The Clarkston varsity softball team lost more than a chance at a state title last weekend. They lost eight seniors who helped lead what coach Al Land called the hardest working group he’s ever had.
Clarkston’s best season in Land’s 13 years as head coach ended June 19 in Battle Creek at the hands of Portage Northern. The Wolves fell 5-4 after allowing an early 4-0 lead to slip away. Portage Northern plays what Land called a bunting and slapping type of offense with very fast base running. He credited Portage as being the fastest team he had seen all year.
‘We had practiced against their offense, but it’s not the same as facing it in a game. We had one bad inning. It was one of those games where momentum swung back and forth all day,? he said.
The Wolves enjoyed an early 3-0 lead after the first inning.
‘I was happy with the way our kids came right out and established themselves,? Land said.
However, the lead disappeared in the fifth inning.
‘We made the plays in the fifth inning, but we just didn’t make them fast enough,? Land said.
Land said a mistake by shortstop Caitlin McLean helped Portage cut the Clarkston lead in half. Portage was able to load the bases with only one out with the score being 4-2 and then pitcher Kelly Robinson, who had pitched some of her best games throughout Clarkston’s playoff run, walked consecutive batters to tie the game at four.
Land then pulled Robinson in favor of senior Sarah McGinnis, who had not seen action on the mound since the regular season when she beat Lake Orion, and McGinnis hit the first batter she faced, giving Portage a fifth run, the last one they would need.
Clarkston had a chance to rally in the seventh, Land said, when Heather Giroux had a leadoff single, but Laura O’Neill, who was batting at the number two spot due to a lineup change, struck out. Suzie Giroux then popped out and Heather Giroux was picked off, resulting in a double play.
O’Neill was at the number two spot because Land had to do some lineup shifting due to the absence of Katy Kleinedler, who was unable to play due to a family matter. That put Katie Jorgenson at third, instead of her usual first base position, and then put Courtney Bollman at first. Bollman had played first some earlier in Clarkston’s playoff run.
‘I don’t think our changes made a difference in the outcome of the game,? Land said. ‘Our defense at the corners was good. The big thing was that number two spot in the lineup. Katy had been batting really well there and Laura usually can get the bunt down, but she might have had some butterflies,? Land said.
‘I was proud that we didn’t quit until the final inning was done,? Land said. ‘You can’t fault the effort. As long as there’s a solid effort there’s a chance to win.?
This marked the first time in Clarkston school history the Wolves have made the state semifinals, Land said. The 1984 team made it to the quarterfinals. This year’s club finished only third in the OAA I, but managed an overall record of 23-13. The Wolves have won as many as 32 games under Land and 25 on a few other occasions. However, Clarkston’s win total this year does not accurately reveal the quality of the club. Nine tournament games were missed due to rain, Land said, which could have put the Wolves into the 30-win total.
The Wolves will lose eight seniors, several of which have won a district the last four years. Graduating seniors from this year’s team include Bollman, Heather and Suzie Giroux, McGinnis, McLean, Laura and Amy O’Neill and Robinson. Land knows next year he’ll have to rebuild with such a heavy loss, but what this senior group leaves behind won’t soon be forgotten, he said.
‘I just told them (after the game) that I’ve been around the game a long time and it’s important to have a lot of class, so nobody left that field hanging there head or anything like that. That senior class was all business. As any spring coach will tell you, there a lo of distractions for those kids, but practice or games rolled around, they were all business,? he said.
‘By far, this was the best team I’ve ever been around. As far as a team setting a goal, and then going after it, it made this the most enjoyable year I’ve ever had at Clarkston,? Land said.
The Wolves will have an uphill challenge next year, but will return two infielders that started this year in Amber Giroux and Kleinedler. Trisha Martens saw time at both DH and outfield and Meghan Bonk, although hobbled with injuries this year, saw time in the outfield as well. Jorgenson will also return and did a solid job at first base all year for Clarkston.
However, the jump from JV to varsity is a big one, and Land knows his incoming players will have a big adjustment to make, and they’ll have to make it in a hurry.
‘The speed and the intensity is on a whole new level at varsity. Not many kids jump right in there and enjoy the ride right away. We’ll have some good athletes, but I know they’ll have to adjust. But, the good thing is, with all those young kids coming in, you know they’ll play together for a while and hopefully, down the road, they’ll come together to be a pretty decent club,? he said.
All seasons have ups and downs and sometimes teams can become complacent with where they’re at during the season, but that was not the case with this year’s club.
‘We never spun our wheels all season,? he said. ‘We were always climbing the ladder and for me, it made for a very exciting season.?