Jannelle Rons was hoping for two more wins in her Vestaburg High School career. Even without them, though, a 27-9 record and a state semifinal appearance aren’t accomplishments to be taken lightly.
The season ended on June 13 with a 6-1 loss to Kalamazoo Christian.
Entering the game, Rons had a 1.46 ERA and a 22-2 record. She entered the game batting .517 but didn’t have a hit in three at-bats against Kalamazoo Christian.
“I think jitters got to us,” she said. “Errors, we didn’t overcome them. We played to our potential where we could.”
In six innings, she allowed six runs on five hits and three walks while fanning five. Four runs were earned.
“I thought Jannelle threw pretty good, to be honest with you,” said her dad and coach Dan Rons. “We had four errors. I think she pitched well enough to win the game if you get some hits with it and take some errors off the board and get a break.”
There were a lot of hugs after the final game. “It’s very emotional,” Jannelle said. “I wouldn’t have wanted it with anyone else, with my dad coaching and my sister being assistant coach. We were one big family. I’m trying to stay positive and look forward to college softball.”
Rons has two older sisters, Missy and Trish, who serve as role models. Missy was an assistant coach for this year’s team. She graduated in 2008, shortly after sister Trish.
It was fun for her to watch her younger sister. “It was great,” Missy said. “It’s something I can’t describe. It was a priceless moment.”
Missy was a catcher, while her older sister, like Janelle, was a pitcher.
“They’re both tall,” Missy chuckled. “Both of them have great movement, pitching-wise. Speed, they’re both above average. Both keep the ball fieldable. They’re not going to sit there and mow everyone down. They’re finesse pitchers.”
Jannelle will be going to Lansing Community College. Her older sisters both went to the University of Toledo.
“I loved watching them,” Janelle said. “They were my role models. Seeing my older sister pitch, I loved looking up to her and seeing all the battles she went through and seeing how she started at Vestaburg and went to a D1 college. I love looking up to her and being able to go in her shoes and make her and my sister, as a catcher, proud. It’s an honor.”
She and Trish both took pitching lessons. “We’re both competitive; we overcame the challenges to become colleges pitchers,” Jannelle said. “I’d always go to their games and play catch with them. Jannelle is six years younger than Missy but had a chance to tag along with her older sister.
“Jannelle was throwing a ball at age two,” Missy said. “She had a lot of games under her belt watching and playing. She started a lot younger than us.”
Asked how the 2014 compared to the ones she played on, Missy did not hesitate for a moment when she said, “this team is better. We had the best hitting. Defensively, we needed some work. Overall, this team was better.”
This season, Jannelle said, was “by far” her best season in all areas.
“In the winter, I spent a lot of time out in the barn, I’d miss spring events and go pitch,” she said. “My dad is my pitching coach. It’s mental. The game is mental. You have to overcome your fears to get over others.”
Rons is getting ready for LCC but will remember a lot about Vestaburg softball. “The community and the girls, we’re one big family,” she said