2025 Spring Splash - JUne 6th-8th 2025

Not the greatest westher--rainy on Saturday and pretty cold on Sunday--but the Spring Splash opened the 2024 Traverse City Summer Softball Series wiht some excellent play an tournament victories for four teams.

The Midland Lady Explorers rang up wins in the 9U and 12U divisions.  In the 9U group, Blake Benner's squad edged 231 Fusion Fastpitch, 8-7, in an exciting final.

In the 12U group, Jim Dominowski's MLE team got by the Elite Legends led by Andrew McKellar in the final.  The game was very well-played, with MLE coming out on top 5-2 (picture above)

In between, the Grand Rapids Diamonds earned a tournament title by outlasting the 231 Fusion, 12-8.

The 14U grroup was adjusted to account for the rain on Saturday that halted play at SEAS Middle School.  Based on pool play, Levi Griffore's Great Lakes United team earned the tournament title while compiling a 3-9 record with one run allowed.  Scott Stasik's Mid-Michigan Heat squad earned second place with a 3-and-0 record but a few more runs given up during pool play.

Thank you, everyone, for attending the tournament to cheer on the players!

Here they are!...the players who sined brightly on the Spring Splash tournament fields.  If your team is not represented, have your coach submit your nominations to recognize the girls.  Here is the All-Tournament Team:

9U Division

Taylor Tomlinson - Lady Batmen

Blakely DuLude - Lady Batmen

Gwinn Thompson-Boughner - Rockford Krush

Lindy Hodgson - Rockford Krush

Adley Reaume - Bedford Lady Mules

Aubrey Howard - Bedford Lady Mules

Piper Helsel - Au Sable Barracudas

Marielle Tunney - Au Sable Barracudas

Sophia Sisk - 231 Fusion

Makenna Aldridge - 231 Fusion

Emma Skomp - 231 Fusion

Emma Kricher - 231 Fusion

Clara Marchel - Elite Fastpitch

Brooklyn Engle - Elite Fastpitch

10U Division

Macie Jimenez - Michigan Sabercats

Zoe Spytma - Michigan Sabercats

Lauryn Smith - Elite 10U

Olivia Bertoia - Elite 10U

Jenna Prevo - Alpena Thundercats

Charley Attwell - Alpena Thundercats

Blaire DeVault - 231 Fusion

Ellen Windbacher - 231 Fusion

Coco Yocham - 231 Fusion

Grace Kroupa - 231 Fusion

Samantha Fretz - Petoskey Predators

Addison Kanine - Petoskey Predators

Jordyn Jager - Diamond Disciples

Emmersyn McCarthy - Diamond Disciples

Brooklynn Taunt - Diamond Disciples

Ashley Milton - Livingston Prospects

Grace Snay - Livingston Prospects

Jenna Brady - TC Waves

Hattie Schaub - TC Waves

Addie Schultz - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Rhowyn Wilcos - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Quinn Fritsch - Grand Rapid Diamonds

Kelle Patten - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Alex Sovis - Lady Batmen

Lily Unruh - Lady Batmen

Kaya Owl - Mt. Pleasant Drillers

Mikayla Suhr - Mt. Pleasant Drillers

12U Division

Averrie Patton -TC Waves 11U

Grace Bearup - TC Waves 11U

Addison Merchant - TC Waves 12U

Elsa Hegg - TC Waves 12U

Evelyn Losinski - Dirt Divas

Carly Danielson - Dirt Divas

Chloe Braman - Michgian Blasters

Molly Helleski - Michigan Blasters

Bella Jewett - N. Michigan Legends

Lucy Joyce - N. Michigan Legends

Collins Ashell - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Addie Huyser - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Megan Bartlett - Standish Crushers

Bella Allward - Standish Crushers

Alivia Hoffman - Lady Batmen

Hailey Barker - Lady Batmen

14U Division

Brooke Remer - Mid-Michigan Bolts

Isabel Reinnke - Mid-Michigan Bolts

Hannah Stasik - Mid-Michigan Heat 13U

Clair Sobeck - Mid-Michigan Heat 13U

Meghan Meoggenborg - Mid-Michigan Heat 13U

Grace Noyes - Mid-Michigan Heat 13U

The 2023 Traverse City Summer Softball Series got off to a rollicking start with champions being crowned in four age groups.

Four Midland Lady Explorers teams made finals appearances.  MLE-Kipfmiller 12U and the 10U Lady Explorers took home tournament titles.  The 10U final featured some of the best pitching seen in that division in memory.  In the end, the Lady Explorers played "small ball" in a big way and wore down a good Grand Rapids Diamonds team, 4-1.  It was a great game by two excellent teams--well done, ladies!

The 12U division title game was an all-MLE final, with the 12U Kipfmiller team shutting down the 11U Dominowski squad, 12-0.  Both teams posted perfect records in pool play and continued their crash course to the final, although the senior group prevailed....great tournament by both teams!

In the 9U division, Steph Doyle's Finesse team overpowered the Midland Lady Explorers, 5-1.  This was the first time the Waves offered a 9U division and by all accounts it was a big hit.  Congratulations to these two teams and the rest of the 9U division for being a part of the first-ever field of teams in that age group.

In the 14U division, the Grand Rapids Diamonds (pictured above) jumped out to a fast start and didn't look back in their 9-1 victory over the hometown Traverse City Waves.  Way to go!

The 12U Consolation Final saw the Traverse City Thunder out-slug the Michigan Lady Batmen, 14-4.

We hope all of our tournament teams enjoyed the weekend in Traverse City!  Thank you to the hundreds of fans that supported their favorite team and brought high energy to the Spring Splash softball fields.

(Pictured above:  9U finalists Finesse - Doyle and the Midland Lady Explorers)

Here are the players who were outstanding in the field (and at the plate!) in the 2023 Spring Splash (If your team does not appear here, please have your coach send his/her nominations 

9U Division

Lindyn Helton - GR  Diamonds

McKenna VanLangen - GR Diamonds

Alex Vandervliet - Elite 9U Bertoia

Olivia Bertoia - Elite 9U Bertoia

Elena Stahl - Elite 9U Bertoia

Lorelai Peters - Rebels 9U

Stella Hanel - Rebels 9U

Allison Olejniczak - Finesse -Doyle

Lillian Scharf - Finesse Doyle

Mya McKinney - Finesse Doyle

Lia Lipnard - Finesse Doyle

Averie Rhynard - Lady Batmen

Lily Unruh - Lady Batmen

Eva Lynch - Midland Lady Explorers

Abigail Diegel - Midland Lady Explorers

Autumn Schweitzer - Midland Lady Explorers

Emma Reder - Midland Lady Explorers

Emma Koch - Michigan Gold Rush

Harper Schunk - Michigan Gold Rush

Emma Skomp - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Grace Kroupa - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

10U Division

Brielle Dowling - GR Diamonds Buskard

Rylin Dekock - GR Diamonds Buskard

MacKenzie Sabala - Michigan Storm

Lyric Watt - Michigan Storm

Whitney Lux - Great Lakes Performance

Maddi Schmidt - Great Lakes Performance

Emily Lorelli - Team Michigan

Katy Denbow - Team Michigan

Kinley Campau - Midland Lady Explorers

Lakin Letts - Midland Lady Explorers

Rylie Lewis - Midland Lady Explorers

Emma Wilk - Midland Lady Explorers

Grace Bearup - N. Michigan Legends

Averrie Patton - N. Michigan Legends

Peyton Cairns - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Aliayah Grogan - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Maddie Olds - TC Waves

Tessa Bush - TC Waves

12U Division

Josey Jefferies - Folds of Honor

Beth Leatrea - Folds of Honor

Addison Hills - Michigan Lady Batmen

Peyton Baranek - Michigan Lady Batmen

Lorelei Herrygers - Michigan Storm

Sophie Miller - Michigan Storm

Madeliene Sedgwick - TC Waves

Morgan Holzschu - TC Waves

Kelsey Smith - ICE Fastpitch

Zoe Philbrick - ICE Fastpitch

Kylie Qualls - Midland Lady Explorerss

Mallory Hoeh - Midland Lady Explorers

Lily Coyle - Midland Lady Explorers

Sam Swift - Midland Lady Explorers

Lilah French - Landsharks

Ella Smego - Landsharks

14U Division 

Emma Paynter - Valkyrie of the North 14U

Ava Kimball - Valkyrie of the North 14U

Delanie Dembowske - TC Waves

Kylee Eising - TC Waves

Sarah Gaylord - TC Waves

Kapri Wilson - TC Waves

Adaleigh Hale - Midland Lady Explorers

Audrey Vasher - Midland Lady Explorers

Maeve Schuler - GR Diamonds 13U

Sophia Porterfield - GR Diamonds 13U

Reese DeFrang - GR Diamonds 13U

Chloe Gray - GR Diamonds 13U

Kelci Cherwinski - Valkyries of the North 13U

Gina Nowak - Valkyries of the North 13U

(Pictured Above: 10U Division Champions Midland Lady Explorers)

2024

9U Midland Lady Explorers

12U Midland Lady Explorers

14U Great Lakes United

2023

9U Division

Champion - Finesse  Doyle

Runner Up - Midland Lady Explorers

10U Division

Champion - Midland Lady Explorers

Runner Up - GR Diamonds Wilcox

12U Division

Champion - Midland Lady Explorers Kipfmiller

Runner Up - Midland Lady Explorers Dominowski

14U Division 

Champion - GR Diamonds

Runner Up - TC Waves

2022

10U Division 

Champion - Anchor Bay Angels

Runner Up - Michigan Generals

12U Division

Champion - Gold Rush

Runner Up - Midland Lady Explorers

14U Division

Champion - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Runner Up - Mt. Pleasant Drillers

2021

10U Division

Champion - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Runner Up - Goodrich Angels

12U Division

Champion - Midland Lady Explorers

Runner Up - Top Prospects FOH

14U Division

Champion - NTF Nova

Runner Up - Sabercats Mettler

2020

**Cancelled because of COVID

2019

10U Division

Champion - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Runner Up - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

12U Divison

Champion - Elite - DeVries

Runner Up - Traverse City Waves

14U Division

Champion - Michigan Expos

Runner Up - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

2018

10U Division

Champion - Michigan Expos

Runner Up - Lakeshore Storm

12U Division

Champion - Riverdawgs 12U

Runner Up - Elite 11U

14U Division

Champion - Mid-Michigan Heat

Runner Up - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

2017

10U Division  

Champion - Michigan Expos

Runner Up - TC Thunder  

12U Division

 Champion - Diamonds

Runner Up - Michigan Expos

14U Division

Champion - 231 Fusion Fastpitch

Runner Up - Mid-Michigan Heat

2016

10U Division

Champion - Batbusters 

Runner Up - Northville Broncos

12U Division

 Champion - Port Huron Predators

Runner Up - MSA Renegades  

14U Division 

Champion - Michigan Sabercats

Runner Up -  231 Fusion Fastpitch

The 231 Fusion 10U team served notice that they will be a force all summer by capturing the 2019 Spring Splash title with an 8-0 victory over the Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs.

The final, played in a steady drizzle, matched two organizations with a rich history of success in Traverse City.  The Lady RiverDawgs caught fire in Sunday's bracket play and won two straight games to reach the finals.  But the Fusion, as they appear poised to do on a regular basis, wore down their opponent with a combination of excellent pitching and timely hitting.  Great job, ladies!

Above, the Fusion and Lady RiverDawgs pose for a post-game photo.

The 12U division of the 2019 Spring Splash was a knockdown, drag out affair all weekend!  There were many fine teams that battled for a coveted spot in the Final Four, but when the dust settled (helped by the Sunday rain!) the Elite-DeVries squad out of the Grandville area emerged as champions by defeating the Traverse City Waves, 6-4.

Joe DeVries' team went undefeated during the tournament, allowing just three runs in pool play.  In the semifinals, the Elite team got past Bolts-Orange, while the Waves edged Sean Wright's Elite 11U team on the other side of the bracket.  In the finals, the two remaining teams battled back and forth in one of the most exciting 12U finals in memory.  Elite-DeVries broke open a 2-2 tie in teh fourth inning by scoring two unearned runs with two out.  The Waves scored  in the next inning to close to within one, but two more unearned runs provided the cushion that the Elite team needed to take the title.  Congratulations, All....!!!

Elite-DeVries and the TC Waves mug for the cameras following the title game (above)

The game seemed like a rematch of several big games in the Summer Tournament Series in recent years:  Michigan Expos vs. 231 Fusion.  This year's 14U championship final matching the powerful teams was another great game, with the Expos coming out on top, 8-5.

Kevin Brigham's squad has shown continuous improvement over the past three years--congratulations, ladies!

In the consolation final, Bernie Butgereit's Diamonds team rolled past the Tecumseh Crush, 13-5.  Nice finish, both teams!

The Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs captured runner-up honors in the 10U division of the 2019 Spring Splash, and one of the reasons was the play of All-Tournament Team performer Kayla Flores.  The young first baseman achieved a first in Traverse City tournament history by clobbering a home run that carried approximately 200 feet.  Nicely done, Kayla (shown batting, above).

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THANK YOU, EVERYONE

...a quick note of thanks to our visiting teams for participating in the 2019 Spring Splash tournament.  We hope your families and players enjoyed the weekend in Traverse City as much as we enjoyed hosting your teams and watching all of the young players in action.

Here it is!  The list of top performers in the 2019 Spring Splash...congratulations, ladies!!!  Coaches:  If your players are not listed and you would like to give them some recognition, please email your selections  (JSBrunner777@yahoo.com) and we will include them on the All-Tournament Team.

10U Division

Claire Hurley - TC Thunder

Reese Jones - TC Thunder

Keeley Peace - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Kayla Flores - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Jaiden Ossana - Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs

Samantha Thackery - Lady RiverDawgs

Addie Mathie - Traverse City Waves

Anna Tabaczka - Traverse City Waves

Claire McDaniel - 231 Fusion

Piper Cavanaugh - 231 Fusion 

Makayla Kozlowski - 231 Fusion

Abi Yuhaus - 231 Fusion

12U Division

Sophia Paluk - Northville Broncos

Lily Barringer - Northville Broncos

Eden Dalrymple - Grandville Dawgs Black

Kylee Austin - Grandville Dawgs Black

Alyssa Colvin - Moran Iron Works Vulcans

LeMay Sullivan - Moran Iron Works Vulcans

Alivia Kukla - Bolts Orange

Haylen McLaughlin - Bolts Orange

Haleigh Yocum - 231 Fusion 

Addison Balentine - 231 Fusion

Hunter St. Peter - 231 Fusion

Pharis Carroll - Michigan Expos - Gray

Ally Thcunick - Michigan Expos - Gray

Allison Wright - Elite 11U

Makenzie Cammenga - Elite 11U

Cam Craig - Traverse City Waves

Audrey Williams - Traverse City Waves

Zoey Jetter - Traverse City Waves

Evelyn Nowicki - Traverse City Waves

14U Division

Rylie Haist - Michigan Expos

Lilly Federeau - Michigan Expos

Josie Cornell - Michigan Expos

Veronica Lofquist - Michigan Expos

Gracie Cooper - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Gracyn Card - Grand Rapids Diamonds

Allee Shepherd - Traverse City Waves

Sophie Hardy - Traverse City Waves