Brooklyn Pendergraft (front row, middle) signs her letter of intent with Bay College softball while surrounded by teammates on July 29, 2025 at Gladstone High School. Front row (from left to right): Scott Herioux, Brooklyn Pendergraft, Rick Pepin. Back row (left to right) Maddy Sundquist, Tiahna Reynolds, Lauren Pare, Molly Matthews, Malia Quigley, Alli Larson, Tia Schone, Lauren Sundquist. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — After helping Gladstone softball reach three state quarterfinal games during her tenure, Brooklyn Pendergraft put pen to paper for her next step.

Pendergraft inked her letter of intent to play softball at Bay College on Tuesday afternoon.

“I feel really good about it. I feel like I’m making the right decision,” Pendergraft said. “If I look back the next few years I’m going to regret not playing when I had the opportunity to play.”

Outside of softball, Pendergraft plans to study to become an MRI technician.

“It’s a really competitive program at Bay,” Pendergraft said. “I decided to push myself and try for it.”

Pendergraft, who graduated from Escanaba Holy Name, was known for her stellar defense at first base, serving as an infield anchor in the Braves’ infield.

She finished her senior season committing a mere four errors and boasted a perfect fielding percentage in postseason play.

“It’s satisfying because she was a kid that had to work for it,” Braves coach Scott Herioux said of Pendergraft’s signing. “She’s spent a lot of time developing her craft over the years. She’s gotten to be a very good player. She’ll fit in perfectly at Bay. The more kids that we get that come through our program and aspire to compete at a higher level is a big deal for us.

“We’re just super proud of her.”

Pendergraft is the latest Gladstone player to join the college ranks. Fellow seniors Lauren Sundquist and Tia Schone will take their talents to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Grand Rapid Community College, respectively. She joins 2024 graduate Montgomery Pepin, who played last season at Wayne State University, to join the college ranks.

Pendergraft also walks the path that has produced college softball talent while remaining in Delta County. Rylee Gerow and Joelle Jordan, who will enter their sophomore campaigns in the 2026 season, and Alaina Martinez, who completed her two-year stint with the Norse this season, also kept their talents in Delta County.

“She’s earned the right to do that,” said Rick Pepin, former Braves head coach. “She’s worked hard. She’s humble, she’s coachable and she’s never taken any shortcuts. This is well deserved.”