Garbers Ella Kokaly (7) hits the ball during a high school softball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

BAY CITY, MI – A look at the high school sports scene in Bay County for May 15, 2025. Bay County coaches are asked to submit results, highlights and comments the night of each event by emailing [email protected].

SOFTBALL: GARBER GETS IT ROLLING

Essexville Garber has been just a bit off.

But the Dukes picked a good time to turn it on.

Celebrating Senior Day with crosstown rival John Glenn on the docket, Garber broke loose in big-time fashion for 18-0 and 13-6 victories that just may have ignited something good for the stretch run.

John Glenns Dani Weiss (28) pitches during a high school softball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

“I told the girls we can’t change the past, but we can change the future, and today was the start of that,” Garber coach Chris Kokaly said. “This is a really good team that just was in need of finding some confidence and getting on a run heading into the postseason.”

Garber (13-10, 6-4) absolutely erupted in the Tri-Valley Conference Red twinbill that stretched over two days due to a rain break. The Dukes pounded 29 hits and plated 31 runs in nine innings, shaking free from the grips of a hot-and-cold stretch that uncharacteristically kept them around the .500 mark.

Perhaps fittingly, Garber’s two seniors – Grace Zwetzig and J.J. Shooltz – both homered in the first game, as did Sadie Lapan as the trio combined for nine RBIs. Ava Wagner knocked three hits and joined Ella Kokaly with three RBIs in the romp. Kara Kotenko allowed one hit and struck out five in the three-inning contest. Kenzy Bach delivered Glenn’s lone hit.

Garber kept it rolling in Game 2, getting two or more hits from six different batters and scoring in every inning. Wagner knocked four more hits and Zwetzig three while Kokaly, Lapan, Kotenko and Claire Adamowski tallied two apiece. Kokaly and Lapan led with three RBIs to back winning pitcher Kotenko.

Garbers Anthony Solinski (8) hits the ball during a high school baseball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Harmonie Kuch had two hits and Eliana Wilkinson two RBIs for Glenn (16-12, 4-8).

“The second game was much better played,” Glenn coach John Busch said. “Hand it to Garber, they put pressure on us all day and the final scored reflected that.”

SOFTBALL: PANTHERS DROP A PAIR

Standish-Sterling suffered its first sweep of the season, dropping 2-0 and 13-4 decisions to St. Louis in Jack Pine Conference action.

John Glenns Jayden Brenay (24) pitches during a high school baseball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The Panthers (12-11, 9-6) managed just three hits in the opener as Keeley Peace, Julia Mattson and Tyla Tunney collected one apiece. Mattson struck out five in a strong performance in the circle, but St. Louis scratched out runs in the third and fifth innings for the win.

John Glenns Hadley Keister (6) throws the ball to home plate during a high school softball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Peace produced a big day at the plate in Game 2, knocking a double and a home run among her four hits. Anna Briggs added two hits and Mattson drove in a pair of runs.

John Glenns Nick Naylor (12) prepares to run to second base during a high school baseball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

BASEBALL: GLENN BREAKS OUT THE BATS

John Glenn got its bats heated up, bashing its way to 13-3 and 16-1 non-conference wins over Perry.

Fans cheer on their team under their umbrellas during a high school baseball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The Bobcats (14-11) got a three-RBI game from Wyatt Jeske in the opener. Hayden Ruff knocked two hits while Remington Ranck, Gunner Mezey and Jayden Brenay each drove in two runs. Cameron Burch fired a three-hitter with eight strikeouts for the win.

John Glenns Hadley Keister (6) picks up a ground ball during a high school softball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Ruff tallied three RBIs in Game 2 and joined Nick Naylor with two hits. Jeske registered the win on the hill.

BASEBALL: No. 2 STANDISH DOMINATES

Newly ranked No. 2 in the state Division 2 poll, Standish-Sterling showed its might with 14-0 and 15-0 victories over St. Louis in Jack Pine Conference play.

Garbers Ava Wagner (17) smiles after scoring during a high school softball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The Panthers (26-1-1, 18-0) got dominating pitching in both games. Preston Kann allowed zero hits while striking out three in 2.2 innings and Brock Bartlett followed with five Ks over 2.1 scoreless innings in the opener. Sam Briggs and Carson Koin combined on a four-inning no-hitter with six strikeouts in the nightcap.

Garbers Grace Zwetzig (2) slides safely into home plate during a high school softball game on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Bartlett tallied two hits and two RBIs in Game 1 while Ian Emans knocked two hits and Kann and Rylee Blanchard each drove in two runs.

Ty Yorton drilled two hits in Game 2 and Jay Roper and Bartlett tallied two RBIs apiece.

SOCCER: STANDISH HITS 20-WIN MARK

Standish-Sterling put an exclamation mark at the end of its greatest regular season in program history, rolling past Shepherd 7-0 in the Jack Pine Conference finale.

The league champion Panthers (20-2, 13-1) reached the 20-win mark with the victory and saw Analeis Ming surpass the 60-goal plateau. Ming scored four more goals to give her 61 on the year.

Charlotte Ming added a goal and three assists while Luci Waldie and Lily Thurlow also scored and Renae Bentley tallied an assist. Lydia Arbuckle notched four saves for the shutout.

TENNIS: SEMIFINALISTS SPARK WESTERN

Bay City Western made a little noise at the Division 2 regional.

And nearly made a whole lot more.

The Warriors scored eight points to finish fifth in regional action at Midland Community Tennis Center, sparked by a pair of semifinal showings.

And when Lauren Gehoski and Kate Friedle scored a first-set victory over the top-seeded team at No. 3 doubles, it sent a rumble across the tournament. Traverse City Central’s Xoe Thelen and Charlotte Furlong rallied for the 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 win and went on to claim the crown, but the Warriors had made their mark.

Ava Schmidt and Khloe Schmidt also reached the final four for Western before being ousted by the eventual champs from Midland Dow.

Western also featured first-round winners in No. 1 Payton Martin, No. 2 Isabella Bigelow and No. 4 Grace Navelgas in singles and No. 2 doubles Ally Clifford and Bri Hennerd.

“It was a great team showing for the Lady Warriors,” coach Mike Rohde said. “We got some great individual wins and put ourselves in position to compete in some close losses. Everyone felt good with today’s effort.”

Bay City Central placed sixth with six points. Lauren Klawon drew a first-round bye, won her quarterfinal match and reached the semifinals before bowing out. No. 3 Aleeya Lorenz and No. 4 Edy Maciejewski each won a first-round match for the Wolves, who added a pair of wins by default.

Bay County

Sports Calendar

FRIDAY, MAY 16

Baseball

Essexville Garber at Millington, 4 p.m.

Lakeland at Bay City Western, 8 p.m.

Girls Soccer

John Glenn at Hemlock, 5 p.m.

Mount Pleasant at Essexville Garber, 4:30 p.m.

Boys Golf

Bay County Championship at Green Hills

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Baseball

Chippewa Valley at Bay City Western, 12:30 p.m.

Clio at John Glenn, noon

Novi at Bay City Western, 3 p.m.

Softball

Essexville Garber at Heritage tourney

MONDAY, MAY 19

Baseball

Bay City Central at Midland, 3:30 p.m.

Peck at All Saints, 4 p.m.

Pinconning at Essexville Garber, 4 p.m.

Softball

Midland at Bay City Central, 3:30 p.m.

John Glenn at Oscoda, 4 p.m.

Peck at All Saints, 4 p.m.

Pinconning at Essexville Garber, 4 p.m.

Saginaw Heritage at Bay City Western, 4 p.m.

Girls Soccer

Essexville Garber at Davison, 5 p.m.

Boys Golf

Bobcat Invitational, 9 a.m.

Girls Tennis

Bay County Championship, 9 a.m.

*Subject to change

*Does not include all games for all sports

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