FLINT – Nothing is more conducive to success on the high school softball field than a dominant pitcher.
Grand Blanc had one of the best in Michigan during its run to the 2006 Division 1 state semifinals.
Elizabeth Milian racked up a 26-5 record, had a 0.20 earned run average, pitched 16 shutouts and struck out 309 in 209 innings as the Bobcats won the first regional softball championship in school history after capturing their first district title since 1981.
Unfortunately for Milian and her teammates, the dream season came to a heartbreaking end in the semifinals after they lost 1-0 in nine innings to Harper Woods Regina, which went to win the third of four straight state titles.
It took a genuine dynasty to eliminate the Bobcats and that’s a big reason they’re our No. 1 softball team in the Flint area since 2000.
“To have this group of girls go this far, it’s like a Cinderella ride,” Grand Blanc co-coach Mike Hobson said after the loss to Regina. “It just got better every game we played, especially to see the bonding the girls do. You start out the beginning of the year and everybody’s kind of feeling each other out. At the end of the year, they were like sisters.
"It’s just awesome. They’re all family.”
Milian, who went on to pitch at Ball State, echoed her coach’s comments.
"We just have a great group of girls this year," she said. "Our defense is phenomenal and our offense is hitting the ball. I think the big difference is the bond with the girls. We all get along together, and it's just hard to beat when you're like that."
Brad Hester, the Bobcats’ other co-coach in 2006, remembers that his team came within an inch of scoring the run that would have sent them to the state finals.
“We had a runner at third base with one out and Lexie Hoffmyer hit a line shot down the left-field line that was foul by about a quarter of an inch,” Hester said. “It was foul. That would have won it for us. That was probably in the fifth or sixth inning. We would have won it in seven innings.
“That was by far the best team I’ve ever coached. They were all kids that wanted to play softball and wanted to be the best they could be. They were the kind of kids who would call me on Saturday and make me come up and throw batting practice for hours.
“Probably the hardest-working kids I had. Lexie Hoffman went on to play hockey in college and Elizabeth Milian went on to play at Ball State. Just a lot of good ballplayers on that team.”
After the historic season, Milian became just the second Grand Blanc softball player to be named All-State, joining her older sister Rebekah in earning that honor. She was also the first pitcher to make the All-Big Nine Conference first team four times.
During the tournament, Milian pitched 15 straight shutout innings in the final round before Regina finally scored the run that sent the Saddlelites to the state championship game.
But Milian was more than just Grand Blanc’s ace pitcher in 2006.
She was also Grand Blanc’s best hitter, batting .477 with five home runs and 35 RBIs. For her career, Milian finished with a 78-14 record, an 0.39 ERA, 43 shutouts and 811 strikeouts in 632.1 innings.
“She was a great little pitcher,” Hester said. “She was an excellent hitter, too.”
For her career, Milian batted .475 with seven homers, 58 doubles, nine triples and 118 RBIs. Her 58 doubles are tied for 19th in MHSAA history.
"Elizabeth is one of those players that is a coach's dream," Hobson said. "She is an exceptional player, a complete package. Not only is she one of the top pitchers in the state, but she is also an offensive threat with her bat. She is one of those players who comes along only once in a great while."
To reach the semifinals, Grand Blanc beat Flushing 2-1 and Traverse City West 5-3 to win the regional before knocking off Hudsonville 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
Against Hudsonville, Milian scattered four hits and struck out 12, including three straight to kill a potential rally in the fourth inning.
"This team is absolutely amazing," Milian said after the win over Hudsonville. "We have such a great bond. Our offense is putting runs on the board and our defense is absolutely solid this year. It's well-deserved this year; this team deserves to go this far."
Grand Blanc was No. 5 in the final 2006 rankings, three spots behind Fenton, which also bowed out in the semifinals. Had both teams won their semifinal game, it would have created an all-Flint-area final.
Two of Grand Blanc’s losses in its 27-8 record were vs. Flushing.
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