Classic repeat: Lansing Catholic fends off Grand Ledge to win Softball Classic

LANSING — Avery Dunneback played a role in helping the Lansing Catholic softball team end a 32-year drought when it captured the title at the Greater Lansing Hall of Fame Softball Classic in 2025. She helped make sure the Cougars didn't have to wait long to once again hoist the championship trophy at the annual tournament. Dunneback had a key home run and helped Division 3 No.

9-ranked Lansing Catholic achieve one of its missions Friday, May 22 when it held off Grand Ledge for a 7-6 win to repeat as the Softball Classic champion. Lansing Catholic became the first repeat champion at the event since Eaton Rapids, which won the four Softball Classics that took place from 2017 to 2021. ' "I'm at a loss for words, I'm not going to lie," Dunneback said.

"I'm really speechless right now. It was just a really great team win against a very good and competitive Grand Ledge team. Winning it one time was hard, but winning it back-to-back — we knew what it took to get it done and we played as a team.

We all fought for each other. One thing about this team is we never give up and we showed that in this game, "They had a lot of momentum towards the end of the game but we stayed within ourselves, stayed composed. I believed in Zoey (Gruber) from the get-go and I knew we were going to come out on top.