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EAST LANSING – As a youth softball player, Shaela Byrnes always dreamed of hitting the winning home run in a championship game.
It's time for the Walled Lake Northern second baseman to chase a new dream, because her childhood one is complete.
The junior crushed a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of the MHSAA Division 1 state championship Saturday, June 13, helping No. 7 Northern (39-3) edge No. 6 Grand Haven (34-8-1) 2-1 and claim the school's first team state title in any sport.
Saginaw Valley State signee Lorelei Chciuk pitched about as well as Grand Haven could've hoped, striking out 12, walking three and allowing just three hits.
But two of those hits left Secchia Stadium, and the second that came off Byrnes' bat was the dagger.
“I just had to make things simple, to make things basic,” said Byrnes, a junior. “I just needed to hit the ball, swing nice. My coaches were telling me I just needed to find that one pitch to drive, and I did it.”
Byrnes got an outside pitch and launched it just inside the left-field foul pole. She later called it the greatest moment of her young career.
“I knew right when I swung the bat that it was gone,” Byrnes added. “It was right off my barrel. It felt amazing.”
REGIONAL HARDWARE: Key to Walled Lake Northern softball regional title is a machine
Chciuk had also surrendered a home run in the opening inning to Toledo commit Lyla Turmell, who tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts and three walks.
Otherwise, offense was hard to find and chances to score were scarce. Northern put two runners on in the third, but Chciuk escaped with a strikeout.
Even coach Kristen Woodard didn't envision winning this way.
“Honestly, that’s awesome, but that’s not what I was thinking,” the 15th-year coach said. “I was just hoping she could get on. I just told her before I got into the coach’s box that good things happen when you swing in the zone.”
As Byrnes rounded the bases, it hit her that she might've just won a state championship.
“It was just such a clutch moment, and it meant literally everything to me,” Byrnes said. “It felt so surreal, and, honestly, coming into the top of the seventh, I knew Lyla was going to deal and shut it down.”
She did exactly that.
Turmell struck out all three batters she faced in the seventh to close out the victory.
That doesn't mean the rest of the morning was easy.
Twice, Turmell hit batters. Twice, she put runners in scoring position, including a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Each time, she and Northern's defense escaped.
Grand Haven's lone run came in the fourth when Rheagan Cobb dropped down a bunt that allowed Kloe VandenBrink to score from third and tie it at 1-1.
“Our defense has been pretty tight and tough all year, and that’s what I reminded them, that we’re tough on D, practice like it and know how to execute when the pressure is on,” Woodard said. “They just trust themselves, and they did that after that little boo-boo.”
SIBLING RIVALRY: Kresbaugh sisters push Walled Lake Northern softball into final
Northern could survive small mistakes because of Turmell's consistency.
She might miss a spot once or twice, but it rarely costs her team.
The Knights allowed one run or fewer in six of their seven postseason victories.
“I was a little nervous [during the game] but I knew my defense could back me up if I needed them to,” said Turmell, a four-year starter. “I was just doing it for myself, doing it for my team, hitting my spots and hoping for the best.”
After throwing the final strike of her high school career, Turmell said she felt equal parts joy and relief.
Then reality set in.
“Honestly, I didn’t even believe it was real until my catcher [Anna Doyle] started running at me,” Turmell said. “I wasn’t really prepared for that, but I mean, it’s an awesome feeling.”
Especially for a small area in Oakland County that already had a special moment in 2026.
After 2011 Northern graduate Connor Hellebuyck led the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team to its first gold medal since 1980 in February, Commerce Township hung a banner of the NHL goalie on Commerce Road.
CLUTCH AT QUARTERS: Lyla Turmell overcomes early mistake, sends Walled Lake Northern to MHSAA semis
Don't be surprised if another one goes up near it soon.
A photo of Byrnes, Turmell and the Knights posing with the championship trophy at Michigan State University would fit in just fine.
For as clutch as Hellebuyck was in the gold medal game win over Canada, Byrnes delivered a moment just as memorable for the locals.
She didn't just fulfill a childhood dream.
She made school history.
“I’m just so proud of her because that’s so tough,” Woodard said. “There’s a lot of pressure to just hit a ball hard somewhere. Being a home run is extra special, and it’ll be a moment everyone will remember forever, especially her.”
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life and the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on X at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: MHSAA softball: Walled Lake Northern beats Grand Have in D-1 finals
Continue reading...
It's time for the Walled Lake Northern second baseman to chase a new dream, because her childhood one is complete.
The junior crushed a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of the MHSAA Division 1 state championship Saturday, June 13, helping No. 7 Northern (39-3) edge No. 6 Grand Haven (34-8-1) 2-1 and claim the school's first team state title in any sport.
Saginaw Valley State signee Lorelei Chciuk pitched about as well as Grand Haven could've hoped, striking out 12, walking three and allowing just three hits.
But two of those hits left Secchia Stadium, and the second that came off Byrnes' bat was the dagger.
“I just had to make things simple, to make things basic,” said Byrnes, a junior. “I just needed to hit the ball, swing nice. My coaches were telling me I just needed to find that one pitch to drive, and I did it.”
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Byrnes got an outside pitch and launched it just inside the left-field foul pole. She later called it the greatest moment of her young career.
“I knew right when I swung the bat that it was gone,” Byrnes added. “It was right off my barrel. It felt amazing.”
REGIONAL HARDWARE: Key to Walled Lake Northern softball regional title is a machine
Chciuk had also surrendered a home run in the opening inning to Toledo commit Lyla Turmell, who tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts and three walks.
Otherwise, offense was hard to find and chances to score were scarce. Northern put two runners on in the third, but Chciuk escaped with a strikeout.
Even coach Kristen Woodard didn't envision winning this way.
“Honestly, that’s awesome, but that’s not what I was thinking,” the 15th-year coach said. “I was just hoping she could get on. I just told her before I got into the coach’s box that good things happen when you swing in the zone.”
As Byrnes rounded the bases, it hit her that she might've just won a state championship.
“It was just such a clutch moment, and it meant literally everything to me,” Byrnes said. “It felt so surreal, and, honestly, coming into the top of the seventh, I knew Lyla was going to deal and shut it down.”
She did exactly that.
Turmell struck out all three batters she faced in the seventh to close out the victory.
That doesn't mean the rest of the morning was easy.
Twice, Turmell hit batters. Twice, she put runners in scoring position, including a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Each time, she and Northern's defense escaped.
Grand Haven's lone run came in the fourth when Rheagan Cobb dropped down a bunt that allowed Kloe VandenBrink to score from third and tie it at 1-1.
“Our defense has been pretty tight and tough all year, and that’s what I reminded them, that we’re tough on D, practice like it and know how to execute when the pressure is on,” Woodard said. “They just trust themselves, and they did that after that little boo-boo.”
SIBLING RIVALRY: Kresbaugh sisters push Walled Lake Northern softball into final
Northern could survive small mistakes because of Turmell's consistency.
She might miss a spot once or twice, but it rarely costs her team.
You must be registered for see images attach
The Knights allowed one run or fewer in six of their seven postseason victories.
“I was a little nervous [during the game] but I knew my defense could back me up if I needed them to,” said Turmell, a four-year starter. “I was just doing it for myself, doing it for my team, hitting my spots and hoping for the best.”
After throwing the final strike of her high school career, Turmell said she felt equal parts joy and relief.
Then reality set in.
“Honestly, I didn’t even believe it was real until my catcher [Anna Doyle] started running at me,” Turmell said. “I wasn’t really prepared for that, but I mean, it’s an awesome feeling.”
Especially for a small area in Oakland County that already had a special moment in 2026.
After 2011 Northern graduate Connor Hellebuyck led the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team to its first gold medal since 1980 in February, Commerce Township hung a banner of the NHL goalie on Commerce Road.
CLUTCH AT QUARTERS: Lyla Turmell overcomes early mistake, sends Walled Lake Northern to MHSAA semis
Don't be surprised if another one goes up near it soon.
A photo of Byrnes, Turmell and the Knights posing with the championship trophy at Michigan State University would fit in just fine.
For as clutch as Hellebuyck was in the gold medal game win over Canada, Byrnes delivered a moment just as memorable for the locals.
She didn't just fulfill a childhood dream.
She made school history.
“I’m just so proud of her because that’s so tough,” Woodard said. “There’s a lot of pressure to just hit a ball hard somewhere. Being a home run is extra special, and it’ll be a moment everyone will remember forever, especially her.”
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life and the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on X at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: MHSAA softball: Walled Lake Northern beats Grand Have in D-1 finals
Continue reading...
