By Sean Budlong
The Schoolcraft softball team earned the SAC Valley championship with a 12-0 league record. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 23-9 record and good momentum heading into District play.
Schoolcraft is a deep, talented team that can earn victories in many different ways. The Eagles’ success begins on the mound and on defense. Adrienne Rosey, Mikayla Mead, and Nicole Abel give Schoolcraft three outstanding pitching options. The infield defense of Lydia Goble, Kennedy Leighton, Katie Parker, and Abel forces opponents to play long ball just to generate base runners.
Offensively, the Eagles have the ability to create runs one base at a time, or with a single swing of the bat. Parker and Goble have proven power to clear the fences. Just keeping the ball inside the park doesn’t mean they can’t score, as they have multiple inside-the-park home runs as well as regular multi-extra base hit games. Brooke Crissman, Leighton, Megan West, Rosey, Mead and Abel all contribute with either key hits to the outfield gaps, or by using speed to move around the bases playing small ball.
Schoolcraft made it to the regional finals last season, and will start working to win it all on June 3. The Eagles have a first round bye, and will face either Parchment or Constantine in the district semi finals.