John Raffel
Sports Scene
The 2016 Fulton softball team is one Pirate sports fans will remember for a long time.
The Pirates won their first ever softball league title in program history by finishing first in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference. Coach Chris Barrus also said it’s the first league title at Fulton for any girls program since 1980.
It’s his second year as varsity head skipper but he also was assistant coach four years prior to that.
A key reason for Fulton’s success has been the pitching talents of Connor Proctor. As of mid-May, the team was 22-4, which was also Proctor’s record with an ERA of 1.127. She’s pitched all but five of Fulton’s innings so far this season. She’s also had one of the team’s top batting averages at .414. Leadoff hitter Kirsten Maniez also has had a productive season at .403.
The conference record was 12-2. Saranac and Laingsburg were the two biggest rivals for Fulton’s conference title bid. Fulton clinched the title on May 19 when it defeated Laingsburg 2-0 and 5-1 in a league twinbill.
Proctor’s senior season has been huge for Fulton.
“She’s basically our workhorse,” Barrus said. “It’s been her work ethic and the way she comes to practice every day trying to get better. She throws pretty hard. She has command with the pitches she does throw. She hits her spots.”
Barrus coached Proctor last season.
“She improved every year in batting, pitching, everything,” he said. “She’s been able to pick her spots. Her location has improved this year.”
The key behind Proctor’s successful hitting, “has been her approach at the plate,” Barrus added.
The first conference title “is huge for the school, huge for the girls and huge for the program, Barrus said. “That’s a pretty good accomplishment. As much work as they have put in, they deserve the reward of a conference title.”
Barrus has high hopes for postseason contention.
“We have never won a district title,” he said. “That would be our next goal.”
Coming into the season, Barrus knew his team would have talent.
“What made me a little apprehensive coming into the season is how young we really were,” he said. “We had to fill a lot of holes. There were some younger girls who would have to step up. I knew we could hit the ball and Connor could do her thing. It was a matter if we could back her up and play good defense.”
That question was answered as soon as the league championship celebration began.