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KALAMAZOO — Before the 2025 season began, there weren’t many people, except Buchanan’s softball players and coaching staff, who believed the Lady Bucks were capable of making another long postseason tournament run.

After losing three all-state performers off her 2024 ballclub, Rachel Carlson’s Lady Bucks lost four of its first six games this season. 

But behind the leadership of four seniors, Buchanan put things together and proceeded to win 26 of its final 34 games before ending the season with a 10-0 loss in six innings to Ravenna Tuesday in the Division 3 state quarterfinals at Kalamazoo College. 

Ravenna’s win avenged a 3-1 loss to Buchanan in the 2024 quarterfinals at the same location. Buchanan then fell 8-3 to eventual state champion Evart in last year’s semifinals. 

Ravenna (35-4) advances to face Clare (38-2) in Friday’s 5:30 p.m. semifinals at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium. The other semifinal at 3 p.m. pits Algonac against Grass Lake. The winners meet in Saturday’s state finals at 5:30 p.m.

“We started off the season slow. These girls could’ve pitched their tent and quit on that mission, but they didn’t. They actually got stronger and started to buy into the difficult schedule we play and accepted the challenges and matured as a group,” Buchanan’s head coach said.

Ravenna made it an uphill battle for Buchanan from the very start as the Bulldogs built themselves a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Emma Herreman, Addison Gillard and Sydney Morrisey all had RBI singles and Kendyl Luce delivered a two-run single to highlight the Bulldogs’ big offensive start. 

“That’s a tough way to start, but we’ve played from behind a lot this season. I thought we’d compete but Ravenna’s two pitchers kept us off balance the entire game. I felt our kids did a great job though of fighting through the whole game and keeping their heads on straight. There were a lot of tough innings because they (Ravenna) are an offensive powerhouse,” Buchanan’s head coach said.

Gillard launched a two-run homer over the center-field fence in the fourth increasing the Bulldogs’ lead to 7-0. 

Sophomore Reese Herremans, Emma’s younger sister, added a two-run double in the fifth to pad Ravenna’s lead to 9-0. 

Junior Riley Homoly scored the Bulldogs’ final run in the sixth on a sacrifice-fly to centerfield by sophomore Taylor Nutt.

It was a frustrating day offensively for Buchanan, which never advanced a runner past second base the entire game. The Lady Bucks left five baserunners stranded. 

Sophomore Cora Weinberg highlighted Buchanan’s day at the plate with a first-inning double. Senior Caitlyn Horvath blasted a pair of singles, while sophomore Khloe Singelton and freshman Mailey Ely both added base hits for the Lady Bucks. 

Horvath started the game on the mound for Buchanan (28-12) and was charged with the loss. She gave up five runs, six hits and walked one. 

Junior Haylee Legault finished up in the circle for Buchanan, replacing Horvath with no outs in the second. Legault allowed five runs, five hits, six walks and she hit one batter. 

Gillard started for Ravenna and was credited with the victory. The senior hurler gave up two hits and struck out three. Bulldogs’ sophomore Natalie Rosel relieved her and registered seven strikeouts and gave up three hits. 

“Our lineup 1-9 is a very difficult one to pitch to. You never know who is going to come through with a big hit. Our schedule this season was very brutal. We played some very good teams, including a few Division I and Division II schools. Facing those types of programs are going to help us immensely this weekend in terms of the pace of the game and the level of pitching we will face,” said Ravenna head coach Dave Sherman. “When you can hit like we do then get great defense and a solid 1-2 pitching combination it makes you tough to beat.”

Buchanan’s senior class of Horvath, Teyla Coquilard, Cameron Carlson and Julia Prenkert were part of a Buchanan program that compiled a 134-31 record the past four seasons, including four district titles, three regional crowns, three state quarterfinal appearances and one semifinal berth. 

Horvath, an all-state outfielder as a junior, finished a great career, including breaking Buchanan’s school record this season for most hits in a single season. 

“My seniors were incredible. They served as great mentors to the younger kids under them because they understand what it takes to get here. It was incredible for me as a coach to be able to watch them bring this group together,’ Rachel Carlson said.

Buchanan will return eight underclassmen off this year’s squad next season, including four sophomores, one freshman and four juniors. 

“The future is very exciting for Buchanan softball. The new faces we had this season know what it feels like now to get this far. Next time when they get back here they will know what to expect and that brings more winning,” Carlson added.