Danielle Dunn might look like a freshman, but her pitches don’t. Just ask Clarkston.
Dunn used a variety of pitches in giving up just two earned runs over 14 innings of work as the Dragons upended Clarkston 1-0 and 6-3 at home on May 3.
She’s got six different pitches and a lot of composure for being a freshman,? said coach Denny Davis
Dunn, one of just two starters for the Dragons that won’t be graduating this spring, said changing pitch speeds and locations have been the keys to her success all season. Her earned run average, according to Davis, is under one.
Dunn credited the defense behind her for helping ease her transition to the high school game.
‘I love playing with my teammates,? she said.
Clarkston coach Don Peters gave the freshman pitcher due credit, but was also impressed with the Dragon defense.
?(Dunn) has a mature defense behind her and it helps,? he said. ‘Their third baseman (Kristin Larsen) made some unbelievable plays.?
Larsen accounted for the only run of game one, hitting a leadoff triple in the fourth inning and scoring on an RBI groundout from Amber Agro.
The play on both sides in game two was a bit sloppier, but the Dragons got out to a big lead and held off Clarkston down the stretch.
After getting just a pair of hits in the first game, the Dragon bats woke up to score two in the second inning and three more in the third.
Clarkston brought the game as close as 5-3 in the fifth, but the Dragons added a run in the sixth to account for the final margin.
The two wins improved the Dragons league record to 5-1 and 10-2 overall as they headed into the Michigan Stars tournament at Liberty Park in Sterling Heights on May 6.
The tournament featured 48 teams split into six pools of eight. It was organized by Peters, who said his goal was to match-up teams that don’t usually get a chance to play against one another.
After falling 8-0 to then undefeated Lakeland, the Dragons were probably glad that they don’t play Lakeland that often.
Coming in as the state’s top ranked team in Division I, Lakeland jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, cruising to victory in the five inning contest.
Dunn gave up eight hits while striking out two for the Dragons and Agro delivered LO’s only hit, a single in the fourth inning.
Regina ultimately took home the championship.
The Dragons, meanwhile, return to league action at Troy in a doubleheader on May 10 and will play in the Pieper Tournament over the weekend.