantha Thackery - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Madilyn Hagan - Krash Puck

Madaelen Putnam - Krash Puck

Nora Bethuy - 231 Fusion Steimel

Macy Pohlad - 231 Fusion Steimel

Jesse Teesdale - Grand Rapids Blaze 13U

Kat Tudor - Grand Rapids Blaze 13U

Kayla Noble - Traverse City Waves

Ashlynn Cummings - Traverse City Waves

Taryn Beamish - Traverse City Waves

Claudia Harris - Traverse City Waves

Abi Yuhaus - TC Thunder 13U

Jillian Moazeni - TC Thunder 13U

Alyssa Jansen - Finesse East Kolinski

Ryleigh Davis - Finesse East Kolinski

High School Division

Caralyn Johnson - Grand Rapids Blaze

Brenna McDonald - Grand Rapids Blaze

Taylor Harrison - Grand Rapids Blaze

Emily Deweerd - Grand Rapids Blaze

Mallory Smith - TC Thunder

Jordan LaFleur - TC Thunder

If this Northern Classic weekend of games is any indication, fans of the 2021 Traverse City Summer Softball Series teams are in for an exciting rest-of-the-summer!

There were some sensational contests in this year's Northern Classic.  The 12U division was one of the most competitive and evenly matched ever, with quality teams spread throughout the age group.  The 14U division was equally as competitive--in fact, five of the eight games in the championship bracket were decided by one run!  And wait until you hear what happened in the high school division.......!

But first, the winners...Nick McCalla's Motor City Madness team ran a gauntlet of 10U teams en route to earning that organization's first Northern Classic title.  The Madness ladies got on a roll in the playoffs, capping their undefeated run with an 11-1 victory over Krash - Latuszek on Sunday.

In the 12U group, the 231 Fusion Fastpitch squad added ANOTHER Traverse City home plate trophy to their headquarters by defeating Krash - Puck, 5-3, in the final.  The Fusion organization, founded by Steve Steimel, has won five Northern Classic titles.  Dave Puck's Krash team had an impressive run of its own, dropping only the final game.  RiverDawgs, Aftershock, Storm, Pride, Blasters, Waves, and others....the entire division was loaded with good teams.  Congratulations, all....

The 14U division was ultra-competitive this weekend.  In the end, the Mid-Michigan Bolts came out on top, defeating Sean Lile's hometown Waves-Tsunami, 7-4, in the championship game.  Tacey Gauthier's battle-hardened squad came from behind in the title game to win--great job, girls.

Now, to the high school division....what a championship game!  The Cadillac Express and the LoCo Aftershock were on a collision course all tournament long, and the finale did not disappoint.  The Aftershock was one of two teams from Ohio in the high school division (SC Stingers).  The Cadillac Express was making a tune-up visit to Traverse City to open their summer season.  The championship game featured high school all-staters on both sides, and for much of the game it appeared that the first to score a run would be the winner.  With the game tied 0-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning of the six-inning game, Cadillac pushed across a run to take the lead.  The Aftershock battled back in the top of the sixth to score the game-tying run.  Only some clutch pitching by Ashlyn Lundquist and some tight defense at critical times kept the game tied.  Then, in the bottom of the sixth, the Express loaded the bases with one out.  A laser throw from the Aftershock catcher to third base picked off the Cadillac runner, and suddenly with two out it looked like the game might go into extra innings.  But Marion sophomore Georgia Meyer launched a 1-1 pitch deep over the right-center field fence for a two-out, three-run walk-off homer that ignited a wild Express celebration at home plate.  It brought a sudden end to a terrific championship game between two squads that should do great things this summer.  Whew!  Fun!

We hope all of the participating teams and their fans enjoyed the weekend in Traverse City!

There were a LOT of great performances by players at all levels in the 2021 Northern Classic tournament.  Here's a list of the best-of-the-best....the All-Tournament Team.  If your team is not represented here, please have your coach email your team's selections to JSBrunner777@yahoo.com.

10U Division

Hannah Johnston - Lady Bandits

Kylie Stahl - Lady Bandits

Kerriga Ryan - Michigan Blasters

Harper Clark - Michigan Blasters

Jill Brandli - Michigan Rebels

Gia Newburry - Michigan Rebels

Peyton Anson - Motor City Madness

Mady Kuzara - Motor City Madness

Alysa McCalla - Motor City Madness

Kaylin Evans - Motor City Madness

Amber Gregory - Krash Latuszek

Sophia Leik - Krash Latuszek

Juliette Latuszek - Krash Latuszek

Bryn Batterson - Krash Latuszek

Bella Goetsch - Lake Effect Athletics

Blakely Debernardi - Lake Effect Athletics

Alexis Huizenga - Goodrich Angels

Alivia Baker - Goodrich Angels

Aleiya DiLorenzo - Goodrich Angels

Isabelle Camargo - Goodrich Angels

12U Division

Hailey Hart - 231 Fusion

Mara Williams - 231 Fusion

Aubrey Weiland - 231 Fusion

Cooper Lundquist - 231 Fusion

Maeli Akin - Michigan Blasters

Kenslee Martyn - Michigan Blasters

Haedee Clark - Michigan Blasters

Megan Beetley - Michigan Blasters

Shayler McIntyre - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs Peace

Keeley Peace - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs Peace

Zoe Ziehmer - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs Peace

Avah Martin - Midwest Pride

Laila Sparks - Midwest Pride

Claire Hurley - TC Thunder

Madison Chilson - TC Thunder

Kylie Harner - LoCo Aftershock

Molly Seifring - LoCo Aftershock

Rhielynn Skrocki - Northern Michigan Legends

Sidney Bush - Northern Michigan Legends

Halle Kadlec - Traverse City Waves

Sarah Gaylord - Traverse City Waves

Rylee Miller - Krash  Puck

Ruby Puck - Krash Puck

Marlie Rehm - Krash Puck

Austynn Arellano - Krash Puck

14U Division

Adrianna Sacket - TC Waves

Peja Liles - TC Waves

Isabel Cumper - Saginaw Golds

Paisley Vallad - Saginaw Golds

Ava Wells - Fanatics

Lindsay Esterline - Mid-Michigan Bolts

Geena Gauthier - Mid-Michigan Bolts

Kianna Vork - Lakeshore Storm

Cora Mielke - Lakeshore Storm

Izzy Zamora - Lakeshore Storm

Cami Hibma - Lakeshore Storm

Emmalee Shankel - Michigan Blasters

Kennedi Ryan - Michigan Blasters

Morgan Erickson - Lady Lakers Behmlander

Jacky Dunlop - Lady Lakers Behmlander

Brynn Taliercio - Inter-Lakes Pride Heer

Megan Holly - Inter-Lakes Pride Heer

16U Division

Hannah Ayars - SC Stingers

Karissa Smith - SC Stingers