LAST DAY IN THE SUN: Girls Play All-Star Softball

GLADSTONE---The Upper Peninsula high school softball season came to an end on Wednesday as 30 graduating seniors from the U.P. played a pair of All-Star games in Gladstone. The South team beat the North squad in both contests, 8-7 and 14-4.

In the first game, the North team rallied from a 6-3 deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning on back-to-back two-run doubles by Marquette's Hannah Bulinski and Negaunee's Madysen Kontio.

And they kept the lead in the sixth inning when Escanaba's Aubree Saunders singled, but Rapid River's Erica Rubick was tagged out at the plate.

But in the top of the seventh inning, Escanaba's Emily Bruntjens drew a leadoff walk. She stole both second and third base, and then scored on a base hit to right field by Norway's Britta Grayvold.

Then with two out, Grayvold scored the go-ahead run when she got purposely got caught in a pickle between third base and home, sliding in safely.

"The coach (Jamie Segorski) asked me before the play if I ever been in a pickle before, I was like, yes, I've been in a pickle," Grayvold said. "So, he was like, 'on the next pitch, get halfway, and if they throw it, just go'. So, I got down halfway, and she threw it back, and I saw it, and I was like 'here we go'. Then I didn't even wait for it. I just went home!"

Escanaba pitcher Katie Ross pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to earn the win.

"It was great," Ross said. "There's a lot of great softball players around the U.P. that I'm getting to play with, and it was a lot of fun. It was nice to just have fun for this last game. There's like no pressure, so it's a lot fun to just relax with these girls and play a fun game."

Despite the loss, Negaunee's Kontio had a blast.

"I think playing with a bunch of different girls kind of gives a good experience in how we all can play together, and the chemistry that we could potentially have during the game," Kontio said. "We can make mistakes and stuff like that, and it's just like playing for fun, so I really enjoyed playing here."

"It's a really great experience," Grayvold added. "We've all been competitors against each other, so for once, we're all teammates. I think that makes it really special."

The second game didn't have as much suspense, as the South won, 14-4.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights, and listen to post-game interviews with Grayvold, Ross, and Kontio.