GREENVILLE Coleman wouldnt be denied this time.

Playing in the Division 4 softball quarterfinals for a third straight year against their postseason nemesis, and overcoming an unexpected venue change, coach Chad Klopfs Comets posted an emphatic 5-0 victory over Holton on Tuesday afternoon at Greenville High School.

The triumph sends Coleman (35-6) to its first semifinal berth since 2005, when the Comets won the state championship. They will play Ottawa Lake Whiteford on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Michigan State Universitys Secchia Stadium. Whiteford beat Unionville-Sebewaing 1-0 on Tuesday.

Im not used to smiling after this one, said a beaming Klopf, whose Comets had lost to Holton in the quarterfinals each of the past two seasons.

He had plenty to smile about this time.

Coleman junior pitcher Faith Barden set the tone for the game by striking out the side in the top of the first, and she finished with a three-hitter and nine strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the Comets solved Holton sophomore pitcher Haylee Brant, who had beaten them last year in the quarterfinals. They had 10 hits, including at least one in every inning but the fourth.

It was our turn, said Coleman junior rightfielder Kalie Weidman. Everyone stepped up, and we played great.

Several dozen Coleman fans lined the fences to watch the game, which was originally scheduled to be played closer to home for the Comets at Saginaw Valley State, but was later moved because Greenville was a shorter drive for Holton and the two teams in the adjacent baseball quarterfinal, Portland St. Patrick and Muskegon Catholic Central, which was also moved from SVSU to Greenville.

The girls had a little chip on their shoulders about that, Klopf said. But if hell froze over, we would play (Holton) on the ice.

Coleman got the scoring started in the bottom of the third when senior Liz Dana hit a leadoff double and took third on Jaden Berthumes one-out single. A walk to Barden loaded the bases, and Autumn Tubbs lined an infield single that went off the gloves of the third-baseman and the shortstop to score Dana and make it 1-0.

A double play kept the Comets from scoring more in that inning, and Brant settled down, keeping Coleman off the board for the next two innings.

The Red Devils got runners to second and third with two outs in the fourth, when Kaylie Piper sent a line drive screaming to rightfield. But Weidman snared the ball to end what turned out to be Holtons best scoring threat.

I saw it going down, and I knew I had to step up, Weidman said of Pipers liner. I had to lunge for it.

Kalie made a huge catch in rightfield and had two big hits, Klopf noted.

Holtons Brant had retired nine of the past 10 hitters until Brianna Townsend drove a triple over the rightfielders head with two outs in the sixth. Weidman followed with a soft single to left to bring in Townsend and make it 2-0.

The Comets then gave Barden a good cushion with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Kenzie Miller reached on an error and scored on a double by Berthume, who took third on the throw home. Berthume then beat a throw home on a fielders choice grounder by Barden. Courtesy runner Annabelle Bovee eventually scored with two outs when Townsend reached on an error, making it 5-0.

Barden allowed a one-out infield single in the bottom of the seventh but retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a popout to finish off the victory and improve to 17-3.

Brant, like Barden, pitched a complete game.

Dana, Colemans only senior, said it was definitely a great feeling to finally beat Holton in the quarterfinals, while adding that her team wasnt intimidated by the Red Devils.

It feels great, she said. There was a little bit of a revenge factor, but we just knew we had to play our best game.

Weve seen pitchers like (Brant) this season, Dana added. We knew we could hit off of her.

Now its on to the final four for Coleman. If the Comets beat Ottawa Lake Whiteford on Friday, they will play the winner of the Kalamazoo Christian/Indian River Inland Lakes semifinal in the championship game on Saturday at 3 p.m.

(I want our players to) have fun, Klopf said. Its the next step. I want them to go down there, enjoy themselves, and keep playing ball.

Its really exciting, Weidman said of advancing to the semifinals. Everyone is pumped and ready for that game.

Dana said the things that define the Coleman team are a feeling of being a family, aggressiveness, and confidence.

We believe in each other, Dana said, adding of Friday, I just hope we play our absolute best game.

The Comets all wore pink ribbons in Tuesdays game in honor of Becky Dennis, who died on Monday after a long battle with illness. She was a paraprofessional at Coleman Elementary School and her daughter, Jordan Dennis, is a good friend of the players on the softball team. They all signed a game ball after Tuesdays win and gave it to Jordan in honor of her mother.

We wanted to dedicate the game to her, Dana said of Becky Dennis. Their whole family will always have a special place in our hearts.

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Third time's a charm for Coleman's softball team, as Comets beat ... - Midland Daily News