Each season, high school sports teams are forced to deal with the graduation of a few key players of the previous year’s team.
But Coach Denny Davis and the Lake Orion softball team will have to deal with the loss of eight key seniors, a list that included seven starters, four four-year starters, two All-State players and a handful of college players.
‘We’re a little inexperienced,? Davis said. ‘But the term ‘rebuilding? is an excuse for failure.?
As such, the coach said the goal for his defending OAA I champions will be the same as it is every year.
‘We’re still going to try to win our league,? he said. ‘We’re getting better every practice.?
Returning starters and seniors Sasha Perryman and Amber Agro will be called on to supply power in the middle of Davis? lineup.
The coach said that how the rest of his lineup shakes out before league play gets underway remains to be seen.
‘We’ve got some exceptional speed,? Davis said, praising the quickness of outfielders Mary Rogers (a junior) and Rachel Traurig (a senior).
‘It’s going to be a year where we’re going to have to manufacture some runs,? he added. ‘It’s going to be exciting.?
Danielle Dunn returns to the mound for the Dragons after setting a school record with 27 wins last season as a freshman.
‘She throws about six different pitches, but doesn’t throw particularly fast,? Davis noted.
Davis said that fact will make his team’s defensive abilities (a strength last season) a key for success again this year.
Sophomore Shelby Phillips will handle most of the catching duties, with Perryman filling in there as well.
The infield is entirely new, with freshman Jessica Bays slated to play first base. Shawmee Davey and Susan Lawless (both juniors) will each see time at second base, but both are new to the position.
Senior Chelsea Bierschbach will see the majority of time at third base, after spending most of her career pitching and playing shortstop. Junior Rachel Warren, meanwhile, will slide over from third base to become the primary shortstop.
‘She has been outstanding this spring,? Davis said of Warren, noting that she has the strongest arm of all of the infielders.
Chelsea Hill, a returning senior with varsity experience, will join Agro in the outfield, with Traurig, Warren and a slew of others in the mix.
‘If our defense plays well, we’ll be a good team,? Davis said.
The coach credited his assistants, Bob Howey and Joe Woityra, with playing a key role in the development of the young team.
‘In the past we’ve always had a handful of returning starters,? Davis said. ‘We don’t have that luxury now.?
As a result, Davis said the constant competition for playing time this spring has brought out the best in many of his players.
‘It might be the hardest working team I’ve ever had,? he said.
Davis said it is tough to predict how the OAA I will unfold, as many teams in the league have lost key players.
‘Really, this is the first year that it could be a battle between five or six teams,? he said.
‘It’s hard to tell,? he added. ‘I don’t think there is any real favorite.?
Davis added that he reminded his squad that they were not the favorites last year, but that mattered little in the end.