Whiteford will seek a ninth all-time state finals appearance Friday when the Bobcats take on Clare at 10 a.m. in a Division 3 state semifinal softball game.

The game will be played at Secchia Stadium on the Michigan State University campus.

The Bobcats bring a 30-5-1 record into the contest. Clare is 37-5-1.

Whiteford is in the semifinals for the 10th time in school history. They are 8-2 in semifinal games, including wins in 2022 and 2023. The Bobcats last won a state title in 1987 but have knocked on the door several times.

Clare is in uncharted territory.

This is the school’s third trip to the semifinals, but first since 1986. They also reached the semifinal in 1977. The Pioneers have never made the state finals.

During the regular season, the Bobcats played eight district champions and three regional champions.

WHITEFORD TEAM PROFILE
Record/rank: 30-5-1, honorable mention
Coach: Matt VanBrandt, fourth season (139-15-1)
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1987), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Unity Nelson, sr. P/IF (.429, 26 RBI, 18-2 pitching, 0.82 ERA, 260 K/127 2/3); Shaylin Alexander, sr. C/OF (.369, 38 R); Karlei Conard, sr. 1B/P (.418, 11 2B, 28 RBI, 9-3 pitching); Koralynn Billau, soph. 2B (.381, 30 R, 16 SB).
Outlook: Whiteford finished runner-up in Division 3 last season and Division 4 in 2022, and brought back all-state first-teamers Nelson and senior catcher Kaydence Sheldon this spring. The Bobcats have defeated No. 9 Leslie and honorable mentions Clinton and Algonac during this tournament run after navigating a regular-season schedule filled with strong larger opponents – and defeating Division 1 No. 5 Saline and Division 2 No. 9 Trenton and honorable mentions Milan and Carleton Airport among others. Junior Brooklyn Mills (.359, 35 runs) and sophomore Addeson Cousino (.333) bolster the lineup. Nelson will continue at North Dakota.

CLARE TEAM PROFILE

(From MHSAA.com)

Record/rank: 37-5-1, No. 8
Coach: Shane Kelly, third season (87-28-2)
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Alissa Brandon, jr. 2B (.439, 60 R, 14 2B, 38 RBI, 18 SB); Madison Jones, jr. P (.345, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 26-4 pitching, 1.86 ERA, 250 K/188 2/3 IP); Morgan Campbell, jr. 1B (.410, 34 R, 34 RBI); Tessa Kelly, jr. SS (.403, 42 R, 11 HR, 56 RBI).
Outlook: Clare is playing in its first Semifinal since 1986, and with only two seniors may be on the verge of an extended run among the elite. The Pioneers defeated honorable mentions New Lothrop and Standish-Sterling on the way to East Lansing and are on an 11-0-1 run heading into this weekend. Freshman Breez Yarger (.415, 25 RBI) and junior Addison McMillan (.397, 55 runs, 17 doubles, 45 RBI) are also among leading hitters for a lineup averaging .366 overall.