Lenawee County All-Star Softball Game set for Wednesday at Siena Heights

The softball season was barely just beginning when Sydney Schuler had to go to the sidelines.

The Clinton senior was primed and ready for a big season, but a fence at the Whiteford softball field had different ideas.

“There was a foul fly ball, and I was playing first base,” she said. “I was running trying to track the ball. I ran into the fence and my cleat got stuck. When I fell, I twisted. It was painful.”

The prognosis was a high ankle sprain. When she put pressure on her foot, her bone would break apart. Schuler had to wear a boot for several weeks of the season. After a couple of doctor’s appointments, she said she thought her softball season was over.

“I was hoping it wasn’t but after the first time I tried to get cleared I was not hopeful,” she said.

Just in time for Senior Night and the last week of the regular season, however, Schuler was cleared to play and helped Clinton win a district title.

“My doctor really did not want to clear me, but I kind of begged him,” Schuler said.

Schular had only 54 at-bats as a senior but was able to bat .463 with five doubles and 16 RBI. She will get another shot on the diamond this week as she was named to the Lenawee County All-Star game, which is 6 p.m. Tuesday at Siena Heights University.

“I really didn’t get my very last season, so I’m excited to play in the all-star game,” she said. “I think its going to be fun, one last little run, especially with Emma (Fair) and Ava (Ornsby).”

The three Clinton players are part of roster of 22 players for the game. Every school in the county will be represented, with the exception of Blissfield and Sand Creek who had no available seniors. The county’s hitting leader, Katelyn Iott of Adrian, and the county’s pitching wins leader, Lauren Hill, are also playing.

Isabelle Patterson, Emily Wright and Kahlen Wheaton from Addison are playing, as are Emily Hess, Iott and Morgin White from Adrian. Britton Deerfield has two players in the game – Bailee Shankleton and Karmen Dotson. Hill leads a four-player Hudson group that also includes Kethany Wesley, Kirsten Tanner and Camryn Raper. Madison teammates Jaden Ludbinski and Alexxis Douglas are on the roster, along with the Morenci trio of Rachel Shoemaker, Aniston Valentine and Lily Betz. Natalie Bullinger is Tecumseh’s lone representative.

Carlie Breckel from Lenawee Christian will also play. The Cougars didn’t have a varsity softball team this year.

The team rosters will be chosen at a practice scheduled for Tuesday, the night before the game.

“We figured we would get all of the girls together, see what we have for positions and pick the rosters that way,” said Kelly Gahn, the Addison co-coach who organized the all-star game.

Schuler is one of several girls on the roster who play first base.

Schuler pitched a lot as a freshman and sophomore, helping Clinton get to the semifinals her sophomore year when she went 17-4 in the circle. As a junior she had a 9-2 pitching mark. She said she might get time in the circle in the all-star game.

“I’ve been pitching a little bit lately,” she said. “We’ll see how it goes and what the teams need.”

Schuler had planned to attend college at Grand Valley State University and didn’t plan to play softball at the next level. At the time of the regionals, however, Jackson College coaches reached out to her, she had a workout and decided to play with the Jets. Missing part of her senior season, she said, has inspired her to keep playing.

“I wasn’t really done playing,” she said. “I think it is a good option for me.”

Whatever team Schuler is put on might have an extra coach in the dugout. During the season when she couldn’t play, she turned into a player-coach for Clinton and head coach Kim Phillip.

“Her leadership in the dugout was not unnoticed,” Phillip said.

Schuler said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Just being a senior and knowing all of the girls were younger, I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing,” she said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee County All-Star Softball Game set for Wednesday at Siena Heights