Carlee Selle, Reese
By: Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
TUSCOLA COUNTY — It was a huge year for many of the softball programs in the Advertier coverage area in 2015.
The Unionville-Sebewaing Patriots reigned as state champions, Frankenmuth made an apperance in the state finals. The Reese Rockets won a regional championship, and the Mayville Wildcats won a district title for the first time in 13 years.
Quite a few softball players had some huge individual seasons as well, and the Advertiser coverage area featured 11 All-State performers.
One of those All-State performers was Nikki Bauer, a pitcher for USA. Bauer, a junior, earned the first spot on the All-Advertiser team for her stellar performance on the mound as the ace of the state champion Patriots.
Bauer finished the season with a perfect 26-0 record, with 25 complete games, 13 shutouts, five no-hitters, and three perfect games, and allowed only nine earned runs in 169 innings pitched to finish with a miniscule 0.37 earned run average. Bauer also struck out 223 batters, and allowed a .144 opponent batting average.
“Nikki was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state this season,” said USA coach Steve Bohn. “Her pitching was so dominant that her hitting gets overlooked most of the time. Her batting average was about 100 points better than it was last year. She was just an all-around great player this season.”
At the plate, Bauer finished with a team-high 60 hits, and batted .458 on the season.
The other pitcher named to the first team is Frankenmuth’s ace Amariah Wright. Wright, a senior, was an outstanding pitcher for the Eagles this season, leading them to the state finals in Division 2 with a 25-2 record, including a stretch in the playoffs where she threw four complete game shutouts, including a nine strikeout performance against Carleton Airport in the state semifinals.
“Amariah was a big part of our success this year,” said Frankenmuth coach Brad Walraven. “She broke the school record in hits and runs batted in this season, and she was a lot more confident on the mound this season after her injury last year. She will be playing for Mott this upcoming season, and she was just a wonderful person to coach.”
The catcher position is one of the most important postitions on a softball team. Bre Dinsmoore of USA did a great job this past season behind the plate for the Patriots managing the pitching staff, and also contributed a big part of the USA offense at the plate.
Dinsmoore, a senior All-State selection this year, let USA in batting average (.465), runs scored (54), runs batted in (55), and home runs (11), while also holding a .982 fielding percentage.
“Bre is a great hitter with power,” said Bohn. “In softball home runs put runs on the board in a hurry, and Bre can put runs on the board with one swing of the bat. She was probably the smartest players that I have coached as well.”
Leading off the infield for the All-Advertiser team is Reese four year starter Mikaela Stricker. Stricker, a All-State shortstop for the Rockets, switched positions at the beginning of the season to take over for two time Al-Stater Monica Hagen, and performed very well. She batted .385 with 13 doubles, four triples, and a .564 slugging percentage, while fielding at a .921 average.
“Mikaela volunteered to move to short this season, and really helped solidify our infield,” said Reese coach Andy Behmlander. “Even though defense is her specialty, her hitting was huge for us this year.”
Joining Stricker on the infield is USA second baseman Kayla Gremel. Gremel, a junior and All-State performer this past season, helped lead the Patriot infield, while also having a big year at the plate. Gremel played in all 43 of the USA games, and batted .413 with 50 hits, 31 RBIs, and 11 doubles, and only had two errors in 147 total chances at second base.
Lauryn Frenzel, Mayville
“Kayla had a great year for us at second,” said Bohn. “She was our most improved player this year and really anchored our infield. The way our pitcher threw this season, there was a lot of balls hit her way, and she did a great job.”
Gremel improved on a .250 batting average, 14 hits, and seven RBIs as a sophomore, to become an All-State, and All-Conference first teamer this season, and could make a similar jump next season as a senior.
The next infielder on the All-Advertiser team is Reese third baseman Kaylee Roles. Roles, a junior, was named first team All-State, and also first team All-Greater Thumb Conference this past year, and finished playing her third season at third base with .409 batting average, 40 RBIs, 52 hits, eight doubles, and two home runs. Roles also pitched for the Rockets, earning a 9-1 record with 77 strikeouts in 62 innings.
“I call her a hitting machine because everthing that she hits is usually ripped,” said coach Behmlander. “As good as her hitting has been though what I am most proud of is her defense. She has really worked hard at her position and has become an excellent defensive third baseman.”
The fourth infielder to earn All-Advertiser first team honors is Frankenmuth’s Andrea Perlberg. Perlberg, an All-State first teamer, and Central Michigan softball commit, was the leadoff hitter for the Eagles, and batted .433 this past season. She also broke her own school record for stolen bases, which she set as a junior, with 37 steals this season.
“Her game is quickness,” said Walraven. “She might be the fastest player that I have ever coached, and she was really a table setter for our offense, and made our offense go.”
Another speedster on the first team is Reese outfielder Maddie Coulter. Coulter, a junior, was named All-State, and was first team All-Conference. She batted .412, scored 50 runs, and stole 22 bases.
“Maddie has developed into one of the area’s best defensive outfielders,” said Behmlander. “She has always been fast, but she is really starting to realize how her speed can help her. She was our leadoff hitter, and hit consistently all year.”
Micaylee Root, Caro
Mayville centerfielder Hunter Wilson was a big part of the Wildcats success this past season, and earned All-State honorable mention honors in the process. Wilson held a .490 batting average this season as the Mayville cleanup hitter, and collected 42 hits, 39 RBIs and 11 doubles.
“Hunter had a great year,” said Mayville coach Mark Cooper. “She worked very hard in the offseason last year and it paid off. She was our most powerful bat, and was a very consistent centerfielder.”
Caro’s Mikaylee Root is on the All-Advertiser team as an outfielder, but played multiple positions for the Tigers this season, while batting .479 as the Caro leadoff hitter. Root will be joining the Delta College softball team as an outfielder.
“Micaylee was a great leadoff batter for us, who consistently got on base and advanced using her speed,” said Caro coach Beth Kirk. “She played three different positions defensively throughout our season and was an asset wherever she was playing. She is extremely coachable and a solid all around athlete, with great speed.”
“Mikaylee was a sparkplug for our team this year,” said Caro assistant coach Bob Tobey. “She got on base alot, was a fast runner, and stole alot of bases. She played some infield, but her best play was in the outfield. Whenever she would come to the plate the opposing team would be setting up special defenses trying to stop her.”
Carlee Selle was arguably the area’s top hitter this past season, and did a great job defensively as a catcher for Reese, earning her an All-Advertiser At-Large bid. Selle, only a sophomore, batted .531 this season, with 68 hits, 42 RBIs, 16 doubles, and seven home runs. Her on base percentage was .580, and her slugging was .914.
“Carlee took over for an all-state catcher two years ago, and we haven’t missed a beat,” said Behmlander. “She has caught every game the last two years, and she hits especially well in big games. She went 8-for-16 in our playoff run with three home runs. Her goal is to play in college, and I don’t see anything stopping her.”
The other At-Large player on the All-Advertiser team is Mayville pitcher Lauryn Frenzel. Frenzel, only a freshman, took to the role of the Wildcat’s ace quickly, throwing a no-hitter in her first varsity game this season. She finished the year with three no-hitters, and a 16-4 record, with 200 strikeouts.
“Lauryn is a truly amazing freshman, that had an incredible year,” said Cooper. “She is mature past her years.”
USA coach Steve Bohn, and Erica Treiber
Leading the All-Advertiser softball team as the Coach of the Year is USA Patriots head coach Steve Bohn. Bohn, in his fourth year of coaching the Patriots led his team to the Division 4 State Finals, and went 40-3 this season with a perfect 10-0 record in their conference. Bohn led the Patriots through their toughest schedule in recent memory, and now owns a 156-13 record as a coach.
“It’s an honor, but when you have the best players, you are going to be the best coach,” said Bohn.
“Coach Bohn was tough on us at times, but we never took anything personally because we all knew it was because he wanted us to be successful,” said USA senior Maddie Zimmer. “He always pushed us to be better and expected everyone to put forth their best effort. He was a great coach, and it was a pleasure to get the chance to play for him.”
Mike Gallagher is a sports writer for the Advertiser, and can be reached at sports@tcadvertiser.com
2015 All-Advertiser Softball
First Team
Pitcher Nikki Bauer USA
Pitcher Amariah Wright Frankenmuth
Catcher Bre Dinsmoore USA
Infield Mikaela Stricker Reese
Infield Kaylee Roles Reese
Infield Kayla Gremel USA
Infield Andrea Perlberg Frankenmuth
Outfield Maddie Coulter Reese
Outfield Hunter Wilson Mayville
Outfield Mikaylee Root Caro
At-Large Carlee Selle Reese
At-Large Lauryn Frenzel Mayville
Head Coach Steve Bohn USA
Second Team
Pitcher Mackenzie Coulter Reese
Pitcher Kyla Dutcher North Branch
Catcher Chaise Taylor Millington
Infield Kayli Leix Millington
Infield Jackie Jones North Branch
Infield Cassidy MacGuire Kingston
Infield Hannah Karwat Frankenmuth
Outfield Makenzie Sipes Frankenmuth
Outfield Sara Reinhardt USA
Outfield Macie Hornbacher Caro
At-Large Taylor Wright Millington
At-Large Chloe Weissenborn Caro
Honorable Mention
Caro – Melissa Cockerill, Morgan Eremia; Cass City – Alliah Riddle, Megan LeValley, Sayge Cuthrell; Frankenmuth – Alyssa Jarlock, Kayla Brooks; Kingston – Sara Savage, Alli Bundschuh; Millington – Hailey Murray, Calli Cunningham; Mayville – Miranda Zaremba, Teddi Sweeney, Natalie Gorde; Marlette – Courtney Quade; North Branch – Julia Kropp, Alyssa DeMeyers, Brianna Dean; Reese – Breyanna Thayer, Sam Prueter, Elaina Beyerlein; USA – Maddie Zimmer, Erica Treiber, Katie Englehardt, Brianna Osantowske; Vassar – Macy Zwerk, Hannah Tomlinson , Jenna Guile