Dragons Update.

Written Tuesday May 27th, at 11:30 PM

Upsets Do Happen sadly:

When I look at the end of spring sports, it’s shocking to see that Track and Softball only remain. However when it came to this senior class especially in Baseball, they have had their ups and downs but what happened on Monday it ended up being a pitching duel and I remember having a conversation with Oakland Press MIPrepzone coordinator Keith Dunlap about Lake Orion’s hitting.

“They have the pitching but the hitting is a mystery” he said. Well that lack of hitting ended up costing the Dragons in a shocking 1-0 loss to Waterford Kettering in the pre district at Lake Orion.

The Dragons lose two good pitchers in Brad Schaenzer and Josh Bays. Schaenzer will head to Kentucky while Bays will head to Western Michigan next season.

The game ended up being a pitching duel but the Dragons had their chances, they left the bases loaded in the third inning and had an opportunity in the sixth inning but couldn’t convert. Waterford Kettering found a way to win that game and is moving onto face Clarkston. Lake Orion ended up winning the Red but this season clearly was a disappointment in Dragon standards.

Red Champs reign supreme over Kensington Champs:

When I look at the Lake Orion softball team in their first round pre district game against Waterford Kettering, I seen a team that had won the Red and then exploded in a 12-1 rout of the Kensington Lakes Athletic Association champions but the score was much closer than indicated at Lake Orion.

The Dragons were leading 3-1 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning Lake Orion exploded behind Rachel Dolland, Kayla Knoblock and crew scoring nine runs in that half of the inning sending 13 hitters, putting the game out of reach. The Dragons will move on to the district semifinals and take on Clarkston. The Wolves will be without top hitter and pitcher junior Candace Kitchen whom sprained her ankle and is out for the postseason after she hurt it against Troy Athens. Clarkston however is still a dangerous team and likely Madeline Maday will pitch against the Dragons.

Basketball Division’s Out:

The new divisions for basketball could be a nightmare as if anybody can ask for this winter. When you look at both divisions they will be very tough. The Dragons could be there with anybody come next season.

The boys is loaded when you look at it coming next winter. Lake Orion will be playing in the White but in their division will be teams that will be very good heading into the season. In their division will be Oak Park, Troy, Troy Athens, Pontiac, and Rochester. Oak Park and Troy Athens will have size and experience. Pontiac comes down from the Red but is always talented. Troy is well Troy, Rochester could struggle again this season. This could be a long season in the boys but the division will make them better come playoff time in a district that might have Clarkston and Rochester Adams in it.

The girls could look interesting especially with most of the teams staying in the White, Lake Orion should know. West Bloomfield and Avondale will move down from the Red but Troy, Bloomfield Hills, and Oxford will be in the White along with Lake Orion this upcoming season. The road for the girls maybe well light say easier than the boys road but the girls will be in the division race all season but the league like I said is going to be a good one, I can see four teams in this race all year long.

New Coach but familiar face:

Dragons Volleyball will have a new coach this upcoming fall but a familiar face will be on the bench as well. Tony Scavarda takes over the Varsity program left by Coach Ross Talbott after two successful seasons behind the bench. Scavarda coached the junior varsity last season and will have his work cut out for him after two tough district playoff losses to Clarkston since going to the State Finals in 2011.

The varsity should be talented this season, led by Rachel Giwa and Hannah Murdock, both will be seniors but consistency will be an issue with this team as well as the transition period with Scavarda, all transitions has to happen during the season. The league is interesting this coming fall. I can see the Red being a four team race between the Dragons, Clarkston because of Taylor Dellinger, Bloomfield Hills because of talent, and Birmingham Seaholm because of their experience and good coaching in Heather Lippert.

Cheerleading Update:

The Lake Orion cheerleading team last season had to overcome adversity in going west and eventually going back to the delta plex. Now Nikki De Avla takes over the reins of the team this season from her mother Nancy and as always the cheer program should be very good again this upcoming fall and winter.

Wrestling gets new coach and new division:

After months of competing in the vicious Red the Dragons will move to the White for Wrestling also add the fact that they will have a new coach this winter. Jeff Smart will take over the program for Cory Kuzinci. Kuzinci will be the new wrestling coach at Waldon next winter. Smart coached at Stoney Creek last season, will inherit a pretty good team and also familiarity is also important concerting that he is a football coach in the junior varsity level.

OAA and Media Day:

This will be the first season that the OAA will have a media day. It will take place on August 8th at Rochester High School. The Dragons Den will give you complete coverage of every coaches thought including Dragons Coach Chris Bell.