Later that day his words rang true. The Albion College softball team swept a doubleheader from first-place St. Mary’s with seven first-years in the field the second game.

Those seven are part of a first-year class that has helped propel the Britons into the upper half of the MIAA standings. Heading into tomorrow’s final regular-season doubleheader at Olivet, Albion is tied with the Comets for fourth place in the league with a 8-6 record. It needs at least one win on Saturday to have a chance at making the league tournament—something it didn’t do last year.

Credit second-year coach Michelle Manning for making the Britons a contender. Last season Albion struggled to a .500 record and finished tied for sixth in the MIAA with a 5-11 mark.

It wasn’t easy for Manning, but as soon as the season ended she went to work on making sure her second season would be a drastic improvement. She did this by spending three straight weeks at high school games, recruiting players from winning teams who would bring that attitude to Albion.

"You have what you have and you do the best with what you have," Manning said of last year’s team, which didn’t feature any of her recruits. "Of the players from last year, the quality (players) returned this year. We had something to build on.

"In a recruiting sense, I certainly was looking forward to what we needed. I think the only way I was looking ahead was through recruiting."

Manning brought in a "Fab Five" recruiting class, except there are actually 13 first-years listed on the roster.

"I think a little bit of it’s luck," Manning said.

But most of it was hard work. Most of the recruits made their decision to play for Albion last spring. Others showed up at fall softball, where 38 to 40 players attempted to demonstrate why they should be a Briton this spring.

Katie Streeter, Davison first-year, was one of those players who decided at the last minute to play. Manning said Streeter was thinking about playing tennis. Now she starts in center field for the Britons, is batting over .300 and had the game-winning two-run double in Albion’s 6-2, nine-inning win in the second game over St. Mary’s.

"Most (of the) freshmen are excited to be here for the right reasons," Manning said.

And that is to work hard and build a successful program.

Pieces of the puzzle

Jamie Gove, Clarkston junior, acknowledged that last year was difficult.

"We had so much talent," she said. "It was frustrating it never worked out.

"Of course it was frustrating," Gove continued. "We definitely could have done better."

But now Gove is as happy as any team member.

"I can’t believe we just took two from St. Mary’s," she exclaimed the day after the sweep.

Gove has been an instrumental player for the Britons this year. Against St. Mary’s the first baseman made several game-saving plays, stretching to catch throws from the other infielders to nip runners at first.

For instance, in the bottom of the eighth inning in the second game, St. Mary’s had a runner at third with two out who represented the potential winning run. A groundball was hit between second and third. Andrea English, Troy-first-year, fielded it and made the long throw. Gove leaned forward and the throw just beat the runner.

It was just an example of a first-year and upperclassman working together to make a big play. This is important because the emergence of Albion’s first-years has taken some playing time away from others. But everyone’s in it for the team.

It was visible against St. Mary’s. Everyone not in the game stood against the fence outside the dugout the entire time, cheering on their teammates.

For a total of 16 innings. That’s a lot of standing.

"This is a team effort," Gove said. "It doesn’t matter how good you are without your teammates. I think we work well as a team."

A reason for this may be because the players are involved in recruiting. When potential recruits come to campus, players take them to lunch and hang out with them. So the seven returning players this season got to know many of the first-years before they became first-years..

"It really is a team effort," Gove said.

Both on and off the field.

Championship

contenders

I have to admit, while I’ve been at Albion I’ve seen softball as one of the school’s weakest sports. I’ve never thought Albion could contend for an MIAA championship.

Until now.

The St. Mary’s pitcher Albion defeated in the second game, Kristen Amram, was 13-1 overall and 5-0 in the league heading into the contest. She hadn’t given up a run in 35 innings (five complete games) during MIAA play.

That’s pretty good.

But Albion’s batters fought. They fouled off two-strike pitches. They didn’t give up. And, most importantly, they got the big hits.

First, there was Jessica Loegel, Scotts senior, with Albion down to its last out in the top of the seventh, blasting a two-run double that gave Albion a 2-1 lead. Then, in the ninth inning, there was Streeter knocking the game-winning double.

"We work a lot on fundamentals and we work a lot on battling (during at-bats)," Manning said.

I’m convinced now. If Albion can score six runs on the MIAA’s top pitcher, it can win the league. And I haven’t even mentioned the Britons’ pitchers.

All first-year Jenna Hogg, Flat Rock, did against the Belles was pitch nine strong innings. And English pitched a complete game shutout in the first game (a 3-0 win).

Yeah, Albion can pitch.

So regardless of how the season ends at Olivet this weekend and next weekend at the MIAA tournament—remember, the Britons are still very young and have their off days—Albion softball is on the map.

And despite the Britons’ success, Manning is already busy finding players to fill next year’s first-year class (although, she admits, it likely won’t include 13 players, but only because Albion doesn’t need that many). After the season she’ll do it again—three weeks of high school softball.

"It’s a year-round process," she said.

Which can only make the players in Albion’s program feel more comfortable because they know their coach is dedicating herself to building a winner.