By Tom Kendra
LocalSportsJournal.com

EAST LANSING – Holton completely shut down and dismantled the highest-scoring softball team in state history on Friday.

Now the Red Devils have a chance to make some history of their own.

The combination of Kenzie Greene on the mound and Ryann Robins at the plate was too much as Holton rolled to an 8-0 win over Hillman in the Division 4 Semifinals at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium.

“I am so happy, not for me, but for my school and my town,” said Robins, a senior first baseman who had a two-run single in the second inning and then a monstrous three-run homer in the sixth inning.

Ryann Robins at the plate watching her 3-run home run sail over the fence for Holton. Photo/Jason Goorman

“We’ve never made it this far before, but if we are able to shock the world tomorrow and win it all, wow, I get goosebumps just thinking about that.”

Holton (29-12-1) is now in position to not only win the first softball state championship in school history, but would also become the first Muskegon County school to win a softball state title.

Holton faces top-ranked Unionville Sebewaing for the Division 4 state championship on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at MSU.

The Red Devils previously won a Class C volleyball state championship in 1994.

“This team has worked so hard and really improved and here we are, in the state championship game,” said 10th-year Holton coach Kirk Younts, who has guided the Red Devils to the semifinals four times. “Our defense was great today, but I’m telling you, at the beginning of the year it was terrible. We have really improved and it’s great to be playing our best right now.”

Hillman, meanwhile, broke the all-time state record for runs scored in a season this spring with 561, an average of 13.4 runs per game – which makes it even more impressive that Greene & Co. held the Tigers to just four singles and zero runs.

Greene, a junior and one of three pitchers that Holton uses on a regular basis, kept Hillman off balance with plenty of spin on her pitches.

“I didn’t know anything about their lineup and all of their records,” said Greene. “We played harder competition this season and that got us ready for this.”

Kenzie Greene winds up to deliver the pitch for Holton. Photo/Jason Goorman

Greene went the full seven innings, allowing four hits and no walks. She only struck out two batters, but her teammates’ defense was outstanding – notably a great play by lefty shortstop Abbie Fowler in the third inning, a number of great catches by the outfielder (particularly left fielder Chloe McKee in the fourth inning) and a game-ending diving grab by third baseman Monica Mullins.

As it turned out, Holton scored all the runs they would need in the first inning.

The first two Red Devils struck out swinging, but once they started to make contact and put pressure on Hillman’s defense, good things started happening.

Holton scored three runs in the top of the first on RBI singles from Sydney McCormick and Emma Monette.

From that point on, Robins took over.

Robins, a senior who started as a freshman the last time Holton made it to the semifinals in 2021, knocked in the final five runs – including the exclamation point with her towering home run over the Sparty logo on the right field fence. That home run was her 20th of the season and 50th in her career.

“I was frustrated my at-bat before that because I dropped my shoulder and popped it up,” said Robins. “So I told everyone in the dugout that I was going to get a hit the next time. I wasn’t planning on a home run, but she threw me an outside pitch and I just went with it.”

Right fielder Emma Monette catches a flyball for Holton. Photo/Jason Goorman]

Holton, which is ranked No. 5 in the state, finished with 10 hits. Lexi Bartolameolli, Robins, McCormick and McKee all had two hits.

Hillman pitcher Gretchen Weiland went the distance, allowing 10 hits and five walks, while striking out nine. Autumn Kazyaka went 2-for-3 and was the only Tiger with multiple hits.

Hillman coach Jason Weiland, whose team was ranked No. 7 coming in and finished 41-3, said his team tightened up on the big stage.

“Playing in this atmosphere, if you’re not used to it, can take you out of your game,” said Weiland. “Take nothing away from Holton, they have a great team, but our kids were really tight from the start.”

Holton had the least impressive record of any of the four Division 4 semifinalists, but benefitted from playing bigger schools like Reeths-Puffer, Mona Shores, Fruitport and Evart during the regular season.

“We learned a lot by playing those bigger schools,” said Younts, a 1990 Holton graduate. “We gave a few of those games away with errors and mistakes, but we learned and now we’re better.”

Holton players anticipate the arrival of Ryann Robins after her home run. Photo/Jason Goorman

Holton players greet Ryann Robins at home plate after her home run. Photo/Jason Goorman

Holton infielders signal two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Photo/Jason Goorman

Holton Coach Kirk Younts. Photo/Jason Goorman

Monica Mullins reacts after catching a foul ball to end the game and sending the Red Devils into the Division 4 state finals. Photo/Jason Goorman