Sanford Meridian’s softball team got the job done under Coach Jamie Smith in the postseason.
The Mustangs had one of their finest hours in a long time on quarterfinal Tuesday (June 12) in Division 3 with a 10-1 win over Upper Peninsula representative Negaunee.
But in the state semifinal on June 15, Millington had a little too much for the Mustangs and pulled off the 5-3 win.
“It’s a group of kids who work very hard,” Smith said after the quarterfinal. “They just do the job they need to get it done. It was a great run. We’re having a great time.”
“Our pitcher Peyton Grice pitched phenomenal,” Smith continued. “Their hitters didn’t have an answer for her whatsoever.”
Shortstop Mya Hall was among the Mustangs leading hitters this season. Baleigh Hill, a first baseman, also had a high batting average.
“We are predominately juniors,” Smith said. “I have three seniors, nine juniors and two freshmen.”
Heading into the quarterfinal against Millington, Smith was confident.
“They’ve some good hitters,” she said. “As long as we play our game and play good defense, which is what we’ve been doing, we can (have success).”
But the final result isn’t what the Mustangs were hoping for in the finals.
Millington scored single runs in the first, second and sixth inning and two runs in the sixth. A Mustangs rally produced two runs in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough. Grice had three hits but she took the loss on the mound.
“We were a little tight, I think,” Smith said. “They had never been to a big show like that. We played Millington last year and split with them in a nonconference game. We knew what they were capable of doing.”
The Mustangs graduate three seniors and will have everyone back except two starters.