If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Clarkston softball player Katie Smith repeated a solid season for the Wolves a year after being named honorable mention in All-State voting as a sophomore. Her junior season proved more fruitful. Individually, the right-fielder earned the All-State nod from the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association. Collectively the Wolves won their first district championship since 2004.
Smith, Clarkston’s leadoff hitter batted .382 this season, scoring 40 runs and had 18 RBIs.
‘I was really excited this year, it was a really big honor,? Smith said.
‘I knew I had the capability, it was a matter of hard work.?
‘She’s so confident in herself, Clarkston coach Don Peters said.
‘Having her at leadoff helps the rest of the players (because) they feed off that.
‘Katie’s a smart base-runner and has a sense of where she’s at out there.?
Clarkston freshman slugger Taylor Hasselbach, who batted .546 and belted 63 RBIs as the Wolves? cleanup hitter, was named honorable mention.
‘As the season progressed and I got her statistics, I knew there was a good chance of her getting some (honors),? Peters said.
‘It’s an honor, I’m glad. I’m really happy and I’m looking forward to the years to come,? Hasselbach said.
Becoming a better fielder at third base and more consistent from the plate are off-season goals, Hasselbach said.
Hasselbach credited Clarkston’s top three hitters, Smith, Kara Wandrie and Caitlin Morris with helping her bring in so many runs.
‘It’s good to have people in front of you to have confidence to bring them in. Without them, there would be no RBIs,? she said.
Becoming a better fielder at third base and more consistent from the plate are off-season goals, Hasselbach said.
As a freshman in 2005, Clarkston coach Don Peters saw a chance to increase Smith’s on-base percentage by moving her into a left-handed batter. The move gave her a head start to first base.
‘I never really liked hitting right-handed. I’m glad he had me switch. I love going up to bat. You realize how much more you can stir it up and have more of an impact from the left side,? Smith said.
‘It makes (batters) a triple-threat. They can drag-bunt, slap-hit or hit away. The defense doesn’t know how to position themselves,? Peters said.
Smith’s defensive skills in the outfield were equally important, Peters said. Smith had 10 assists from right field this season.
‘That’s phenomenal for an outfielder,? he said.
Batting at the top of a powerful lineup gave Smith confidence to score runners from the bottom of the lineup and to get on base for those behind her.
‘If one gets on, we all get on. We all did our jobs and followed through,? Smith said.