Hartland’s Kate McIntyre, Pinckney’s CeCe Thorington named softball all-state

McIntyre, who played first base, hit .427 with six home runs and 38 runs batted in. She scored 46 points and hit 13 doubles and three triples.

“First-team all-state two years in a row is hard in any sport, but very hard in softball, as competitive as it is and having such dominant players,” Hartland coach Taylor Wagner said. “She has proven herself as one of the best in the state over the past two years.”

McIntyre was at her best in clutch situations. Her two-run single in the top of the seventh inning gave Hartland a 3-2 lead in a 4-2 win over Lansing Waverly in the regional championship game. She went 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles and five RBIs in regional wins over Kalamazoo Central and Waverly.

“She always seems confused when it comes to nail-biting moments,” Wagner said. “If you ask a coach, that’s the one you want. She came through in the clutch. She learned early in her career that sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t. You just have to stay calm every time up there. She didn’t put too much pressure on herself and was able to pull through in such big situations.”