BAY CITY, MI – A look at the high school girls sports scene in Bay County for April 29, 2025. Bay County coaches are asked to submit results, highlights and comments the night of each event by emailing lthomps2@mlive.com. Be sure to also check out our boys sports roundup. SOFTBALL: PINCONNING WORKS WONDERS There’s no rule that says Pinconning must split every doubleheader. But after dropping the opener against St. Louis, the Spartans played like it was a must-win situation. Using some serious final at-bat dramatics, the Spartans rallied for a thrilling 7-6 victory in Game 2 and produced their fifth consecutive Jack Pine Conference doubleheader split. After losing the opener 11-5, Pinconning faced a 6-3 seventh-inning deficit in the nightcap. But the Spartans rose to the moment, rallying for four runs to snare the lead. Layla Foco, Emma McQuarter, Leeya Rezler and Ella Hunter all singled and Kailee Rugenstein doubled in the comeback. “Kailee Rugenstein really got us going with that double,” Pinconning coach Madison Wright said. “It was like she set off a fuse. The rally hats were on in the dugout and the girls had great energy.” Hunter sent St. Louis down 1-2-3 in the seventh for the complete-game victory. Pinconning (11-8, 5-5) was stung by an eight-run third inning in Game 1. Hunter had two hits to lead the Spartans while Foco drove in two runs. SOFTBALL: FRANKENMUTH RALLIES PAST DUKES Essexville Garber owned a three-run lead in both ends of its pivotal doubleheader with Frankenmuth. But the No. 7-ranked Eagles rallied in both games, pulling off a 7-4 victory in the opener before outlasting Garber 8-7 in eight innings in the nightcap of the Tri-Valley Conference Red clash. “They were good games and I’m proud of how well we played with a young team out there,” Garber coach Chris Kokaly said. Game 2 was a barnburner as Garber led 3-0 after two innings then trailed 6-4 in the sixth. But the Dukes mounted a charge, scoring three runs and taking a 7-6 edge on a two-out single by Ella Kokaly. But Frankenmuth scored one in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game alive then won it in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the eighth. Ava Wagner roped a double and a home run and drove in three runs for Garber (10-8, 4-4). Delenya Charbonneau worked the first five innings and Kara Kotenko the final two-plus for the Dukes. Garber led 3-0 in the second inning and still owned a 3-2 advantage in the sixth inning when Frankenmuth erupted for five runs to turn the tide. Ella Kokaly notched three hits and Wagner two while Kotenko struck out eight. Chloe Compau struck out 22 batters over the two games and hit a home run for Frankenmuth. SOFTBALL: GLENN DOESN’T GO QUIETLY John Glenn didn’t back down from traditional Tri-Valley Conference Red force Freeland, hanging tough despite 13-9 and 8-5 losses. “We battled very well against a solid Freeland team,” Glenn coach John Busch said. “If we keep playing like that, we will be hard to beat. We are a fun team to watch.” Glenn (11-7, 2-4) wouldn’t go quietly in Game 1, putting eight runs on the board in the final three innings. But Freeland scored nine in that same stretch to stay a step ahead. Hadley Keister and Kate Cataline each delivered three hits for the Bobcats while Gabriella Mezey had three RBIs. Freeland’s 3-4-5 hitters tallied 10 RBIs. Freeland plated seven first-inning runs in Game 2 but saw Glenn put five on the board in its final swings. Olivia Duprey had two hits and seven other Bobcats added one. Keister and Joslyn Zielinski both doubled. SOFTBALL: STANDISH TAKES TWO IN JPC Standish-Sterling crossed the plate 20 times, rolling to a 9-5 and 11-1 sweep of Sanford Meridian in Jack Pine Conference action. Jaylynn Yenna collected two hits in Game 1 while Tyla Tunney and Anna Briggs each tallied two RBIs to back winning pitcher Addi Fetters, who struck out nine. The Panthers (7-2, 7-2) kept it rolling with a big Game 2, led by Keeley Peace with two triples among her three hits and two RBIs. Julia Mattson also had three hits and two RBIs in the win while Sami Kopasz and Fetters added two hits apiece. Yenna struck out four in the five-inning victory. SOCCER: SPARTANS PITCH FIRST SHUTOUT After allowing just one goal six times this season, Pinconning finally completed its first shutout, blanking Beaverton 2-0 in a Jack Pine Conference clash. “I am super proud of how these girls played today,” said Pinconning coach Kaylee Meisner, whose team was coming off a 1-0 loss to Ogemaw. “We had a rough game yesterday, but they came back today ready to win.” Ainesley Sylvester registered nine saves in goal for the shutout. Pinconning (2-6-4, 1-4-3) took the lead midway through the first half when Abby Grzegorczyk scored off a cross from Layla St. Peter. The lead grew to 2-0 in the second half on a penalty kick by Josie Wieland with six minutes to play. SOCCER: SSC REACHES THREE-GOAL MARK Standish-Sterling scored three goals, reaching the magic number in a 3-1 win over Midland Bullock Creek in Jack Pine Conference action. The first-place Panthers (9-1, 8-1) have scored three or more goals in all nine of their victories this season. And the Ming sisters have been a big reason why Standish has been that productive. Analeis Ming scored two more goals and assisted on a goal by Charlotte Ming, who assisted on both of her big sister’s scores. Analeis now has 25 goals on the season while Charlotte is second on the team with seven. “They play off each other so well,” Standish coach Kacey Bentley said. “Anytime those two are together, anything is possible.” Lydia Arbuckle notched four saves in goal for the Panthers. Sports Calendar WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 All Saints at Carrollton, 4 p.m. Girls Soccer Bay City Central at Midland, 7:15 p.m. Bay City Western at Davison, 6:45 p.m. Boys Lacrosse John Glenn at Linden, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, MAY 1 Clare at Pinconning, 4 p.m. Grand Blanc at Bay City Central, 4 p.m. John Glenn at Holly, 4 p.m. Lapeer at Bay City Western, 3:30 p.m. Saginaw United at All Saints, 4 p.m. Bay City Western at Lapeer, 4 p.m. Clare at Pinconning, 4 p.m. Grand Blanc at Bay City Central, 4 p.m. Mount Pleasant at Essexville Garber, 4 p.m. Girls Soccer Freeland at Essexville Garber, 4:30 p.m. John Glenn at Frankenmuth, 4:30 p.m. Pinconning at Clare, 5 p.m. Boys Lacrosse Midland Dow at Bay City Western, 7 p.m. Girls Tennis Bay City Western at Bay City Central, 4 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 2 Track and Field Bay City Western Invitational, 3 p.m. SATURDAY, MAY 3 Girls Soccer Bay City Central at Essexville Garber, 7 p.m. Boys Lacrosse Bay City Central at East Kentwood, 1 p.m. *Subject to change *Does not include all games for all sports If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters. 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