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Mackinaw City’s Postula named NLC Softball Player of the Year

jared greenleaf, cheboygan daily tribune
·3 min read
Mackinaw City senior Marlie Postula was recently named the Northern Lakes Conference Softball Player of the Year after a terrific senior season.
Mackinaw City senior Marlie Postula was recently named the Northern Lakes Conference Softball Player of the Year after a terrific senior season.

MACKINAW CITY – Marlie Postula had a long and impressive career with the Mackinaw City softball team.

While her high school career is now complete, Postula was recently recognized as the Northern Lakes Conference Player of the Year after leading the Comets both on the mound and at the plate this past season.

As a senior, Postula was dominant on the mound, overpowering opponents throughout the campaign. At the plate, she was once again a top hitter for the Comets, who finished 24-5 overall and 10-2 in the NLC. During her senior season, Postula pitched 135 innings, struck out 206 batters, tossed four no-hitters, and threw a perfect game in a victory over Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy on May 12.

“One thing my husband always says whenever he sees her is, ‘Marlie … smile,’" because that is the other thing about this great player of the year – she has the biggest heart and a smile to match,” said Mackinaw City coach Bianca Thompson.

Joining Postula on the All-NLC first team were fellow seniors Madison Smith and Julia Sullivan. Whether it was in the field or with their bats, Smith and Sullivan shined during their final seasons with the Mackinaw City program.

Mackinaw City senior Madison Smith made the All-NLC softball first team.
Mackinaw City senior Madison Smith made the All-NLC softball first team.

Smith recorded a .564 batting average, homered five times and stole 34 bases, while Sullivan had 19 singles, seven doubles, one triple, one homer and 40 stolen bases.

“All three of these young ladies are going to do great things in their future,” Thompson said of her seniors. “And as for the ladies that are coming up, I can't wait to see what we do in the years to come. All of them have so much talent. We may be a young team, but with the experience that these ladies got this year, it is just going to make them better for the future and make them great leaders. I can't wait to watch them grow. (Until) next season!”

Mackinaw City senior Julia Sullivan joined teammates Marlie Postula and Madison Smith on the All-NLC first team.
Mackinaw City senior Julia Sullivan joined teammates Marlie Postula and Madison Smith on the All-NLC first team.

Postula also earned All-District and NLC all-academic honors, Smith was All-District first base, and Sullivan picked up All-NLC academic honors and the Jack Staffan award from the school, which is voted on by all the varsity coaches.

Comets making up part of the All-NLC second team were junior Gracie Beauchamp and eighth grader Rian Esper. Esper made the All-District team as an infielder and Beauchamp earned NLC academic honors.

Mackinaw City players being recognized as NLC honorable mentions were sophomore Vanessa Groenewoud and eighth grader Kenzlie Currie. Groenewoud also earned a spot on the All-District team as an outfielder.

The Comets finished second in the NLC behind Ellsworth.

The rest of the All-NLC first team consisted of Ellsworth’s Avery Strange and Isabella Essenberg, Harbor Light’s Clare Zielinski and Jade Evoy, Wolverine’s Isabella Hubbard, and Boyne Falls’ Riley Zbacnik.

Earning All-NLC second team honors were Ellsworth’s Jaque Gibson, Julia Sundstrum and Hannah Essenberg, Harbor Light’s Anna Zielinski and Ava Kenwabikise, Boyne Falls’ Lauryn Matelski, and Wolverine’s Haydan Williams.

NLC honorable mentions also went to Ella Pressler (Alanson), Alice Loper (Boyne Falls), Madison Loper (Boyne Falls), Lillian Fenske (Boyne Falls), Annabelle Bartman (Ellsworth), Molly Ogden (Harbor Light), Anne Chamberlin (Harbor Light), Caroline Floyd (Harbor Light), Kallie Cope (Harbor Light), and Ariel Tucker (Burt Lake NMCA).

All-NLC First Team 

Marlie Postula, Mackinaw City (NLC Player of the Year)

Avery Strange, Ellsworth

Madison Smith, Mackinaw City 

Isabella Essenberg, Ellsworth

Clare Zielinski, Harbor Light

Isabella Hubbard, Wolverine

Julia Sullivan, Mackinaw City 

Jade Evoy, Harbor Light

Riley Zbacnik, Boyne Falls

All-NLC Second Team 

Jaque Gibson, Ellsworth

Anna Zielinski, Harbor Light

Lauryn Matelski, Boyne Falls

Julia Sundstrum, Ellsworth

Rian Esper, Mackinaw City  

Gracie Beauchamp, Mackinaw City  

Ava Kenwabikise, Harbor Light

Haydan Williams, Wolverine

Hannah Essenberg, Ellsworth

All-NLC Honorable Mention 

Ella Pressler, Alanson

Alice Loper, Boyne Falls

Madison Loper, Boyne Falls

Lillian Fenske, Boyne Falls

Annabell Bartman, Ellsworth

Molly Ogden, Harbor Light

Anne Chamberlin, Harbor Light

Caroline Floyd, Harbor Light

Kallie Cope, Harbor Light

Lilly Evoy, Harbor Light

Kenzlie Currie, Mackinaw City  

Vanessa Groenewoud, Mackinaw City  

Ariel Tucker, Burt Lake NMCA

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mackinaw City’s Postula named NLC Softball Player of the Year