MCE still strong in softball despite bad break
CUSTER- This has the markings of a special year for Mason County Eastern's softball team.
Granted, graduation claimed two-time all-state catcher Brandi Cole and outfielder Jess Shirey.
"Those are the only two we lost," says Eastern coach Bill Cole, whose team is brimming with hard hitters and solid pitching.
"A lot of people we play lost six, seven, eight players. We only have to replace two so that's not too bad," Cole adds.
There is the slight problem of the pitching. Melanie Stickney, an all-state honorable mention last year, was the team's ace but she broke both bones in her non-throwing arm during Eastern's first practice out-of-doors.
"It's one of those deals where you have to practice the way you play the ball game and that's the way Mel plays," says Cole. "She gives you everything when she's practicing or playing in a game. It's just an unfortunate turn of events. I like to think it could end up being a blessing."
Junior Kara Bryan will shoulder the load in Stickney's absence, which is expected to be four to six weeks, according to Cole.
"Kara's a quality pitcher. She just lacks self confidence," says Cole. "She has speed. She throws as hard, if not harder, than Mel."
Bryan reminds Cole of his daughter, Jeanne, a two-time all - stater who pitched Eastern to its lone state championship in 2001.
"She's wild but effective wild," says Cole. "I'm comfortable with Kara pitching. I just need Kara to be comfortable with Kara pitching."
Nikki Kolean will also do some pitching.
Eastern's roster:
SENIORS: Mel Stickney, Heather Salmon and Erica Knizacky.
JUNIORS: Jessica Bruesch, Crisha Barrett, Kara Bryan, Kerri Keilman and Courtney Harris.
SOPHOMORES: Nikki Kolean, Jess Budzynski, Stephany Eichmeier, Jenny Segelstrom, Janyl Porter and Samantha Hutchings.
FRESHMEN: Sarah Luce and Allie Kessel.
Because of its talent, depth and tradition, Eastern can probably weather the loss of Stickney. Entering his eighth year as Eastern's coach, Cole has led the Cardinals to seven straight Western Michigan D League championships, seven straight district titles and four regional crowns, the aforementioned state title in 2001 and a state runner up finish in 2000.
Cole starts the season with a record of 203 wins and 50 losses. He is six wins away from matching Jim Jackoviak's school record of 209 victories.
Despite having seven of nine starters back, finding a catcher has thrown the whole lineup into a tizzy.
Bruesch, Barrett and Eichmeier are vying for the backstop position.
"Depending on who's catching will determine where everybody else plays," says Cole.
At first base, Bruesch is the incumbent. If she catches, then Keilman or Budzynski will play first.
At second, Budzynski was last year's starter. She's backed by Barrett and Kessel.
Harris has the shortstop job sewed up and Kessel could see action there, too, and Salmon returns at third base.
In the outfield, Kolean gets the nod in center when she's not pitching, Eichmeier will start in right if she's not catching and Luce, Knizacky or Keilman are vying for the right field spot.
Stickney's batting will also be missed.
"Mel has just been hitting the stuffing out of the ball lately," says Cole. "But if we're going to miss her, I'd rather miss her at the beginning of the year. I would rather win at the end of the year then the beginning."
If Eastern's defense is unsettled, Cole is OK with the offense.
" I look at my lineup and when we won the state championship, I felt we had four real quality hitters," says Cole. "This year, before Mel got hurt, I felt we had eight quality hitters. Hitting-wise, I think we'll be fine.
"We're going to score some runs. We have good, aggressive hitters and as for our fielding, when you return everybody but two players, you have to figure you'll do OK."
Last year, Eastern was 28-9. The Cardinals have won 25 or more games in nine of the last 10 years.
Eastern is the preseason favorite to win an 12th straight league title and the last time the Cardinals failed to win a district title was 1986.
The Western Michigan D League welcomes Manistee Catholic Central and Big Rapids Crossroads Academy to the field this spring but loses Pentwater.
The Falcons are the only team since 1986 besides Eastern to win a league championship and that happened in 1994, 1995, and 1996.
"My expectations are to win it again," Cole says of the league. "We have a pretty strong tradition at Custer. If Kara's comfortable pitching, I'm comfortable with us winning the league, that's what Custer does."
Reprinted with permission from The Ludington Daily News.