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HILLSDALE COUNTY — The Hillsdale County spring sports season is officially in the books after regional championship weekend for local baseball and softball teams.
More: Hillsdale Academy boys track state title marks end of milestone season
Jonesville baseball, after making an impressive rally to beat Centreville in the semifinals, lost a Division 3 regional title game to Detroit Edison in a 4-2 final. The No. four-ranked Edison Pioneers went on to beat Jackson Lumen Christi in the state quarterfinals, 7-6.
While Jonesville went into the postseason unranked, its march to the regional title game spotlighted a group that came together at the right time of the season to play its best baseball. This included a new mix of freshman talent coming off a 32-3 junior varsity season.
“Don’t ever count yourselves out,” Jonesville head coach Brian Stroble said. “We did get down 2-0 after that homer in the top of the sixth and we didn’t back down. We kept working, kept battling.”
Freshman Connor Chenevare went all seven innings against the No. four team in Division 3. He allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five batters. The game was scoreless through five innings before Edison broke through with a two-run home run in the sixth.
Jonesville answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game on a sacrifice fly by senior Devan Herendeen and an RBI from Talon Titus.
“We scored a couple in the bottom of the sixth to get to the seventh, so we were able to keep battling,” Stroble said. “They’re the fourth-ranked team in the state. I can only guess where we were at... but you still have to show up and play.”
Edison responded in the top of the seventh inning to take the 4-2 lead and held on from there.
Stroble also praised his freshman pitcher for his composure against one of the top teams in the state.
“He threw a great game today,” Stroble said of Chenevare. “Just a couple balls didn’t go our way.”
The Comets finished the season 18-15 overall and claimed a district championship. Stroble will graduate a strong senior class that played a key role in the team’s postseason run.
“Just a great group of guys — great group of young men,” Stroble said. “No matter what they do, they’re going to be great. They’ve worked hard all season and they refused to quit.”
Jonesville loses Marshall Baker, Ian Doyle, Lucas Kyser, Titus, Herendeen and Carsen Cornila to graduation.
“I’ll miss my seniors. I love them,” Stroble added. “They just kept wanting to go all season.”
Reading falls to Summerfield
A coaching transition didn’t stop the Reading varsity softball team from continuing its run of district dominance. Coach Morgan Aemisegger’s squad extended the program’s tradition with its fifth straight district championship.
The Rangers advanced to the regional semifinals, where they faced a top-ranked Petersburg Summerfield team.
The Bulldogs ended the Rangers’ season in a 12-0 final. Summerfield went on to defeat Dansville for the Region 30 championship Saturday and advanced to face Mendon in the state quarterfinals. Reading was led by Mckenzey Penza’s base hit and three strikeouts from junior ace Leah Headley.
The loss capped a mixed 2026 campaign for Reading, which finished 10-22 overall. However, the Rangers will return their entire roster next season, led by Headley, who recorded 144 strikeouts and nine wins.
Madelyn Farkas led the team with 139 putouts, while Jordyn Mapes totaled 117 putouts and five double plays. Farkas also threw out 14 base runners from behind the plate.
Penza and Headley each collected 27 hits. Penza added three home runs, 14 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, 23 runs and 16 stolen bases. Headley recorded 10 RBIs, 25 runs and 16 steals.
Mapes led the team with 17 stolen bases. Emma Gerth led in RBIs (22) and runs (27). Farkas added two home runs, while Gerth, Jazzelle Hassenzahl and Mapes each hit one.
Up Next
Jonesville’s seniors are expected to compete in the upcoming all-star baseball game. A tentative date of June 22 has been scheduled, with the game likely to be played at Hillsdale College.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Jonesville baseball, Reading softball close seasons in regionals
Continue reading...
More: Hillsdale Academy boys track state title marks end of milestone season
Jonesville baseball, after making an impressive rally to beat Centreville in the semifinals, lost a Division 3 regional title game to Detroit Edison in a 4-2 final. The No. four-ranked Edison Pioneers went on to beat Jackson Lumen Christi in the state quarterfinals, 7-6.
While Jonesville went into the postseason unranked, its march to the regional title game spotlighted a group that came together at the right time of the season to play its best baseball. This included a new mix of freshman talent coming off a 32-3 junior varsity season.
“Don’t ever count yourselves out,” Jonesville head coach Brian Stroble said. “We did get down 2-0 after that homer in the top of the sixth and we didn’t back down. We kept working, kept battling.”
Freshman Connor Chenevare went all seven innings against the No. four team in Division 3. He allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five batters. The game was scoreless through five innings before Edison broke through with a two-run home run in the sixth.
Jonesville answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game on a sacrifice fly by senior Devan Herendeen and an RBI from Talon Titus.
“We scored a couple in the bottom of the sixth to get to the seventh, so we were able to keep battling,” Stroble said. “They’re the fourth-ranked team in the state. I can only guess where we were at... but you still have to show up and play.”
Edison responded in the top of the seventh inning to take the 4-2 lead and held on from there.
Stroble also praised his freshman pitcher for his composure against one of the top teams in the state.
“He threw a great game today,” Stroble said of Chenevare. “Just a couple balls didn’t go our way.”
The Comets finished the season 18-15 overall and claimed a district championship. Stroble will graduate a strong senior class that played a key role in the team’s postseason run.
“Just a great group of guys — great group of young men,” Stroble said. “No matter what they do, they’re going to be great. They’ve worked hard all season and they refused to quit.”
Jonesville loses Marshall Baker, Ian Doyle, Lucas Kyser, Titus, Herendeen and Carsen Cornila to graduation.
“I’ll miss my seniors. I love them,” Stroble added. “They just kept wanting to go all season.”
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Reading falls to Summerfield
A coaching transition didn’t stop the Reading varsity softball team from continuing its run of district dominance. Coach Morgan Aemisegger’s squad extended the program’s tradition with its fifth straight district championship.
The Rangers advanced to the regional semifinals, where they faced a top-ranked Petersburg Summerfield team.
The Bulldogs ended the Rangers’ season in a 12-0 final. Summerfield went on to defeat Dansville for the Region 30 championship Saturday and advanced to face Mendon in the state quarterfinals. Reading was led by Mckenzey Penza’s base hit and three strikeouts from junior ace Leah Headley.
The loss capped a mixed 2026 campaign for Reading, which finished 10-22 overall. However, the Rangers will return their entire roster next season, led by Headley, who recorded 144 strikeouts and nine wins.
You must be registered for see images
Madelyn Farkas led the team with 139 putouts, while Jordyn Mapes totaled 117 putouts and five double plays. Farkas also threw out 14 base runners from behind the plate.
Penza and Headley each collected 27 hits. Penza added three home runs, 14 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, 23 runs and 16 stolen bases. Headley recorded 10 RBIs, 25 runs and 16 steals.
Mapes led the team with 17 stolen bases. Emma Gerth led in RBIs (22) and runs (27). Farkas added two home runs, while Gerth, Jazzelle Hassenzahl and Mapes each hit one.
Up Next
Jonesville’s seniors are expected to compete in the upcoming all-star baseball game. A tentative date of June 22 has been scheduled, with the game likely to be played at Hillsdale College.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Jonesville baseball, Reading softball close seasons in regionals
Continue reading...
