Gugala, Northville softball blank rival Salem in KLAA championship

Northville softball coach Scott DeBoer hopes Mary Gugala’s performance in a 6-0 win over Salem in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship on May 20 finally puts the senior pitcher in the first-team all-state conversation. The Wayne State signee went the distance, striking out 10 while allowing four hits and one walk to help the Mustangs three-peat as league champions, which is saying something considering she had only 30 minutes to prepare for the ninth-ranked Rocks. Because of two rainouts this week, the conference semifinals were played before the championship.

Gugala threw 100 pitches in a 4-0 win over Livonia Stevenson, striking out 12 while allowing two hits and one walk before immediately going toe-to-toe with her travel teammate, Shannon McAuliffe, Salem’s Murray State commit and a likely candidate for the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association’s Ms. Softball honor. “Mary has never been given the attention she deserves,” DeBoer said.

“She’s always been one notch lower than the other top girls. But today, she gave up no runs, and I think she cemented herself as a very strong candidate to be an all-state pitcher, and I hope it gets recognized. ” More: College-bound pitchers show why Northville, Salem are KLAA's best in softball The win improved Gugala’s record to 26-2 this spring.

She has four wins over top-10 opponents, including two against the Rocks. The No. 4 Mustangs (28-4-1) split with Salem (28-6) on April 27, leaving the two tied for first in the KLAA-West at 9-1 entering this week’s conference tournament.