The Patriots will be in action at 5:30pm on Friday at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing. Find out how the Patriots returned to East Lansing in search of their fifth consecutive state championship.
The Road to America’s Secchia Stadium
The Patriots won another division title on Friday, May 31.
Paul Adams/Quad N ProductionsDistrict 128 Championships
USA 11, Ubley 0 (5 innings)
The Patriots scored in every inning except for the fifth to win the division again.
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Riley Betson had two hits and scored three runs. Macy Prime had two hits, three RBI and scored two runs. Gabby Crum had two hits and scored three RBI. Erin Juber had two hits, one RBI and scored two runs. Addison Mellendorf had two hits, two RBI and scored two runs. Natalie DeGroat had one hit and scored one run.
Olivia Green was on the mound and was the winning pitcher, striking out 11 and allowing one hit in five innings of work.
“Winning a district championship was another goal on our to-do list,” U.S. team coach Mark Reinhardt said. “The girls did a good job. We hit well. We didn’t have any big hits, but we had a lot of hits that got runners moving.”
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The Patriots won their 20th consecutive region title on Saturday, June 8.
Tom Green/Huron Daily TribuneRegion 32 semifinal at Marlette
America 7, Brown City 0
They scored two runs in the third inning and five in the fourth to send the Patriots to the regional finals.
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Gabby Crum hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. She had two hits, three RBI and one run. Macy Prime also had two hits, two RBI and one run. Ella Newman and Natalie DeGroat each had a hit. Jenna Gremel, Olivia Green, Erin Juber and Leila Boltzman each scored one run.
Riley Betson was on the mound and earned the win, allowing eight hits over seven innings while striking out 11.
The Patriots won their 20th consecutive region title on Saturday, June 8.
Tom Green/Huron Daily TribuneRegion 32 Finals at Marlette
USA 10, Marlette 0 (6 innings)
Marlette’s Daranee Gage took the mound for the Red Raiders in her second game and was scoreless through the first two innings, but the Patriots scored three runs in the third inning, one in the fourth inning and six in the sixth to win their 20th consecutive region championship.
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Gabby Crum hit her second home run of the tournament in the third inning, also a three-run homer. Crum finished with two hits.
Natalie DeGroat also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to score two runs in the game.
Erin Juber had a hit, scored one run and drove in one run. Ella Newman had a hit, scored two runs and drove in one run. Macy Prime had a hit and drove in one run. Layla Boltzman and Riley Betson each scored two runs.
Olivia Green was on the mound and was the winning pitcher, striking out five and allowing one hit in six innings of work.
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“It’s really exciting to win the regional championship,” Reinhardt said. “I’ve been rooting for the team since 2006, and the community gives us a lot of support.”
The Patriots shut out Plymouth Christian, 2-0, to advance to the state semifinals.
Tom Green/Huron Daily TribuneState Quarterfinals 16 at Grand Blanc
USA 2, Plymouth Christian 0
Two runs in the first inning was all the Patriots needed to punch their ticket to East Lansing. Riley Betson walked to lead off the bottom inning, then Ella Newman singled. Gabby Crum homered with a sacrifice fly to drive in Betson, and Jenna Gremel singled to drive in Newman.
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The Patriots didn’t get a hit after the first inning, but that didn’t matter to Olivia Green, who earned the win on the mound with seven innings of work, allowing just two hits and striking out four.
“It feels great to be back in East Lansing,” Green said. “The atmosphere is great. We have the crowd. We have players from other divisions coming out and watching us play. It’s awesome. I feel like I’m on top of the world.”
“I remember Grand Blanc very well,” Reinhart added. “The last time we didn’t make the semifinals, we played the quarterfinals here in 2017. It can’t happen here again.”
State semifinal 8 at East Lansing
The Patriots will face a familiar foe in the state semifinals, having defeated the Mendon Hornets in last year’s Division 4 state championship game.
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“We watched Mendon last year,” Reinhart said, “They’re a good team. We’re a good team. It should be a great game. Our seniors will keep the younger kids focused. We’ll be ready.”
First pitch is scheduled for Friday, June 14th at 5:30pm in East Lansing.