The race for the Jack Pine Conference softball pennant is not for the faint of heart; everyone is a rival and everyone is tough.
Take last season, for example. Farwell won the league, but lost to Beaverton in a Division 3 district tournament. The Beavers were then beaten by Harrison in the district final.
Looking ahead to this year, Beavers coach Aaron Wentworth was unable to commit to picking less than five teams that could win the league.
“Gladwin, Meridian, Clare, Farwell and us are all pretty equal,” he said. “You just never know. On any day one team can beat another.”
In the interest of gearing up for the grind, the Beavers hosted a grueling tournament on April 23 that included the Flying G’s in addition to the likes of Reese, Shepherd, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, perennial state power Allen Park Cabrini and defending Division 4 state champion Unionville Sebewaing (USA).
“It’s a big-time tournament,” said Wentworth. “We’re very proud of the level of teams that come here for it every year. Last year, seven of the 12 teams were ranked and at least half of us are ranked this year.”
The Beavers headed into the fray in the top 10 in D-3 and did nothing to endanger that ranking as they knocked off Glen Lake and Ithaca in pool play to advance to the semifinals, where they knocked off
USA 7-1.
Cabrini was waiting in the final and the Monarchs reigned after a 10-3 victory.
“Four games is a lot in one day,” said Wentworth. “We played really well in the first three and we hung in there against Cabrini for the most part, but they were better than we were and they beat us.
“It was a great day. The kids had fun and saw some great competition. We need to play teams like this. “It’s the only way to get better at the end of the year.”
Senior Kylie Keeley was honorable mention all-state last ear and the third baseman put on a show at the tourney, going 3-for-4 in the final to cap a huge day at the plate.
“She must have had at least eight hits in the tournament,” said Wentworth. “She’s the kind of hitter where, the better the pitcher she’s facing, the better she does.”
Junior Makayla Bassage is in her third year as the starting catcher and se had a big day both at the plate and behind it.
Starring in the circle were sophomore Faith Howe and senior Jordan McCallister.
Gladwin also had its moments at the tournament, but one bad game kept the Flying G’s from competing for the championship.
They were leading Shepherd 1-0 late in the first game of pool play, but the Bluejays bats came to life and bashed out a 6-1 victory.
Shepherd went on to lose 8-2 to Reese. Gladwin beat Reese 6-5 to leave each team with a 1-1 record and Reese advanced to the semifinals by virtue of a tie-breaker based on run differential.
“We allowed too many runs in the Shepherd game,” said Flying G’s coach Jill Keefer, “and that’s why we had to play in the Toilet Bowl versus the championship game.”
Gladwin made the most of its situation, topping Breckenridge 6-3 in a consolation game.
“It was a great tournament and I will take a 2-1 record against this competition any day,” Keefer said.
Gladwin will head into the Jack Pine race led by senior Dana Fennell. She might be at shortstop and she might be at catcher, but she will be in the batter’s box launching bombs. Fennell headed out of the tournament with a total of nine home runs and has already broken her own school season record.
The other top returning seniors are third baseman Lauren Mose, pitcher Allyson Conley and second baseman Mallerie Bittner.
“We feel like our league is open for anyone to take,” said Keefer. “It’s been that way for the last two or three years. It’s anyone’s conference to win. There are some little things we have to do if we are going to take it, but I like what I’ve seen so far.”