Softball Spectacular - July 9-11, 2021

The 2020 Softball Spectacular tournament was a smorgasboard of tasty softball treats, with something for seemingly everyone.

There were some delicious matchups in the 14U division where six of eight games in the championship bracket were decided by one run.  There was an all-Traverse City matchup in the championship game of the 12U group.  There was an epic battle between two powerhouse teams in the 16U championship game.  And there was the Midland Lady Explorers organization ringing up another tournament win against a familiar fixture in the Summer Softball Series' title game--231 Fusion Fastpitch.

After a soggy start on Friday--some places soggier than others--Mother Nature cooperated again and the bulk of tournament play on Saturday and Sunday proceded without a speck of rain in sight.    In the 14U division, the hometown Traverse City Waves - Shepherd squad captured its second tournament title in the last three Traverse City tournaments, this time with a convincing 10-5 victory over Lake Effect Athletics.  The Waves were title winners in the Cherry Capital Showdown and runner up in the Bayside Bash earlier in the season.

Similarly, Steve Steimel's 231 Fusion Fastpitch  team won for the second time in three tries this summer, this time defeating the 12U Traverse City Waves 5-1 in the championship final.  The 12U group was highly competitive, but the Fusion girls, crowned last month as Cherry Capital Showdown champions, put together 6 straight wins and have gone 18-1 in the last three Traverse City tournaments.

In the 16U division, Lake Effect Athletics doubled up USA Pride 6-3 in the championship final.  There were a LOT of tough outs in the 16U field--it was possibly the most competitive 16U division in at least two years to play in Traverse City.  Congratulations, ladies.

In the 10U group, Todd Rivard's Midland Lady Explorers squad defeated Will Fleming's 231 Fusion team, 10-2, in the finals.  Earlier in the summer, the Fusion won the Cherry Capital Showdown title.  Great job, all!

In the 12U consolation finals, the Rochester Hills Moose defeated 231 Fusion Fastpitch - Birgy 7-4.  In 14U, Krash Cross slipped by the Anchor Bay Angels, 5-4.  And in the 16U consolation group, TC Thunder Reed overpowered the Great Lakes Renegades, 17-3, in the final game.  

We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of the parents, players and coaches who exhibited flexibility and compliance as we worked through several new  procedures made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic.  We hoped to provide a safe atmosphere for the girls to get back on the field and have some fun playing softball.  It looked like LOTS of girls were having LOTS of fun on the field of play--again, thank you for your cooperation to help make the tournament possible

Coaches:  Please send in your All-Tournament Team nominations (2 choices from your team unless you made the finals--then send in up to 4).  We'd like to recognize those girls who played particularly well in the 2020 Softball Spectacular tournament.  Email to:  JSBrunner777@yahoo.com

10U Division

Madison May - Rochester Hills Moose

Addie Culver - Rochester Hills Moose

Alivia Cook - Rochester Hills Moose

Halle Kadlec - Traverse City Waves

Maddie Shedlock - Traverse City Waves

Ava Mauntler - 231 Fusion

Adalyn Griffore - 231 Fusion

Sydney Fleming - 231 Fusion

Ally Duncan - 231 Fusion

Shelby Sparks - Salt River Lady Bandits

Clara Liedke - Salt River Lady Bandits

Lillian Coyle - Midland Lady Explorers

Marley Hughes - Midland Lady Explorers

Addi Hale - Midland Lady Explorers

Emma Seleski - Midland Lady Explorers

12U Division

Alexis Contreraz - Rochester Hills Moose

Kirsten McBride - Rochester Hills Moose

Taryn Beamish - Traverse City Waves

Hailey Yocum - Traverse City Waves

Kayla Noble - Traverse City Waves

Kensley Thorpe - Traverse City Waves

Grace Cary - 231 Fusion Steimel

Kayla Milarch - 231 Fusion Steimel

Delaney Witkop - 231 Fusion Steimel

Makayla Kozlowski - 231 Fusion Steimel

Brooke Fluty - TC Thunder

Brooklyn Fischer - TC Thunder

Gia Palma - GR Diamonds Sarnicola

Raegan Cardosa - GR Diamonds Sarnicola

14U Division

Dylann Kelly - Lake Effect 14U

Ashlin Kirkland - Lake Effect 14U

Emerson Richmond - Lake Effect 14U

Jessica Mead - Lake Effect 14U

Ella Schram - TC Thunder 13U

Alyssa Hamilton - TC Thunder 13U

Jayden Townsend - Krash Cross

Layla George - Krash Cross

Reese Thayer - Krash Cross

Hailey Kruizenga - Krash Cross

Adriana Sackett - Traverse City Waves Liles

Zoey Jetter - Traverse City Waves Liles

Evelyn Nowicki - Traverse City Waves Liles

Hannah Grahn - TC Waves Shepherd

Sophie Hardy - TC Waves Shepherd

Izzy Covert - TC Waves Shepherd

Maggie Napont - TC Waves Shepherd

Payton Prover - Livonia Wild

Jo Murphy - Livonia Wild

Paige Stallman - Inter Lakes Pride

Lillian Goulette - Inter Lakes Pride

Kelsey Quiggin - TC Thunder 14U

Caitlin Butzin - TC Thunder 14U

16U Division

Gemma Ugorowski - Wildcats Fastpitch

Amaya Major - Wildcats Fastpitch

Grace Williamson - USA Pride

Emily Rieman - USA Pride

Olivia Jubar - USA Pride

Rylie Neal - USA Pride

Leslie Hamilton - TC Thunder 15U

Mattie Akom - TC Thunder 15U

Emma Blach - TC Thunder 15U

Katelyn Lyon - TC Thunder 15U

Rory Miller - Northwest Wild

Riley Sanchez - Northwest Wild

Ali Holman - Lake Effect Athletics

Elsie Norton - Lake Effect Athletics

Avery Richmond - Lake Effect Athletics

Peyton Perrin - Lake Effect Athletics

Marrisa Davis - Great Lakes Renegades

Gracie Taylor - Great Lakes Renegades

It's Fusion Times Two!!!  Romeo Renegades Storm The 12U Division!!  Mid-MIchigan Heat Locks Up A 16U Title!!

It's a wrap....and a sweep!

The "wrap" was the conclusion of the Traverse City Summer Softball Series, in Softball Spectacular fashion.  The 14th version of the popular summer tournament saw excellent play and close games in three of the four championship finals.

The "sweep" was accomplished by the 10U 231 Fusion Fastpitch team.  The young Fusion squad, led by the play of All-Tournament Team selections Piper Cavanaugh and Claire McDaniel, won its third Traverse City tournament title in as many attempts this year.  Previously winners of the Spring Splash and Northern Classic, the Fusion overwhelmed the TC Thunder, 15-0, to earn another home plate trophy.  Congratulations, girls!

The 12U division of the Softball Spectacular was a topsy-turvy affair.  The #1 and #2 seeds following pool  play--South Lyon Stealth and TC Waves, respectively--were upended in the semifinals.  Brant Perry's Romeo Renegades came from behind to edge Dustin Barnebee's Klash '06 team, 5-4, to earn a Softball Spectacular championship.  The entire 12U division was tightly contested, with many teams having a legitimate shot at capturing hardware.  Great job, all!

In the 14U group, Jason Merchant's 231 Fusion team edged hometown counterpart the Traverse City Waves, 3-1, in the title contest.  Combined with the 10U Fusion victory, it marked only the second time that the same organization captured titles in two different Softball Spectacular age divisions (Moran Iron Works Vulcans 14U and 16U, 2016).  The Waves, a sensational 13U team, had another strong tournament.   Well done, ladies!

The two teams--Mid-Michigan Heat and Lady Lakers Behling--that met in the finals proved their toughness by running the gauntlet of three Sunday games played to reach the title game.  

In the end, it was the Heat prevailing, 4-3, to earn the title.  The Lady Lakers were making a return appearance in Traverse City after winning the Cherry Capital Showdown title two weeks ago.  Excellent work, ladies!

Thank you parents, players and fans for attending our tournament.  The fans and players at this year's tournament showed a high level of
sportsmanship and positivity.  We hope you enjoyed your weekend in Traverse City!

Congratulations to the top performers in the 2019 Softball Spectacular tournament!   (Coaches:  If your players are not listed and you'd like to recognize outstanding individual performances from your team, please email your All-Tournament Team nominations to JSBrunner777@yahoo.com)

10U Division

Claire McDaniel - 231 Fusion

Piper Cavanaugh - 231 Fusion

Jillian Decker - 231 Fusion

Makayla Kozlowski - 231 Fusion

Kayla Noble - TC Waves

Kara Lahti - TC Waves

Bella Richey - TC Waves

Olivia Piepsney - Monroe Lady Titans

Raelynn Lay - Monroe Lady Titans

12U Division

Kenna Bommarito - Romeo Renegades

Alyvia Genova - Romeo Renegades

Grace Van Dyke - Romeo Renegades

Katelynn Perry - Romeo Renegades

Kayla Newman - Mid-Michigan Heat

Elley Johnson - Mid-Michigan Heat

Lauren Tkach - TC Waves

Audrey Williams - TC Waves

Camryn Craig - TC Waves

Breegan Woodworth - Bair's Softball Academy

Alyssa Hinton - Bair's Softball Academy

Anna Wood - 231 Fusion

Chloe Hendrick - 231 Fusion

Summer Faze - West Michigan Outlaws

Izzy Yeakey - West Michigan Outlaws

Madison Portenga - TC Thunder 12U

Grace Lewis - TC Thunder 12U

14U Division

Audrey Benedict - TC Thunder 14U

Karly Roelofs - TC Thunder 14U

Makala  Goddard - West Michigan Venom

Megan Andres - West MIchigan Venom

Paige Adams - TC Waves

Rylea Beamish - TC Waves

Allee Shepherd - TC Waves

Maggie Napont - TC Waves

Melanie Moore - Michigan Thunder

Stella Mulrenin - Michigan Thunder

Ally Fountain - Bair's Softball Academy

Parker Withers - Bair's Softball Academy

Alanna Dedenbach - Xtreme Synergy

Ava Wolfe - Xtreme Synergy

Riley Brownrigg - Fraser Fury

Raegan Hemelbarg - Fraser Fury

Megann Reeser - Livonia Storm

Jazmin Edwards - Livonia Storm

Flora Steien - HangTuf '05

Abby McCartney - HangTuf '05

Caitlin Butzin - TC Thunder 13U

Kelsey Quiggin - TC Thunder 13U

Elayna Bernway - TC Thunder 13U

Mallory Smith - TC Thunder 13U

Mckinley Kinnane - West Michigan Outlaws Blue

Maggie Selvig - West Michigan Outlaws Blue

16U Division

Lexie Coxon - Kingsley Lady Stags

Alexa Sweat - Kingsley Lady Stags

Mia Miller - Moran Iron  Works Vulcans

Autumn Vermilya - Moran Iron Works Vulcans

Kylee Streeter - Northwest Wild

Emily Barron - Northwest Wild

(Shown Above:  The 14U Champion Romeo Renegades)

The Granddaddy of them all.  Check out the list of Softball Spectacular champions!

2020

10U - Midland Lady Explorers

12U - 231 Fusion Fastpitch Steimel

14U - Traverse City Waves Shepherd

16U - Lake Effect Athletics

2019

10U - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

12U - Romeo Renegades

14U - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

16U - Mid-Michigan Heat

 2018
10U - South Lyon Stealth

12U - Traverse City Waves 12U

14U - Dublin Revolution

16U - Petoskey Blaze 

 2017 

10U - TC Thunder 

12U - Michigan Expos

14U - South Farmington Wildcards

16U - Michigan Rage - Orange  

2016
10U - Inter-Lakes Pride
12U - Michigan Outlaws
14U - Moran Iron Works Vulcans
16U - Moran Iron Works Vulcans
 

2015 

10U - Batbusters 10U
12U - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs
14U - Moran Iron Works Vulcans Black
16U - Petoskey Blaze
 

2014

 10U - Eagles Fastpitch

12U - Motor City Madness Red

14U - Moran Iron Works Vulcans Red

16U - Grand Rapids Diamonds 

2013

 12U - South Lyon Stealth

14U - Imlay City Sparks

16U - Moran Iron Works Vulcans  

2012

 12U - Jags Fastpitch

14U - South Lyon Stealth

16U - Moran Iron Works Vulcans 

2011

 12U - Michigan Warriors

14U - Macomb Explosion

16U - Petoskey Blaze  

2010

 12U - Fenton Fastpitch

14U - Grand Rapids Diamonds Black  

2009

12U - MBS Jets Black

14U - Macomb Shock 

2008

 12U - Dearborn Heights Wild 12

14U - Traverse City Waves 14 

2007

 12U - Shoreline Devils 12

14U - Tri-City Attack  

2006 

12U  - Traverse City Waves

14U - USA Fastball