Whiteford's Aly VanBrandt leads All-Region Softball Team

\OTTAWA LAKE – Aly VanBrandt hit .602 for Whiteford’s softball team this spring.

But it actually was the lowest average of VanBrandt’s career.

She hit .642 as a freshman, then pumped it up to .678 the next year, finishing with a school-record career average of .641.

Why the dip this year?

There are a couple of factors.

First of all, Whiteford moved up from Division 4 to Division 3 this season and toughened up its schedule accordingly to face better pitching.

Even more incredibly, she played the entire season with an injury that forced her to change her swing and also was dealing with a hip ailment.

That’s a pretty amazing number. No one else in the Monroe County Region hit higher than. 551. Only a handful of players topped .500.

She suffered a tear in the labrum of her left shoulder in an early season game. The hip issue caused her to miss the entire volleyball season.

“The doctor said, ‘It’s up to you. If you can play through the pain, go ahead,’” she said.

Not playing softball was not an option for VanBrandt.

She gutted through the pain to enjoy another great season, racking up 63 runs, 27 RBI, 6 doubles, 10 triples and 39 stolen bases to win the Michigan Miss Softball Award.

The Indiana recruit has been named Monroe County Region Softball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

The two injuries forced VanBrandt to slow down a bit. She had to avoid diving for balls on defense or into bases so that she did not aggravate the ailments.

But a bigger issue came at the plate.

“I had to change my swing a little bit,” she said. “I had to keep my bat on my shoulder a little more, so it didn’t hurt as much.

“I didn’t like it very much. It affected my confidence a little. But I had to do it to keep playing.”

She knew she was capable of much more than what she was doing on the diamond.

“My senior year was actually my worst batting average,” she said. “That got to me a little, but I had to tell myself that .600 was still pretty good.”

VanBrandt set school records for career hits (220), runs (202), triples (23) and hit-by-pitch (10). She finished second in career stolen bases with 106 and third with 31 career doubles.

Playing through pain may have been a blessing in disguise.

“I had to change a few things with how I played the game,’ she said. “It was good for me to learn how to do it. I learned a lot.”

Only those close to Whiteford’s team knew that VanBrandt was hurting. You could not tell by her play that anything was wrong.

“A great hitter, lots of tools at the plate, speed, and great defense to go with it,” said Monroe coach Jim Davis. “She's one of the best players in the area.”

“Best overall player in our Region hands down,” said Summerfield coach Alex Lipka.

VanBrandt committed to Indiana before the start of her junior season.

“The coaches were a really good fit for me,” she said. “I’m not a power hitter, but I get on base a lot. They know how to coach a player like that.”

She was recruited as an infielder, but says she is willing to play anywhere.

“I am going to work hard to try to get some playing time next year,” she said. “It definitely will be crazy going against people that good.

“Hopefully, I can get my swing back to what it was and start going after balls I used to again. Mostly, I just need to stay healthy.”

ALL-REGION PLAYERS

ALANA AULPH

Monroe, jr. , IF

Was her team’s No. 1 pitcher and hit .471 with 25 RBI and 37 runs. “Alana had a great season at the plate and defensively,” Monroe coach Jim Davis said.

AVERY COLLETT

Monroe, jr. , SS

Batted .354 with 24 RBI and 22 runs. “Avery played a terrific shortstop this season,” Monroe coach Jim Davis said. “She definitely saved some runs for us.”

LEILA DANIELS

Milan, so., C

Hit .417 with 6 home runs and 25 RBI. “The sky is the limit for Leila,” Milan coach Kirk Davis said. “She is one of the best players I have ever been around.”

RaeANN DRUMMOND

Airport, jr. , P

Had a great year in the circle and at the plate, going 15-4 with a 2.40 ERA and 149 strikeouts and hitting .478 with 35 runs and 43 RBI and 9 home runs.

HALIE FURKAS

Carlson, sr. , C

Will play at D'Youville University after hitting .500 in her final season at Carlson. “She was our unquestioned offensive leader,” said Carlson coach Jason Gyolai.

ALLIE HALL

Monroe, sr. , 1B

Led her team with a .475 average and drove in 42 runs. “Allie is a great hitter,” Monroe coach Jim Davis said. “She is one of the smartest players I've coached.”

AUBREY HENSLEY

Bedford, so., C

Had an amazing season, hitting .492 with 23 home runs and 66 RBI. “She's one of the best players I've ever coached against,” Monroe’s Jim Davis said.

KENNEDY IRWIN

Dundee, jr. , SS

Set school records with 64 runs and 51 stolen bases while hitting .456 with 40 RBI. “When she gets on, we score,” said Dundee coach Mickey Moody.

MARISA JACKSON

Huron, jr. , OF

An outstanding defender who hit .511 with 25 RBI and 33 runs. “The different facets to her game make her dangerous,” Huron coach Tedi Belisle said.

ADDI KOPP

Flat Rock, so., SS

Hit .393 with 28 runs and 21 RBI. “She led us in almost every offensive category and truly became one of our vocal leaders,” Flat Rock coach Haylee Simpson said.

JENNA KUZARA

Huron, jr. , 3B

Batted .551 with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 7 homers, 43 runs and 33 RBI. “Jenna is one of the best athletes I’ve coached,” Huron coach Tedi Belisle said.

EMMI LIPTOW

Jefferson, sr. , C

The Concordia recruit batted .472 with 55 runs, 25 RBI and 33 stolen bases. “Has the competitiveness every coach hopes for,” Airport coach Jess Irwin said.

PATRINA MARSH

Whiteford, sr. , OF

A Davenport recruit who hit .385 with 25 RBI. “Another tough out on this team and one of our high-energy players,” said Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt.

NYAH MULLINS

Bedford, so., 3B

A lead-off hitter who batted .471 with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs and 32 RBI. “We just could not get her out,” said Monroe coach Jim Davis.

UNITY NELSON

Whiteford, jr. , P

Dominated in a 23-1 season with a 0.51 ERA and a school record 317 strikeouts. "She is a lioness in the circle,” Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said.

JULIA PERRY

Jefferson, jr. , P

Set school record with 235 strikeouts while going 16-12 with a 2.50 ERA and hit .471 with 49 RBI. “Workhorse on the mound,” said Jefferson coach Chad Liptow.

ALAYNA PINKELMAN

SMCC, sr. , P

A Davenport recruit who went 10-10 with a 2.78 ERA and 171 strikeouts while hitting .391. “Alayna was our leader in the circle,” SMCC coach Dani Emery said.

PAYTON PUDLOWSKI

Bedford, jr. , SS

A University of Toledo commit who hit .519 with a .970 slugging percentage, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 12 home runs, 50 RBI, 71 runs and 22 stolen bases.

NATALIE RATH

Dundee, so., 2B

Hit .441, with 46 runs, 20 RBI and 41 stolen bases. “Made some incredible diving catches for us this year to save runs,” Dundee coach Mickey Moody said.

KAYDENCE SHELDON

Whiteford, jr. , C

Skillfully handled catching Unity Nelson and batted .396 with 43 RBI. “She was solid for us all year behind the plate,” said Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said.

EMMA SIC

Huron, jr. , C

Outstanding defensively and sported a .485 average with 37 RBI and 28 runs. “Emma did a phenomenal job behind the plate,” Huron coach Tedi Belise said.

SUMMER SMITH

Ida, jr. , 3B

Drove in 43 runs while hitting .391 with 3 homers. “You just can’t throw to her when runners are in scoring position,” Dundee coach Mickey Moody said.

MARIAH STINES

Milan, jr. , P

Went 16-5 with a 1.19 ERA and 165 strikeouts. Hit .284 with 4 homers. “A fierce competitor and was rock solid in the circle,” Milan coach Kirk Davis said.

OLIVIA TILLEY

Airport, fr. , 2B

Batted .460 with 43 runs, 20 RBI and 21 stolen bases. “Liv sets the pace for our offense as our leadoff hitter,” Airport coach Jess Irwin said.

SPECIAL MENTION

Players: Shay Alexander, Whiteford; Brenna Baker, Airport; Hailey Boitnott, Airport; Tori Busen, SMCC; Addison Butt, Gibraltar Carlson; Cam Carter, Jefferson; Ryen Clair, Flat Rock; Karlei Conard, Whiteford; Rylee Dunn, Jefferson; Ava Fisher, Summerfield; Cami Gee, SMCC; Lindsey Gennoe, Jefferson; Madison Gray, Milan; Rylie Greggo, New Boson Huron; Cami Heath, Milan; Kaylee Imo, Dundee; Kaitlyn Kwiatkowski, Bedford; Taylor Konkus. Gibraltar Carlson; Hailey Knox, Milan; Aly Lewis, Monroe; Madison McCain, Ida; Hailey McCleary, Milan; Erin Newman, New Boston Huron; Brea Olmstead, Summerfield; Addy Roussey, Flat Rock; Jessica Schrader, Ida; Faith Secor, Summerfield; ; Destanee Smith, Summerfield; Cameron Taylor, Summerfield;

Coaches: Tedi Belisle, New Boston Huron; Kirk Davis, Milan; Marla Gooding, Bedford; Jess Irwin, Airport; Chad Liptow, Jefferson; Mickey Moody, Dundee.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Whiteford's Aly VanBrandt leads All-Region Softball Team