USA softball wins 20th straight regional title

For the 20th straight season (excluding 2020), the Unionville-Sebewaing Patriots softball team are regional champions. Here’s a look at the final scores and stats from Saturday, June 8’s Division 4 regional at Marlette:

Two runs in the third inning and five in the fourth helped send the Patriots to the regional final.

Gabby Crumm hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. She finished with two hits, driving in three runs while scoring once. Macy Prime also had two hits, driving in two runs while scoring one. Ella Neumann and Natalie DeGroat each had a hit. Jenna Gremel, Olivia Green, Erin Jubar and Layla Bolzman each scored a run.

Rylie Betson picked up the win on the mound, striking out 11 while allowing eight hits in seven innings pitched.

The second game was a pitcher’s duel between Marlette’s Dalaney Gage and Kingston’s Chesley Wenzlaff. The Red Raiders prevailed in the eighth inning to advance to the regional final.

Gage took the circle in the second game for the Red Raiders and threw the first two innings scoreless. But the Patriots scored three in the third, one in the fourth and six in the sixth to win their 20th consecutive regional.

“I felt a lot of pressure last night,” USA coach Marc Reinhardt said. “I knew Dalaney Gage is a good pitcher. The girls came to play. They did their job.”

Gabby Crumm hit her second home run of the tournament in the third inning, also a three-run home run. Crumm finished with two hits.

“Gabby is a good leader,” Reinhardt said. “She’s a good communicator and great teammate. Her softball IQ is high. She leads by example and her voice matters.”

Natalie DeGroat also hit a home run in the fourth inning, a solo shot. She scored two runs in the game.

Erin Jubar had a hit, driving in a run while scoring once. Ella Neumann had a hit, driving in two runs while scoring once. Macy Prime had a hit, scoring a run. Layla Bolzman and Rylie Betson each scored two runs.

Olivia Green picked up the win on the mound, striking out five while allowing one hit in six innings pitched.

“We’ve been working on our hitting,” Reinhardt said. “We had to get ready for the two pitchers we were facing today. Both throw hard. We saw some quick pitching against Evart during the week. They responded today. One-through-nine, we were tagging balls today. We weren’t always score runs, but we always put runners in scoring position. The girls did well.”

“It’s pretty cool to win this regional,” Reinhardt added. “I’ve been watching the team since 2006. The community gives us so much support.”

Reinhardt complimented both Betson and Green for their performances.

“I have a 1A and 1B,” he said. “Brown City liked higher pitches, so we stayed down with Rylie. When we faced Marlette the first time, Olivia did a good job against them. Nobody hit it hard. It worked.”

“The experience Olivia got today was huge,” he added. “We’ve been in big situations before, but not in games like this. Today was a big one. We needed this game to move forward. She was a big part of that.”

The Patriots advance to State Quarterfinal 16, where they will face Plymouth Christian. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Grand Blanc High School.