Gaylord brings home D2 softball state championship in 8-3 win over Vicksburg

EAST LANSING -- Two years ago the Gaylord Blue Devil softball team left the field heartbroken after a 2-1 loss in the state semifinals.

Fast forward to today and that loss is now a distant memory as this Blue Devil team has captured their first softball state championship in program history. An 8-3 win over Vicksburg in the Division 2 title match helped seal the deal on the campus of Michigan State University.

This is just the third team title in Gaylord history to go along with girls cross country in 2007 and a competitive cheer championship in 1994.

Junior Alexis Shepherd's two hits and four RBI helped lead the Blue Devils to Saturday's state title while fellow junior Braleigh Miller chipped in four hits with two runs scored and sophomore Aubrey Jones pitched a complete game only allowing two runs with four strikeouts.

Senior Alexis Kozlowski also provided a two-run homerun in the third inning to start the scoring for Gaylord.