BY CHRIS OGRYSKI
Editor
After winning back-to-back D3 state titles, expectations were high for another amazing season for the USA softball team. While the regular season was another successful campaign, there were a few hiccups along the way, including a pair of losses to Reese, which cost the Patriots a shot at the GTW title.
But for those that thought the lack of a league title meant the end of USA’s extended post-season runs, think again…the rumors of the Patriot’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Last Friday, USA got back on track, as they knocked off Reese 9-3 and Cass City 15-0 to win the D3 district title at Bad Axe.
Against the Rockets, USA trailed Reese 1-0 after the first, but rallied to tie the game on in the fourth on a solo shot from Carly Treiber. In the fifth, the Patriots took the lead, as Kiersten McBrayer led off the inning with a triple and scored on a bang-bang play at the plate, after a knock from Estay Ruppal that didn’t clear the pitcher’s mound.
But things didn’t really turn around until the fifth, when Katie Schaus sparked the offense with a three-run homer as part of a seven run rally. Schaus’s three run blast ignited USA, as they went on to outscore the opposition 22-0 from that point on.
“Katie Schaus has been getting big hits for us all year,” coach Larry Houthoofd said.
He explained, “Down at Detroit-Mercy when we played Ida, she had a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to tie that game. She is a warrior; she just knows how to hit the ball and she is one of the best hitters on the team.”
Following Schaus’s drive, Treiber and Dani Gremel added a pair of RBI hits, before Marissa Lemere chipped in with a two run shot. Against the Red Hawks, USA got three more round trippers as Gremel homered twice and Treiber put another over the fence to spark the Patriot offense.
Of the home run barrage, Houthoofd said, “I hate to live on home runs, but it is nice when they come; especially when they are timely.”
On the mound, Lemere, who threw a four-hitter in the semis, no-hit Cass City in the championship game. “As the season goes on, she gets really strong and she is at the top of her game right now,” Houthoofd said. “Her drop ball is really moving (at this point).”
Overall, Houthoofd is happy with how the team seemed to “flip the switch” on Friday and elevate their game to a whole other level.
“This team has been up and down all year,” he admitted.
“I don’t know, maybe some of these kids are bored a little because of all the success they’ve had. I hope that is not what is happening, but I don’t know,” Houthoofd explained. “We (the coaching staff) haven’t been able to put our finger on it this year; we’ve been a little frustrated at times with the way they’ve played.”
He added, “It’s not like a water faucet where you just turn it on, I keep telling them that, but maybe they can.”
USA advances to the D3 regionals at Reese this Saturday.
Editor
After winning back-to-back D3 state titles, expectations were high for another amazing season for the USA softball team. While the regular season was another successful campaign, there were a few hiccups along the way, including a pair of losses to Reese, which cost the Patriots a shot at the GTW title.
But for those that thought the lack of a league title meant the end of USA’s extended post-season runs, think again…the rumors of the Patriot’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Last Friday, USA got back on track, as they knocked off Reese 9-3 and Cass City 15-0 to win the D3 district title at Bad Axe.
Against the Rockets, USA trailed Reese 1-0 after the first, but rallied to tie the game on in the fourth on a solo shot from Carly Treiber. In the fifth, the Patriots took the lead, as Kiersten McBrayer led off the inning with a triple and scored on a bang-bang play at the plate, after a knock from Estay Ruppal that didn’t clear the pitcher’s mound.
But things didn’t really turn around until the fifth, when Katie Schaus sparked the offense with a three-run homer as part of a seven run rally. Schaus’s three run blast ignited USA, as they went on to outscore the opposition 22-0 from that point on.
“Katie Schaus has been getting big hits for us all year,” coach Larry Houthoofd said.
He explained, “Down at Detroit-Mercy when we played Ida, she had a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to tie that game. She is a warrior; she just knows how to hit the ball and she is one of the best hitters on the team.”
Following Schaus’s drive, Treiber and Dani Gremel added a pair of RBI hits, before Marissa Lemere chipped in with a two run shot. Against the Red Hawks, USA got three more round trippers as Gremel homered twice and Treiber put another over the fence to spark the Patriot offense.
Of the home run barrage, Houthoofd said, “I hate to live on home runs, but it is nice when they come; especially when they are timely.”
On the mound, Lemere, who threw a four-hitter in the semis, no-hit Cass City in the championship game. “As the season goes on, she gets really strong and she is at the top of her game right now,” Houthoofd said. “Her drop ball is really moving (at this point).”
Overall, Houthoofd is happy with how the team seemed to “flip the switch” on Friday and elevate their game to a whole other level.
“This team has been up and down all year,” he admitted.
“I don’t know, maybe some of these kids are bored a little because of all the success they’ve had. I hope that is not what is happening, but I don’t know,” Houthoofd explained. “We (the coaching staff) haven’t been able to put our finger on it this year; we’ve been a little frustrated at times with the way they’ve played.”
He added, “It’s not like a water faucet where you just turn it on, I keep telling them that, but maybe they can.”
USA advances to the D3 regionals at Reese this Saturday.
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