Softball In Position for Late Season Push
Mt Pleasant, MI - At the midway point of the season, the Mid Michigan College softball team finds itself firmly in the mix for a championship run, putting together a 15-12 overall record and a 9-6 mark in MCCAA conference play. Currently sitting in third place behind Muskegon (10-5) and Grand Rapids (11-2), the Lakers are positioned with a clear path in front of them as the second half of the season unfolds.
Despite not having claimed a conference title since the program's inception in 2019, this year's group controls its own destiny. With four remaining games against conference leader Grand Rapids and two against second-place Muskegon, the opportunity to climb the standings is very much within reach. Add in a favorable four-game series against winless Bay College, and the Lakers have the schedule in place to make a serious push toward the top.
Offensively, Mid Michigan has been one of the more consistent teams in the conference, posting a .308 team batting average while averaging six runs per game. Allissa Brandon has been the catalyst at the plate, leading the team with an impressive .397 average. She's closely followed by Kailey Cassiday at .390 and Madeline McDonald at .373, the latter of whom has already earned MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Week honors this season.
Run production has been balanced across the lineup, with Gabi Johnston leading the team with 16 RBIs after also earning Player of the Week recognition earlier in the year. McDonald has added 13 RBIs, while Nevaeh Sysak has contributed 12, giving the Lakers multiple reliable bats in key situations.
In the circle, Mid Michigan has leaned on a strong one-two punch. Brianne Halfmann has been dominant, ranking among the conference's top pitchers with a 7-1 record to lead the team in wins. Tessa Cameron has also played a key role, compiling a 5-5 record and earning Pitcher of the Week honors back in March.
Beyond the numbers, this season has already featured a significant milestone, as Head Coach Greg Welch recorded his 100th career win with the program during the opening week—another sign of the steady growth and competitiveness the Lakers have built since 2019.
With a postseason berth all but secured for the fourth consecutive year, the focus now shifts to positioning. After falling just one win shy of a College World Series appearance in 2025, this team appears hungry to take the next step. If the Lakers can capitalize on their remaining opportunities against top conference opponents, they have the talent and momentum to turn a strong season into a historic one.