SportsBeat, Reliving historic softball moment
by Peter Jakey
It was 10 years ago this week, the Huron softball program had advanced further than any other team before them, and proved momentum can change on a dime. Before the 2001 Huron squad, no softball team in Rogers City High School (RCHS) history had ever advanced beyond quarters. The girls, led by seniors Roxanne Hentkowski, Mary Pietsch and Karla Fairbanks made it to the final four in Battle Creek (BC). They were pitted against the top-ranked Reese Rockets.
The Hurons were unranked, so on paper, it didn’t look like much of a battle, but Charlie Fairbanks’ team showed they belonged, which kind of became the theme of several Advance articles in the next edition. They also played with a lot of heart. The game was delayed by thunderstorms that rolled through southern Michigan. Reese had a sophomore pitcher throwing shut-out ball through four innings and were ahead 3-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning. The Hurons were down to their last eight outs.
Megan Grulke led off the fifth by reaching on an error. With one out, the sophomore beat a throw to second, allowing Pietsch to reach first on a fielders’ choice. Emily McLean walked to load the bases, bringing up Fairbanks, who etched her moment in Huron lore by ripping a three-run double to the fence in center to tie the game. Do you remember where you were when Fairbanks hit the double? It didn’t put the Hurons in the title game, as many want to remember it, but it was a breakthrough moment.
The game was tied, but the girls kept putting the bat on the ball, forcing Reese to commit several errors. They had a 5-3 lead and were in control the rest of the way. Pietsch also pitched through pain in the contest. She was drilled in the knee by a line drive in the first inning. She rubbed dirt on it, wasn’t coming out of the game, and went the distance for the win.
The title game went to Niles Brandywine, 6-2, who didn’t have an overpowering pitcher; however, their defense was up to the task in taking the state title. Do you recall the Hurons only were down 3-2 in the contest? It was an amazing moment in local sports history, and one that’s hard to believe happened a decade ago.
It took four years, but Posen’s Leanne Buczkowski etched her moment in history, finishing her career with 212 hits. That will puts her on the Michigan High School Athletic Association Web site record page in 22nd place. Her place could change slightly as coac
Leanne joins Emily McLean of Rogers City, who had 217 career hits (17th all-time) and Tootie Wickersham with 207 in 25th place, in the state record book.
Now that Bruins goalie Tim Thomas has done all of his northeast Michigan fans proud, including yours truly, it would be nice to see the Michigan native bring Lord Stanley’s Cup to Nauti-Fest this summer. Thomas played on some of the better softball teams during the 2008 and 2009 men’s softball tournaments in Rogers City. He was raised in Davison, and the last I was told, has relatives living in the Millersburg area.
As many Red Wing fans know, each player on the Stanley Cup championship squad gets their own individual time to take the trophy wherever they want. Could the most identifiable trophy in all of sports be coming to Presque Isle County? It’s about as likely as a goalie being one year removed from being yanked as the starting job, to posting a shut out in game seven of the Stanley Cup finals, and that’s exactly what he did.