The 2023 high school softball season was another strong one for the Downriver and Dearborn area and one of the more top-heavy as it featured some of the state’s best programs.
Among those was a trio of Downriver League programs in Allen Park, Brownstown Woodhaven, and Trenton, all of whom were consistently ranked by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association all season long. Elsewhere in the area, New Boston Huron and Dearborn Divine Child were also two season-long stalwarts in Division 2.
And despite their struggles for much of the season, Riverview Gabriel Richard battled through tough Catholic League play and remained highly regarded in Division 4 in the eyes of the coaches association.
These aforementioned programs helped make up 20 of the 21 players that were recently recognized as all-state by the MHSSCA. Two of those teams — Allen Park and Divine Child — each had five recipients.
Allen Park saw Makayla Sitarski, Kiley Carr, Avery Garden, and Molly Hool be named first-team all-state in Division 1 while Mia Hool was an honorable mention.
One would be hard-pressed to find a stronger 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup than the sophomores Carr and Sitarski, both of whom hit around .550 for a batting average. Carr out of the leadoff spot led the team with 72 hits with 32 of those going for extra bases including 21 doubles. Sitarski meanwhile racked up 66 knocks while showcasing her speed on the basepaths, stealing 30 bases.
Garden meanwhile was a steady power threat in the middle of the lineup for Allen Park, as evident by her 1.441 OPS and her team-leading 13 home runs and 33 extra-base hits. The junior also drove in 64 runs.
Sisters Molly and Mia Hool got it done with their bat and glove for Allen Park. Both posted a batting average over .400 on the season. Catcher Molly smacked 16 doubles and drove in 23 runs while the second baseman Mia had 13 extra-base hits and 37 RBI.
For Divine Child, the trio of Alexis Hansen, Katie Modrzejewski, and Jessica Nelson were named first-team all-state while Savina Olada and Isabella DePaulis were honorable mentions. All five were key cogs in leading the Falcons to their first state semifinal game appearance in five years.
Modrzejewski was for Divine Child what Carr was for Allen Park: a dynamite table-setter at the top of the order. The sophomore led the Falcons in batting average (.575), OPS (1.360), hits (65), RBI (38), runs scored (44), and stolen bases (33).
Her classmate Nelson was one of the more dynamic pitchers in the state. Nelson compiled just over 300 strikeouts and a 12-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio in 164 innings of work. Nelson oftentimes helped out her own cause too by compiling a .992 OPS.
Hansen, Olada, and DePaulis were all steady threats scattered throughout the lineup for Divine Child throughout the season.
This trio all posted an OPS around 1.000. Hansen drove in 36 runs and stole 26 bases. Olada collected 50 hits on the season and dropped down eight sacrifices. DePaulis meanwhile had 10 extra-base hits including three homers while matching Modrzejewski with 38 RBI.
Huron and Woodhaven each had three all-state representatives.
Woodhaven was ultimately led by standout pitcher Grace Usher, who helped push the Warriors to their first-ever regional championship and appearance in the state finals. The junior racked up 185 strikeouts in just over 147 innings of work, all part of a 1.42 ERA effort.
Usher was also a fixture in the Woodhaven lineup, hitting .4239 with 39 RBI.
Usher along with Grace Walker were named first-team all-state while Mia Taylor was named an honorable mention. Walker hit .548 with one home run, 16 extra-base hits, and 36 runs driven in while Taylor smacked four doubles and stolen seven bases while hitting .436 on the year.
For Huron, adding to theme of dynamic leadoff hitters is Jenna Kuzara, who is one of three honorable mention all-state recipients in D2. The junior third baseman hit over .550 at the top of the order, smacking seven homers and 21 extra-base hits while also swiping 16 bags.
Junior outfield Marissa Jackson added to that threat atop the batting order for the Chiefs. Jackson hit over .500 on the year with 12 doubles and 25 RBI.
Huron figures to be in good hands moving forward with pitcher Rylie Greggo. The sophomore hurler registered 164 strikeouts and a 1.70 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .201 batting average.
Trenton and Gabriel Richard each had two all-state recipients.
For Trenton, that comes in the form of London Williams and Gracie Rickman, two of several offensive threats for a highly-potent Trojan offense. The junior Williams hit .477 with three home runs, 30 extra-base hits, and a team-high 53 RBI while the senior Rickman hit .432 with a team-best 12 homers and 32 extra-base hits.
For Richard, it was the steady everyday production of Emerson Cinglie and Carsyn Roehrig that earned them all-state honors in D4.
Cinglie was the unquestioned leader offensively for Richard, leading the team in several categories including batting average (.405), OPS (1.049), hits (32), doubles (8), and RBI (32). The senior also shared pitching duties with the junior Roehrig as both logged just over 75 innings in the circle.
Roehrig recorded nearly two strikeouts for every inning she pitched (140 K in 75.1 IP). At the dish, Roehrig posted an .830 OPS and scored a team-high 28 runs.
Finally for Riverview, their lone all-state honoree comes in the form of Maddie Wieneke.
One of the best all-around players in the Huron League and the entire Downriver area as a whole, Wieneke helped the Pirates navigate through an always-competitive Huron League. The senior hit .500 on the year with seven homers, 40 runs batted in, and 10 stolen bases while also earning the team’s “Gold Glove” honors playing in the outfield.
