May 10, 2025, MARYSVILLE, MI - The Grand Rapids Community College softball team wrapped up a historic 2025 season with a strong showing at the NJCAA Region XII tournament, finishing as runners-up Saturday after defeating Alpena Community College 8-2 and falling in a dramatic championship game to Lansing Community College, 7-6.

In the opening game, GRCC found themselves trailing briefly but roared back behind a powerful offensive showing. Grace Chisek launched a solo home run in the first inning — the first of three on the day — to give the Raiders an early lead. Alpena answered in the third with a home run and a steal of home to go ahead 2-1, but GRCC wasted no time reclaiming control. The Raiders exploded for three runs on five hits in the bottom of the inning and never looked back.

GRCC put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Chisek and RBI singles from Maddie Miller and Violet McWhinnie. In the circle, Kalani Stowe improved to 18-1 with four strong innings and six strikeouts. Natalee Beck closed the door with three hitless innings to earn her second save. Offensively, Chisek went 3-for-4 with three RBI and was a triple shy of the cycle, while Beck, McWhinnie, Miller, and Lauren Wiley each tallied two hits.

The win set up a thrilling rematch with top-seeded Lansing CC in the championship game.

The Stars struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but GRCC responded in the second. After three straight walks loaded the bases, pitcher Lilly Klop delivered a clutch bases-clearing single for GRCC's first hit and a 3-1 lead. Chisek continued her dominant day with a two-run homer in the third to extend the lead to 5-2.

Lansing refused to go quietly, clawing back to tie the game at 6-6 entering the seventh. Chisek, once again, came through in the clutch with her third home run of the day to give GRCC a 7-6 lead. But in the bottom of the inning, Lansing's Audrey Hillard delivered a walk-off double with two outs and two strikes to clinch the regional title and send the Stars to nationals.

Chisek finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside teammates Beck and Klop. Chisek led GRCC throughout the regional with a .583 batting average (7-for-12), three home runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases.

Despite the loss, the Raiders' season was one of the best in program history. GRCC set multiple team records, including 39 wins (39-6 overall), 164 stolen bases, and a team batting average nearing .400. The Raiders also claimed their second conference title in three years and are currently under consideration for one of four NJCAA at-large bids for the national tournament.

Stay tuned in the coming days for updates on GRCC's national tournament fate, as well as the announcement of postseason conference awards.

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.