Perhaps the longest – and least known – winning streak in the Orion area came to end last week when the Orion Hawks lost 7-5 to Waterford.
In the spirit that has marked the team – a love of the game and pride in their team – the Hawks rebounded beat the Clarkston Wolves 28-11 on Thursday and improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Hawks are part of the Adaptive Softball league for person 13 years and older with development disabilities.
“We beat’em bad and that’s the way to go because we lost lake week to Waterford,” said Hawks player Tommy Strauss.
The team plays eight games against area opponents, said Manager Beth Karassy, who’s been helping with the team on and off for 13 years.
So, stretching over the past five seasons, the Hawks amassed an impressive 27-0 record.
The Hawks’ current roster has 25 players, and the team is co-ed with players ranging in age and abilities.
Karassy said the best part of the league is seeing “The joy that you see on their faces, the fun that they have. The kids are all great and fun and we have a really great time.”
First pitch for the Hawks’ final home game of the season is 6:30 p.m. July 13 on field #2 at Orion Twp. Civic Center Park off Joslyn Road.
Orion Twp. and The Daisy Project currently are leading the push to develop an Inclusive Ball Field at Friendship Park that would accommodate players’ needs.
The dugouts at the current ballfield are not wheelchair accessible. The Orion on Deck project would help address such needs. On the web: http://thedaisyprojectmi.com.
– By Jim Newell