Pellston softball team coming off district title-winning 2022 campaign

PELLSTON – Last June, the Pellston softball team delivered a stunner.

In the district final, the Hornets surprised many by topping rival Mackinaw City and claiming a district championship under first-year head coach Randy Bricker.

As Bricker heads into season two, he believes his program is in an even better spot than it was when it went on an exciting postseason run last season.

“We’re already well ahead of where we were last year,” said Bricker, whose Hornets finished 16-19 overall. “We’re going to be without Madison Brown, of course, but I think as a team we’re well ahead of where we were last year. These girls understand what I expect of them and they now understand that there’s goals that can be reached if you put in the work.”

While Brown, who earned all-state honors as a senior, is now gone, Bricker has plenty of confidence his team can have success, especially with a solid group of returnees.

One is junior pitcher Caroline Crenshaw, who takes over for Brown on the mound.

“One of the things I’d like to note is Caroline Crenshaw. We got beat last year by Hillman (in the regional semifinals); it wasn’t even within two weeks that she had hired a pitching coach and has been throwing ever since,” Bricker said. “Her dedication to be our No. 1 pitcher and be one of our leaders has really stuck with me, and I think it’s really rubbing off on some of the other kids that you’ve got to put in the time and it doesn’t come without hard work.

“We’re not going to replace a Madison Brown. You don’t get a Madison Brown every year. She was an exceptional hitter, she threw extremely hard, and she kept us in every game she pitched. While Caroline (Crenshaw) can still carry us, she’s not going to fill the shoes that Madison left, but she’s going to lead our team on the mound, but a lot of credit to Madison for leading us last year.”

Also returning is the senior trio of Megan Bricker, Gabby Landon and Elysia Ward. Bricker is a captain who will play first base, while Landon will likely occupy second base and Ward will compete at shortstop.

“They’ve got more experience under their belt,” Bricker said of his seniors. “Megan, she’s our captain, she’s our leader, and she’s our vocal leader on the field at practice. She’s not shy, she’ll say anything that’s on her mind to motivate the girls and get the practices a little more energetic. Gabby and Elysia, they’re going to be contributors, for sure, and we’re hoping those three girls can help lead the way for this young program.”

Also back is junior Lillie Bourrie, the team’s starting catcher, as well as sophomore outfielders Haleigh Bohn and Madison Jutson. After that, the Hornets feature freshmen Breanna Willis (infield), Allie Cameron (infield/outfield), Lanie Irwin (pitcher/middle infield), and Sadie Keck (pitcher).

Bricker said his team will be significantly stronger in one important area.

“I think our defense is going to be a lot better than it was last year, I really do,” Bricker said. “I think we’re going to be solid at all nine positions. We’re going to have to be because (the opponents are) going to hit the ball a lot more this year than they did last year. We’re not going to have Madison’s (Brown) strikeouts, so defensively I think we’re going to surprise a lot of teams.

“If we can get our (bats) to come around, I think we’ll give it a pretty good run and have a decent season.”

The Hornets are hungry to repeat as district champions, but they also want to establish themselves as a quality team in the Ski Valley, which features the usual powers.

“I’m not oblivious to how good (Johannesburg-Lewiston) and how good Indian River (Inland Lakes) have always been,” Bricker said. “I think those teams are ranked in the (preseason top 10), one’s an honorable mention, and so I’m not oblivious to the talent that they have. If we can compete with those teams and finish in the upper half of the Ski Valley and make another push in the state tournament, that’s kind of what we’re going for.

“One game at a time.”

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Pellston softball team coming off district title-winning 2022 campaign