Fueled by family support, VanFleet finishing up excellent Cheboygan softball career

CHEBOYGAN – It’s amazing how fast a decade can go by.

Years ago, it was just the beginning for Cheboygan’s Libby VanFleet.

What started out as tee-ball turned into little league turned into travel softball turned into now playing high school ball for the Cheboygan Chiefs.

That’s quite the resume for the two-time reigning Straits Area Conference player of the year who has dazzled both on the mound and with her bat. Now a senior, it’s all winding down for VanFleet, one of the best all-around players in recent program memory. But what’s made this journey even more special for VanFleet is those closest around her have played their part in helping the Cheboygan star reach star status.

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Among those is Cheboygan assistant coach and father, Mike VanFleet, who’s worked with his daughter since those younger days when she was just learning the sport.

“It’s fun to sit back and watch her progress and grow as a player, and to be able to coach and help out, that’s kind of a bonus,” Mike said of Libby. “For me, it’s more about watching and being a fan.”

There was a short time period when Mike didn’t get to coach his daughter, as he was leading the Cheboygan junior varsity squad while Libby was a freshman on the varsity. But over the last three seasons, he’s been there to take in all the big-time pitches and clutch at-bats produced by his daughter.

“In terms of being a coach, she’s very easy to coach,” Mike said. “Her mental focus when she gets under pressure in situations, she’s learned to deal with that really well, and that kind of started early on with travel ball in the situations we put her in with the different travel teams."

As for Libby, she made it known what it’s been like with her dad around, especially in recent seasons.

“It’s really fun, but sometimes it’s scary because when we get home, he lectures me a little bit if I don’t do good,” Libby said. “It’s really fun, I enjoy having him here. It motivates me. Very stern, just a dad about it.”

Libby and Mike aren’t the only VanFleets who have been along for the ride, as Libby’s mother, Angela – who coached her daughter in little league – works as a team manager for Cheboygan. Together, the three have traveled Michigan and other states during this unique softball adventure that started all those years ago.

And the best part about it? It’s nowhere close to being done. Last November, Libby made sure of that by signing with Grand Rapids Community College, a place she’ll play at next season.

“With what she’s done and watching her play with different teams in different parts of the state, her network of friends that she’s played with, that’s kind of the most fun part to watch,” Mike said. “She’s got some friends from all over the state right now, and with her going to Grand Rapids to play ball this fall, she already knows half the girls on the team, she’s played with them at some point.”

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At the same time, it’s tough for Mike, whose time coaching his daughter will conclude once Cheboygan’s season finishes. But going forward, a proud father can’t wait to see what's next.

“(Not coaching Libby is) going to be bittersweet because of all the time and sacrifice you have to put into it, but it’s going to be difficult to watch it come to an end, but we’ve got a couple more years of college ball coming up,” Mike said.

Cheboygan hosts Sault Ste. Marie in a doubleheader on Thursday.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: With family right there, VanFleet wrapping up Cheboygan softball career in style