MOUNT PLEASANT — Traverse City Central made a little more history Tuesday in what was already a historic season.
The Trojan softball team played in its first quarterfinal, falling short in a 10-inning 5-1 decision against Grand Haven in Tuesday’s Division 1 quarter at Margo Jonker Stadium at Central Michigan University.
TC Central won its first Big North Conference and regional titles ever this year, in the program’s 48th season.
“Obviously a hard way to go out, but we made history, and that’s what we were planning to do,” Centra senior pitcher Piper Cavanaugh said. “I’m grateful that every goal that we set, we were accomplishing it and adding on to it. At the beginning of the season, we were never thinking winning states. We were thinking winning districts, winning first of round regionals, winning regionals. Every step we did, we added on to our goal, which I’m really proud of this team for doing.”
Grace Cary, Kayla Noble and Eden Kitzmiller had hits off Lorelei Chciuk, a Saginaw Valley commit with over 1,000 career strikeouts. She came into the season with 340 whiffs in 157 innings. The Bucs’ second pitcher, Ferris State commit Bri Borgman, threw when the Trojans defeated Grand Haven 3-0 in the Buccaneers’ mid-April tournament.
Cary scored in the bottom of the first, reaching on a hit by pitch, moving over on a Cavanaugh hit by pitch and Anika Peterson sacrifice bunt and scoring on a Julia Brady sac bunt.
Grand Haven, which also won its first regional crown this year, drew back even in the third on a Bella Korf single to center that brought in Borgman.
The Trojans has baserunners every inning from the sixth to 10th.
“We had scoring opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize on them,” Central coach Juli Tiesworth said. “We had more errors than normal, because the moment is big, and sometimes that can get you. We knew what we were facing. Lorelei is a terrific pitcher, and we kept it close as long as we could. They just made adjustments faster than we could make adjustments, but we threw it all out there.”
The game started 17 minutes late after Bellaire’s Division 4 quarter earlier in the day was delayed almost an hour due to heavy rain resulting in standing water on the field.
TC Central’s almost had a bigger delay as well, but for a much different reason. An umpire hurt his left knee after second batter and departed the game. After a discussion between the coaches and remaining two referees, play continued with two-man crew until one of the umps from the Bellaire game could get ready.
With CMU’s infield dirt soaked from rain, Cavanaugh did some extra work to make sure she could grip the ball, bringing a plastic container of dry dirt into the dugout from the bullpen.
“This field is a little damp, so when I went to go wipe my hand, it didn’t get dry,” Cavanaugh said. “So I had to go get some dry dirt on my own. I went on a little adventure from the bullpen there.”
Both pitchers struck out 17 in 10 frames. Cavanaugh was billed with eight hits and one walk, while Chcuik gave up three hits, two hit batsmen and six walks.
“She’s such a workhorse, such a leader,” Tiesworth said of Cavanaugh. “She kept her composure, kept her confidence, keeps the communication. She’s just a terrific teammate. And Grace worked her tail off, getting hit by foul balls and those rise balls and drop balls. I’m just proud of them.”
TC Central committed six errors and Grand Haven four as both teams gave the other opportunities. Grand Haven capitalized in one more inning than Central.
“I just told them, don’t let today define the season,” Tiesworth said. “The goals were conference, district, regionals. Then when we hit those goals, you start thinking about new goals. But don’t let today negate that. There was so much to be proud of. They set a new bar, and we hope to be back.”
Grand Haven’s Natalie Waite led off the eighth inning with a seeing-eye single between Peterson and Anna Tabaczka. Cary gunned her out at second trying to steal.
The Bucs put together two singles and two doubles along with an intentional walk in the 10th, resulting in four runs.
“For years we’re going to be talking about the 2026 group, right?” Tiesworth said. “Be proud of that, because it’s going to be hard to catch up to them.”