
Avery Cipa of Livonia Stevenson set a program record by hitting two inside-the-park home runs in the same inning during a 15-2 victory over Garden City on April 23.
Anyone familiar with Avery Cipaâs story wouldnât be surprised to hear about the program record she set for Livonia Stevenson's softball team during a 15-2 win over Garden City on April 23.
Not once but twice in the same inning, she smacked inside-the-park home runs, belting two fly balls to the fence in right-center and outracing the throws to home plate.
Whatâs more, she did it against two different pitchers.
Since Stevenson (7-2, 4-1) and Garden City (4-7, 4-0) could possibly meet in the Division 1 district tournament, neither team wanted to tip its hand by starting its ace.
Livonia Stevenson's Avery Cipa races home during a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
For Stevenson, backup Brooke Bensaske struck out four while Kennedy Hinkle, a Northwood volleyball commit, also took the circle. Khloe Stevens got the start for the Cougars before the Spartans scored 10 runs in the opening inning, forcing Garden City to bring in regular starter Sydney West, who has signed with Schoolcraft.
Rookie arm or future college star, the pitching switch didnât matter. Cipa still used her speed and athleticism to touch them all the hard way in one inning.
âSome teams know sheâs fast, but some teams donât, and sheâs great when people donât realize her speed,â coach Kevin Hannigan said. âOnce she gets it (a hit) past you, especially on the turf, sheâs always looking to get no less than two bases but sometimes three.â
Cipaâs speed is why Hannigan promoted her to varsity as a freshman, needing a pinch runner who could do damage on the base paths.
She didnât waste that opportunity, nor has she let others slip by since.
As a sophomore, she became a part-time starter, sharing right field with current Henry Ford College player Alayna Crosby.
The following season, after the graduation of All-Kensington Lakes Activities Association selection McKenzie Cook, Hannigan moved Cipa to shortstop, where she continued to grow as a junior.
Avery Cipa set a program record by hitting two inside-the-park home runs in the same inning.
Avery Cipa hit two inside-the-park home runs on April 23 during a game against Garden City.
Livonia Stevenson won the game against Garden City with a score of 15-2.
Neither team wanted to tip its hand by starting its ace, as they could possibly meet in the Division 1 district tournament.

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Livonia Stevenson's Avery Cipa celebrates a home run during a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
âWe inserted her at shortstop because she can cover a lot of ground because sheâs pretty quick and has a really good arm,â Hannigan said. âNow, sheâs our full-time shortstop, and sheâs definitely earned it. Sheâs just continued to look good as sheâs gone along with the process.â
Showing up and doing the work is what has made Cipa so successful, and continuing to do so is also how she motivates her younger teammates.
Stevenson brought up three JV players for the game. Again, some of that had to do with not wanting to give away future game plans should the two teams square off in a district final, but it also had to do with playing 13 games in eight days. Hanniganâs starters will need rest along the way, which they got against the rebuilding Cougars.
He brought in Macey Gorney at shortstop and Aubrey Edwards at first base. He also had Michaela Welch catch for two innings. You can bet Cipa hitting two inside-the-park home runs will inspire those three up-and-comers because Cipa was in their shoes three years ago, and all sheâs done is show steady growth since making her varsity debut.
âIâve just always wanted to show up for my team,â the senior said. âIâve wanted to do whatever I can to help, so I just show as much hustle as I can and try to be a good influence for the younger players, showing them it can actually be done.â
âItâ being an underclassman capable of contributing as a role player until becoming irreplaceable by the time youâre a senior starter.
Livonia Stevenson's Brooke Benaske pitches during a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
âIâm just trying to work hard and show as much work ethic as I can,â Cipa added. âI want to be a good influence on my team and show that if you have a passion for the game, anything can really happen here.â
Stevensonâs goals are to beat rivals Churchill, Clarenceville and Franklin for the city championship, compete for a KLAA title in its final season in the league and win its first district championship since 2022.
Should the Spartans achieve any of those goals, itâs safe to say Cipaâs hard work will have had something to do with it.
âSheâs definitely earned everything sheâs ever gotten,â Hannigan said.
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Livonia Stevenson softball beats Garden City, 15-2