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You could practically see Dan Fuller's eyes beaming during a telephone interview earlier this week when he gave an overview of the Northwood softball team's 2011 season.
“It was a very good year,” Fuller said. “The kids grew up.”
Fuller entered his 15th season as the Rangers' coach with pretty high expectations. He felt deep down that his ball club had matured after last season's 8-15 record, and he knew that if the pitching staff pulled its weight, Northwood could contend for its first Toledo Area Athletic Conference title in nine years.
The Rangers certainly matured, and they proved it by posting an 18-7 overall record that included a 7-1 mark in the TAAC. They shared the conference championship with Ottawa Hills, having split a pair of games against the Green Bears during the regular season. Northwood was 3-5 in the TAAC last year.
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Northwood softball players Becca Gwin, Sammie Brisbin
and Allison Burch celebrate a victory. (Press photo by Don
Thompson/picasweb.google.com/don rachael) |
“We had a bunch of players who played last year,” Fuller said. “We had six returning starters who obviously did a pretty good job. Three years ago we were 6-17. Two years ago we were 8-15, and we were 8-15 last year. It was very frustrating at times, but you could see the kids were getting better and better.
“With only one senior (Sammie Brisbin) this year, we had a heck of a year. We look to have a very nice year next year. There's no substitute for talent. This group, they all play summer ball and that makes a big difference. They jelled very well and they get along well together.”
Brisbin, who graduated last Sunday, said there's no secret as to why the Rangers improved this season. The third baseman and four-year starter played a major role by hitting .388 with 19 RBI and 24 runs.
“We worked so much harder than we have the past couple years,” said Brisbin, who was named first-team All-TAAC for the third straight year. “It wasn't up to the seniors to be the leaders, since I was the only senior. Everyone had to be a part of it and work hard for it. We wanted it so bad. We knew how the season went last year and the years before, and we were sick of doing that. Never in my high school career, for any sport, have we tied for first or gotten first. Getting (the TAAC title) my senior year was just awesome.”
Several factors contributed to Northwood's success:
• Last year, the Rangers batted .258 as a team. They hit .292 this season;
• Standout junior pitcher Jordan Edwards dropped her earned run average from 4.60 last year to 3.15 in 2011;
• The Rangers' hitters maintained a keener eye at the plate this season. Last year, Northwood had two hitters with 20-plus strikeouts. Only one player this season had as many as 13. The Rangers' hitters drew 99 walks a year ago but increased that total to 144 this season.
“The girls just matured,” Fuller said. “We played a lot of sophomores last year and they just got better. It was a growing process. The last three years have been a struggle.”
Edwards, Brisbin and junior catcher/outfielder Cindy Szyperski all earned first-team All-TAAC honors. Edwards pitched 120 innings and went 12-7 with 102 strikeouts and 45 walks, while Szyperski hit .388 with a team-high nine steals.
First baseman Allison Burch, outfielder Katie Vancs and shortstop Becca Gwin all made the All-TAAC second team. Burch hit .311 and drove in a team-high 22 runs, while Vancs hit .371. Gwin batted .310 and led the Rangers in walks (29) and runs (33).
“Becca has a tremendous eye at the plate and she's a tremendous base runner,” Fuller said.
Heather Derr, who caught and pitched, and designated player Brianna Crispen (.326) were honorable mention all-conference picks for Northwood, which lost to Mohawk in the Division IV district semifinals.
“The key to the season was our top four hitters – Cindy, Becca, Sammie and Allison - were very consistent all year,” Fuller said. “Those girls were our most consistent hitters. Midway through the season we brought up Katie Vancs and Brianna Crispen off the jayvee. That gave us six very good batters who hit over .300. We just grew as a team, and the future looks pretty good.”
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