By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Sixteen girls make up the 2015 Varsity Softball team for Lake Orion and before anyone stepped onto the field this season they were given a list.
That list was composed of twenty rules drafted by Coach Joe Woityra.
Those rules didn’t involve strategic maneuvers during double plays or outfield coordinations during pop-flies. Rather they detailed a leadership mantra Coach Woityra is putting focus on this season.
With only three seniors on his team making up three-quarters of the captainship, he’s placing high expectation on them and fourth captain Junior Sydney Ross.
The team won the district championship and made it to the regional finals last season. They return a solid team at the plate and in the field.
Shelby Misiak is on pace to surpass a .600 hitting average while Alex Carpenter is close behind at.545. Sophomore pitcher Lexi Aguilar is ready to make a mark in high school with the help of Junior catcher and captain Sydney Ross.
The Dragons and six-year head coach Woityra look to strengthen on last year’s impressive 31-9 record. Behind lead pitchers and Juniors Sierra Gonzales and Shelby Misiak, the team is 6-0 so far giving up only nine runs for a run average of 1.4 per game.
They return a host of varsity players and have a good core of underclassmen who should be able to provide a great amount of depth to the team overall.
‘Our biggest struggle this year will be replacing the senior leadership that graduated last year,? Coach Woityra said. ‘We need to figure out which piece of the puzzle goes where.?
As the puzzle pieces fall into place before league competition begins, the senior captains will be doing some switching around.
Senior Captain Alexandra Carpenter is one of the top players in the county and was an all-state honorable mention last season. She’ll be switching from a utility player to center field. Senior Captain Rachel Dolland, who was all county and all-district, will assume the responsibilities of utility player. All-district and all-league first-baseman Megan Hall returns as senior and captain. She’ll be splitting time between first base and outfield.
‘We’re looking for leadership out of the three seniors,? Woityra said. ‘We’ve been very lucky in the past couple years to have some strong captains and that’s why I expect out of this four.?
The team, which is ranked ninth in the state, started league play Tuesday against Rochester Adams and Thursday against Rochester.
Coach Woityra notes that both the offense and defense has come up big so far this season. As soon as their hitting seems to struggle, they’re pitching and defense is able to hold their opponents in check; only committing three errors in six games.
Their talents will truly be tested and coaches will see where their players? skill sets lie this Saturday, April 25, as Lake Orion hosts a seven team tournament from across the state. Allen Park, Dakota, Fenton, Petoskey, Regina, Stevenson, and Utica will be in attendance and Woityra knows it won’t be an easy tournament.
‘I’d say two-thirds of those teams have won their districts last year so it makes for a strong tournament,? he said.
But aside from actual playing time, Woityra looks to his captains to be mentors and is proud of the teams overall chemistry and acceptance. He’s placed expectations on all of the players to have a studies-first mentality and put the team goals above their personal ones.
‘The captains will have to teach some girls that they’re students first and they have to make the time for homework and studying for tests,? he said. ‘Number one is that they put the team in front of themselves.?
The Dragons took on Rochester Adams at Adams High School in a doubleheader as The Review was going to press.