GRAND HAVEN – Sometimes in softball, all it takes is one swing, and for Reeths-Puffer, that swing came from Abbie Critchett on Sunday.
With the Rockets already leading 1-0 in the top of the third inning, Critchett blasted a three-run home run over the center field wall to extend the lead to 4-0.
That was all the scoring the Rockets would need in a big 5-2 victory over host Grand Haven in a Division 1 district championship game.
The Rockets defeated Muskegon in the district semifinals on Saturday, and the finals were moved to Sunday due to the weather.
The Rockets greet Abbie Critchett at home plate after her three-run homer. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The championship gave R-P at third big trophy of the season, to go with its GMAA city tournament and O-K Green conference championship trophies.
“It was just about seeing the ball,” Critchett said about her mindset during the at-bat. “I knew she has a good rise ball. So I was just taking a deep breath, taking my way through the count and battling. I just wanted to see the pitch and I saw it. It felt really good off the bat.”
The four-run lead that the home run provided was more than enough for R-P pitching ace Lainey McDaniel, who once again dazzled on the mound.
McDaniel finished with a complete game, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out 11 Buccaneers.
“I felt really good,” said McDaniel, who started using her changeup as the game went on to keep the Bucs off balance at the plate. “I had an extra day to prepare and I felt really loose. 
R-P's Tessa Ross drops a bunt. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“That was the plan (using the changeup more later in the game). I think seven innings is a lot of time and they battled through three times, so obviously they’ll start picking up on it (the fastball). The changeup helped keep them off balance and guessing.”
The district title is the first for the Rocket softball program since 2019. It avenged last season, when the Rockets were very good but never got to compete on district weekend because they lost to Mona Shores in a pre-district game.
“It feels really good,” said R-P head coach Sarah Bayle. “It’s been a long time coming. We proved we could do it. I think it makes it more special that we vowed we’d work hard after losing last season. We thought we deserved it and weren’t going to let anyone stop us.”
Reeths-Puffer got on the board in the second inning when a wild pitch from Grand Haven went into the dugout, granting each baserunner two bases. Mady Snyder crossed home plate, giving the Rockets a 1-0 lead.
The Rockets celebrate after receiving the district title trophy. Photo/Jeremy Clark
After Critchett homered in the third, McDaniel came home to score on a Grand Haven error in the fifth, giving Reeths-Puffer a 5-0 lead.
Grand Haven got its two runs on a homer in the final inning.
McDaniel had the best offensive day for Reeths-Puffer, finishing with three hits while Kaylee Jones, Critchett, Snyder and Kyleigh Bilek all had one hit.
Reeths-Puffer is now 33-4-1 and advances to next Saturday’s Division 1 regional tournament at Hudsonville. The Rockets will play Byron Center at 10 a.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game later that afternoon.
“Reeths-Puffer has never won a regional title,” Bayle said. “We hope to make a run at that next weekend. This is our third district title since 2010 and we’ll see what happens.”