Softball District Preview

Written Saturday May 18th, at 3:10 PM

Next weekend will be interesting for the Lake Orion district. There are four solid teams in the district even though Oxford has had a down season can always be a dangerous threat. This is one of the toughest softball districts in the area as Lake Orion, who won the Red and Clarkston is always tough. Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott are both solid teams.

The Dragons have had a nice season under Coach Joe Woityra. Lake Orion won the OAA Red and features a lineup that is potent and can score runs. The Dragons feature shortstop and pitcher Alicia Gronowski, third baseman Alex Carpenter, left fielder Kennedi Thomas, first baseman Rachel Dolland and catcher Julie Malear. Lake Orion also has depth on its bench led by Hannah Hamay and Megan Hall. Depth could be a huge factor in the postseason for the Dragons.

Clarkston has had an up and down season under Coach Don Peters but it does have a young and talented pitching staff led by sophomores Candace Kitchen and Madeline Maday. The Wolves have some solid hitting led by catcher/third baseman senior Sydney Hasselbach. Hasselbach this season has had 11 home runs to lead the Wolves and is the best player on Clarkston this season.

The Waterford Kettering Captains this season does have a win over Lakeland, who was the best team in the Kensington Lakes North division is solid. The Captains have a very good pitcher in Mackenzie Norton and some solid hitters in Sarah O’Connor, Emma Corgrove, Taylor Steinhelper, and Jordyn Troy. They all have home run power and are solid ball players that have carried Waterford Kettering this season.

The Waterford Mott Corsairs are a very young team but finished tied for second in the Kensington Lakes North Division with their arch rivals Waterford Kettering. Waterford Mott features a lot of players going to major colleges in shortstop Rachel Wayneck, who signed with North Dakota, third baseman Carly Banchiu who signed with Lake Superior State and pitcher Devin Schomeberg who signed with Saginaw Valley State are the team’s top horses. The Corsairs this season has had its top stars coming off surgeries but they have been on solid ground since then and hope to do some damage in the playoffs.

The Oxford Wildcats have gone through a coaching transition as Lindsay Long takes over the program. Oxford does have some versatility in their lineup in Autumn Cervantez (North Dakota State) and Jessica Palumabo (Olivet). The Wildcats have Cheryl Bandas and Skye Donaldson who should help the Wildcats along with Ashley Edgemon who had a great sophomore season. Oxford will go through a coaching transition during the season but should be fully in by the postseason.

Softball Projections:

Pre-District:

Lake Orion vs. Waterford Mott:

The Corsairs are getting their top players back for the pre-district but I think the Dragons have too much depth and hitting to move on and home field will help as well. PICK: LAKE ORION BY 3.

Projected Semifinals:

Clarkston vs. Oxford

Lake Orion vs. Waterford Kettering

Clarkston vs. Oxford:

The Wildcats are versatile and have had a tough season but anything is possible in the playoffs. Clarkston meanwhile has had an up and down season but in this game it will be too much Hasselbach and solid pitching from Kitchen will get the Wolves in the district finals. PICK: CLARKSTON BY 7.

Lake Orion vs. Waterford Kettering

This will be a tough game for the Dragons. The Captains will send Schoemberg to the mound and they have the horses to compete with the Dragons. Lake Orion has depth and a pitcher of it’s own in freshman Sierra Gonzales. If Gonzales pitches well than the Dragons will move on. This will be a close game but home field will benefit Orion in a tight one. PICK: LAKE ORION BY 2.

Projected District Final:

Lake Orion vs. Clarkston

It’s always hard to beat a team three times in a season, Lake Orion won twice at Clarkston. It’s hard to beat Madeline Maday and Candace Kitchen. I think Clarkston will send Maday to the mound and Hasselbach will have a big game. The Wolves will be the well rested team against the Dragons. This will be a wild one Clarkston is still very young and has experience in these types of games but I think this is the Dragons time to shine and rise in this tough district. PICK: LAKE ORION BY 1.