GRAND RAPIDS Only one outaway, Grand Rapids Community College softball thought it was destined for a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series(NJCAA)last season. Then heartbreak happened for the Raiders, whofailed tohold onto a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning and suffered an 8-7 lossto Lansing Community College in athrilling regional final.VANFLEET SOFTBALL FAMILY: Fueled by family support, VanFleet finishing up excellent Cheboygan softball careerBLASKOWSKI WITH GCU BASEBALL: Cheboygan's Kaleb Blaskowski excelling with Grace Christian baseballLibby VanFleet, a former Cheboygan High School softball star andthen-freshmanon that GRCC team,felt thedevastation on the part ofherself and teammates who thought they had it.One year later, VanFleet and her close Raider teammates got to experience the other side of that, as they returned and finished the job in impressive fashion just recently.Now, VanFleet and GRCC softball will begoingto theupcomingNJCAA Division 2 World Series thefirst appearance for the Raiders since 1998 after capturing a 6-1 victoryover Lake Michigan College ina Great Lakes District B championshipgameat the University of Findlay (Ohio) on Saturday, May 9.Honestly, it was one of the most rewarding feelings that Ive ever had in my softball career, VanFleet said. There was so much buildup to that moment, and just being surrounded by my best friends was one of the best feelings.Itsa good feeling that we finally got what we wanted.With the win, the Raiders head to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where they will participate in the NJCAA World Series, May 19-24.Itsbeen a dominant season for the Raiders, who make their way into the tournament witha 41-8 overall record and a current 11-game winning streak.In two seasons at GRCC, VanFleet has been a huge part of the Raiders success. As afreshman, she saw plenty of time at pitcher and earned all-conference honorable mention accolades. But with the Raiders loaded with talented pitchers, VanFleet decided it was best to make her mark on a new position, which is now left field.While saying goodbye to being a pitcherwas difficult, shesfallen in love with left field, where she earned all-conference honors this season. I think I likeit more than pitching, VanFleet said. (The other outfielders)areall so hard working. Everyone is diving for every single ball.Itsjustgoodto have those people around me because I enjoy it so much.Weretogether all the time at practice. Werekind ofjustin our own world,butitsfun.CHEBOYGAN VS. BOYNE CITY SOFTBALL: Cheboygan softball beaten by Boyne City in crucial conference showdownMACKINAW CITY'S BEN STRITTMATTER: Mackinaw City senior's motto drives success in sports and schoolCARPER FOR INLAND LAKES SOFTBALL: Freshman Azalia Carper an emerging star with Inland Lakes softballOffensively, VanFleet has provided a productive bat for GRCC, hitting .337 with 28 hits, 11 doubles, 19 RBIs and 28 runs scored in 2026. VanFleet, along with her teammates,played their roles in lifting GRCC to a Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) title with a 23-2 league record.Prior to graduating from Cheboygan, VanFleetwasntsure if she wanted to keep playing softball. But with encouragement from her parents, she decided to give GRCC a go.For her,itsone of the best decisionsshesever made.I met so many people that I never would have met if I didnt take this opportunity, and its really allowed me to kind of get out of my comfort zone, and now I have 18 new best friends that Im definitely going to stay in contact with for the rest of my life, VanFleet said. With the World Series approaching,it willbe a dream cometruefor VanFleet, who never imagined she would be playing on the national stage likeshesgoing to be on soon.However, the hard part will be when her GRCC career ends. Whileshescurrently an Aquinas College softball commit,shellalways cherish her time with a GRCC program she loves dearly.Saying goodbye to all these girls,itsgoing to be tough because we work together every single day, and building these relationships is somethingIvebeen so blessed to be a part of, VanFleet said.No. 16 seed GRCC will meet No. 17 Bryant and Stratton College (Wisconsin) in a World Series first-round game at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, with the winner to face top-seeded Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) later in the day.Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf atjgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter@sportsCDTThis article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan's VanFleet finishing solid softball career in Grand Rapids