Grand Rapids Reporter

Two incoming freshmen at Ferris State University have been recognized as Michigan's top Division 3 softball players. The Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association (MHSSCA) announced that Addison Gillard and Emma Herremans, both from Ravenna, received the 2025 Miss Softball honors. Gillard was named the top pitcher, while Herremans was selected as the best position player.

Both athletes played pivotal roles in leading Ravenna High School to the state semifinals last season and were also named all-state honorees. In total, seven incoming freshmen in Ferris State's 2025 recruiting class earned all-state recognition this year.

Herremans, a third baseman, has an impressive track record, having been named MLive Muskegon Area Player of the Year. She is a four-time all-state selection and three-time regional champion, contributing to four consecutive district championships for Ravenna.

Gillard will strengthen Ferris State's pitching staff. As a right-handed pitcher and multi-sport athlete at Ravenna, she follows her sister Emma Gillard into the Bulldog Softball program.

Under head coach Jake Schumann's leadership, Ferris State reached the NCAA Division II Tournament this past spring for the first time since 2013. The team achieved 28 wins, marking their most successful season in a decade.