The University of Detroit Mercy’s softball and pre-dental programs proved to be a winning combination for Brandon senior Jill Perry.
Perry, a pitcher with the Blackhawks? varsity softball program, signed a letter of intent Monday, Nov. 14 at the Brandon High School library to play softball at UDM next season.
Last season, Perry went 11-5 with a 1.38 earned run average and 114 strikeouts, as she shared pitching duties with Jackie Wojtkowicz, who has since graduated from Brandon. The two helped the Blackhawks go 30-10-1 on the 2005 season.
In 2004, Perry went 22-13 with a 1.49 ERA and 243 strikeouts (a Brandon single season record), while in 2003, she went 11-5 with a 1.38 ERA and 114 strikeouts.
Perry said signing with UDM this early, as opposed to waiting to sign in the spring, is an advantage for her.
‘It takes a big load off my back knowing where I’m going,? she said. ‘I don’t have to go out there and impress anybody.?
Brandon varsity softball coach Carl Gabrielson agreed with Perry’s reasoning.
‘The pressure of signing a scholarship is over with,? he said. ‘She’s very satisfied with where she’s going, and now Jill can settle in and concentrate on pitching her senior season, which I think is going to be an excellent one.?
After Gabrielson, Perry and her parents, Stan and Judy Perry of Ortonville, met with UDM softball coach Bob Wilkerson and had a chance to visit the UDM campus, Perry was sold right away on the school.
‘U of D is the one that made the first approach to sign her,? Gabrielson said. ‘He (Wilkerson) wanted her to go there, and she wanted to go there. He realizes she can make a great impact for them as a pitcher.?
Perry also said she was impressed by UDM’s academics as well as their softball program.
‘The coach is a really nice guy, and the school is really great, plus they have a great dental program, and that’s what I want to study,? he said.
For his part, Wilkerson, in his 10th year as the UDM head coach, said Perry’s combination of excellent grades and athletic ability made her a good candidate for the UDM program.
‘We have the number one academic program for softball in Division I, and have been in the top ten for the past seven or eight years,? he said. ‘She wanted to eventually be a dentist and go into the pre-dental program. Once you start recruiting her, you find out she’s a tremendous athlete and all the pieces fell into place.?
The Titans compete among eight teams in the Horizon League for softball. Last year, UDM finished third in the conference tournament and fifth in the regular season.
Wilkerson said he thinks Perry has a shot to contribute right away with the Titans. ‘She has every chance to be in our starting rotation,? he said.
Perry said her family (which includes younger sister Chelsea, 14, a sophomore at BHS) is thrilled with her going to UDM.
‘My mom has lost it completely,? she said. ‘She’s super-excited.?
Stan Perry echoed his daughter’s sentiments, saying he and his family are ‘absolutely ecstatic? about Jill’s signing with UDM.
‘We’re very excited about it, and Jill’s very excited about it, too,? he said. ‘It’s a wonderful program. She’s met the coach and the team. It’s a real good fit for her for education and softball.?
He also said due credit should go to Gabrielson, pitching coach Rick Bescoe and former Brandon coach Don Peters (who has since become the varsity softball coach at Clarkston High School) for developing Perry into the pitcher she is today.
‘They were very instrumental in making this happen,? he said.
Before Jill Perry goes to UDM, though, she still has one more year to go at Brandon, and she would like to make it a big one for her and her teammates.
‘I’d really like to win a regional final,? she said. ‘We’ve went to the regional finals the past two years and lost 1-0 both times.?