LCAA softball race heating up

Thanks to the Michigan weather and the people that make the Lenawee County Athletic Association softball schedule, the final two weeks of the league race should be a thriller.

With Blissfield beating Hudson in the opening game of a doubleheader on Tuesday, Clinton finds itself alone in first place with a 6-0 league record. However, the Tigers (7-1) and Dundee (5-1) are still a game out and the Royals (5-3) have wins over Hudson and Dundee.

“Two really important league doubleheaders have had to be postponed, stacking an already challenging schedule this month,” said Clinton coach Kim Phillip. “All of our league games are important. We are taking nothing for granted.”

The Redwolves are 14-7 overall and are relying on the duo of Kendall Phillip and Taryn Hernandez in the circle. Phillip has 75 strikeouts in 52 innings so far this year and went into Tuesday’s games with a .446 average. Ava Ormsby is batting .444 and Kyleigh Ramos is also above .400.

“We, as a team, are really starting to find our groove offensively and defensively,” coach Phillip said. “We are consistently getting outside for practice, and the girls are working hard knowing that we want this to be a redemption year. These girls know how to fight, and we will continue to do just that.”

Hudson has doubleheaders left against Clinton, Dundee and Columbia Central. The Clinton-Hudson doubleheader is Tuesday.

“I like that we are in this position,” said Hudson coach Amy Hill. “We are in the hunt. We have tough games ahead of us. But it has been a pleasant surprise. It’s been a good team effort.”

Hudson has turned some heads with its start to the season. The Tigers are 15-4.

“We are hanging with good teams,” Hill said. “I have three freshmen starting in my lineup. At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t really sure how that was going to go, but they have really stepped up.”

Freshman catcher Taylor Kopin is among those pleasant surprises. She hit a home run in the second game Tuesday and went 3-for-3 at the plate.

“Kopin is tough,” Hill said. “She’s hitting the ball well. I knew she was a good player, but she is really hitting the ball well. The pieces are all kind of coming together for us. I knew we had some good pieces coming back."

Teagan Arredondo allowed two hits and struck out eight in pitching a Game 2 shutout over Blissfield. It was important for the Tigers to bounce back after the Royals came from three runs down to win in the opener.

“Teagan threw great (Tuesday),” Hill said. “She was on. She’s figuring things out and gaining confidence. That’s huge. They regrouped. I was happy they were able to come back. It was an exciting game.”

Blissfield is 15-6 overall. Natalia Wilson is batting .477, Maddie Peterson is hitting .465 and Bella Treloar is batting .459. Treloar and Nicole Brewer are both 6-3 in the circle.

“It should be fun these next few weeks as we all play each other,” Dundee head coach Mickey Moody said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: LCAA softball race heats up as weather improves