Clarkston’s lineup on the softball diamond has stayed fresh this season, carrying four ninth-graders on a 15-girl roster. Freshmen Taylor Hasselbach and Bailee Braunreuther have helped propel the Wolves to their first district championship in three years offensively and defensively.
Braunreuther has developed into the team’s go-to pitcher with a 12-3 record and a 1.84 ERA and 101 strikeouts. She also had a 27-inning stretch when opponents went scoreless against her, and an ERA less than one run in the second half of the season.
Braunreuther hadn’t thrown a softball in six months leading up to the season and was expected to join the girls track team after a successful stint with Clarkston’s cross country program in the fall.
‘I knew she was good, but she’s exceeded expectations for her freshman year,? Clarkston coach Don Peters said.
Braunreuther had shown signs of being a great pitcher early in the season. She became more consistent after throwing a shutout in the first game of a doubleheader against Waterford Kettering May 10 and working out of a jam in relief during the second game. Peters said he’s unsure if the hurler even reacts to the pressure of a tough situation.
‘I don’t even know if she thinks about it,? he said.
Bailee credits her years of experience with her ability to stay calm.
‘I have to think one out at a time,? she said.
Peters had an early warning of Braunreuther’s talent after filling in for his daughter as coach on a 10-and-under team.
‘I casually kept an eye on her because I had coached her,? Peters said.
Hasselbach, the team’s third baseman, has been a dynamo from the plate since the season began. Teammates and coaches got an early idea of Hasselbach’s talent in the season-opener against Sterling Heights Stevenson, when she hit the ball to the top of the fence.
Hasselbach later had two long triples against rival Lake Orion, finishing the season with seven total. She would finish with three home runs for the season, but those aren’t her most impressive statistics.
Hasselbach’s .555 batting average and 63 RBI total have drawn compliments like, ‘Whoa,? and ‘Phenomenal,? from her coach.
‘After the first few games I could see she was going to be a consistent hitter,? Peters said.
In his more than 20 years of softball coaching, Peters has had few .500 hitters and nobody with an RBI total higher than the low-50s.
‘She’s got a really smooth, sweet swing,? Peters said.
Hasselbach’s mark could be a team record, said Peters, the team’s coach since 2005.
‘I’m not looking for any records. I want to play hard and win districts, regionals and state championships,? Hasselbach said.
Hasselbach has had good opportunities as the team’s cleanup hitter behind Katie Smith, Kara Wandrie, and Jenny Jochum, who routinely get on base ahead of the slugger.
‘I feel very confident as a coach that when she gets up there, she’s going to make something happen,? Peters said.
Braunreuther, 14, got her start at age 7 playing for the Brandon Northstars. She has always been a pitcher and most recently played for the Michigan Outlaws travel team.
Although she realizes she will likely end up behind teammates in the fall when cross country begins, she’s glad to be back on the diamond.
‘I realized how much I missed the sport,? she said.
‘Sometimes you get overwhelmed if you go year-round (running) and this helps with injuries.?
Braunreuther throws four pitches: an in-shoot, which she said is similar to a screwball; fastball, change-up; and drop-ball.
Hasselbach, 15, got her start playing tee ball and progressed to play softball through parks and recreation programs. She began playing travel softball at 11 years old and now plays for the Oakland Sidewinders in the summer.
Taylor played junior varsity basketball for Clarkston last fall and she plays in the summer for the Michigan Shock out of Lake Orion. Practicing every day doesn’t strain her, she said.
‘I enjoy it. I like competition, the girls and having fun every time I step on the diamond,? Hasselbach said.
Hasselbach has been adjusting to hitting off high school pitchers.
‘It’s different from travel (softball), but it’s an easy change to make,? she said.
Defensively, Taylor has shifted further to the edge of the diamond, taking on third base this season after playing shortstop all throughout her career.
Peters has said on multiple occasions he’s glad the pair will be back for three more years and so should Clarkston fans. After making it to the regional playoffs this season, winning a state championship is next in queue.