BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Two familiar faces are at the helms of the varsity baseball and softball teams this season.
Clarkston High School graduates Katie Smith and Addison Turk have moved from the assistant coach position to head coach.
“I am so honored to be in this role and look forward to sharing my love of the game through coaching,” said Smith, who was an assistant coach for Clarkston for four years.

“It means a lot to me growing up and playing here and now to be head coach,” said Turk. “Clarkston is a special community that really supports athletics.”

Smith played for Wolves Varsity Softball for four years before graduating from Clarkston in 2008. She continued playing at Saginaw Valley State University.
Smith taught and coached at Brandon High School before she started teaching math and English at Clarkston High School.
Turk played for Clarkston Varsity Baseball his sophomore, junior and senior years but missed his sophomore year due to an injury. He also played varsity football for three years.
He graduated from Clarkston in 2004.
Turk started out in the head coach position for the freshman baseball team and was in the position for five years. He was an assistant varsity coach for the last five years before being hired as head varsity coach.
“A few things I’m hoping to bring to the program is competitiveness,” Turk said. “I want us to compete in everything we do. The second is fun, for us as a staff, we want the guys excited about coming to the field every day.”
“My goal for the season, and seasons to come, is to focus on improving who we are as people, students, and athletes,” Smith said. “As a coach, I value a team of competitors with strong character so I will be working towards continuing to establish a culture of high expectations that incorporates unity, athletic and academic success, and a passion for the sport.”
The spring seasons were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic and both coaches are excited to get the teams back on the field.
“I am very excited the girls have an opportunity to play this year,” Smith said. “The girls in our program are amazing. They deserve a fun-filled season.”
“I’m really excited for the guys just to be able to get out and play,” Turk said. “It was so hard on them last year not having a season. You can really feel the excitement and enthusiasm they have to start the season.”
The varsity baseball team opens the season on Thursday, April 8 at Berkley, 4:30 p.m. They head to Walled Lake Northern on Saturday, 10 a.m.
The Wolves home opener is Monday, April 12 against Troy Athens, 4:30 p.m.
The varsity softball team opens their season on Wednesday, April 7 at Fenton at 4:30 p.m.
They host their home opener against Grand Blanc on Monday, April 12, 4:30 p.m. before heading to Stoney Creek on Wednesday, April 14.

  Baseball, new head coaches, softball