Led by sophmore pitcher, Sandra Rippon and freshman pitcher, Kaitlin Kogut, the JV softball team finished their season with an impressive 36-2 record. Both pitchers finished the season 17-1.
Offensively, they were led by Corinne Listenbee and Mary Ouzounian. Second baseman Katie Farrington and shortstop Angela Carpenter headed up defense.
Coach Dave Wilson said during their first day of practice, back in early March, the girls set a goal to win all three tournaments that we entered and to win over 30 games in the season.
‘They knew we had good pitching and that that goal was not out of the question,? Wilson said. ‘The girls played the game with determination and intensity. They never took their success for granted, each game was a new game and an opportunity to get another win.?
Wilson said he’s proud of the way that the group came together as a team.
‘They competed hard every inning of every game, they worked hard in practice to get better, they were open to instruction and willing to try a different approach and most importantly they had fun,? he said.
The team was routinely praised by the opposing coach for doing the little things well, in particular, baserunning, bunting, and defense, according to Wilson.
Finishing up their winning season, Lady Dragons won all four games at their last tournament of the season, the Lake Orion Dragon Invite, beating Farmington Hills Mercy, 11-3, Birmingham Seaholm, 13-2, Berkley, 15-0 and Sterling Heights Stevenson in the finals, two runs in the bottom of the seventh to get the win.
Key hits in the seventh came from Katlyn Clouse, Corinne Listenbee and Julia Basso.