Plymouth hitters look strong again
By ED WRIGHT
OBSERVER Staff Writer
The Plymouth High School softball program's tradition of excellence shouldn't miss a beat in 2008 as several key performers return from last years's 26-4 squad.
Last season's campaign for the Wildcats was a couple heart-breaking late-season losses from being remarkable as a loss to Walled Lake Central cost them a Western Lakes Activities Association outright title, although they eventually tied for the top spot with Northville; and they were upended in the first round of the Division 1 District by Salem.
At one point, the Wildcats were ranked No. 7 in the Division 1 rankings.
"This is a very good team with the potential to be a great team," said Val Canfield, the only varsity coach the Wildcats have known since the school opened in 2002. "We lost some good players to graduation - including our All-Conference shortstop Kim Klonowski - but I like the core of players we have returning this year."
"Our outfield has a lot of quickness and they're very consistent players. Our infield is experienced and talented; our pitchers have been tested in the past and performed well under pressure; and catcher is one of the best around."
There will still be a Klonowski roaming the shortstop position and batting clean-up for the Wildcats. Stacey Klonowski - Kim's younger sister - will take over both roles with the potential to be just as good as her sister, who is currently playing Division 1 collegiate softball at Youngstown State University.
"Stacey is very fundamentally sound and her arm is as strong as Kim's," noted Canfield. "She hit four home runs last year, which is a school record - and she was only a freshman."
The Wildcats' pitching duties will be shared by a pair of more-than-capable seniors: Meaghan Patterson, who handled the bulk of the mound work last year, and Ally Ciotti, who started a few games and was a reliable reliever.
"I'm not sure who will be our go-to pitcher yet," Canfield admitted. "They're both looking real strong so far."
Canfield said freshman hurler Lauren Smith will start the season at the junior-varsity level, but could see some spot duty throughout the course of the season.
Joining Klonowski in the starting infield will be three-year starting second baseman Beth Heldmeyer, an All-Division honoree in 2007 and sophomore Amanda Burnard, a slick-fielding gloveman and powerful hitter, who clubbed three home runs last season.
"She's a vacuum on defense - nothing gets by her," Canfield said of Burnard.
Freshman Marissa Blassic has the early nod to start the season as the Wildcats' first-string first baseman.
Plymouth's outfield is solid as a rock with senior Amy Bondy, junior Jill Brennan and junior Gina Giordano manning the three spots.
Canfield is assisted by Fred Heldmeyer, Renee Priest, Bev McManus and former Wildcat standout player Melissa Butzow.
The Wildcats are set to open their season Friday, April 11, at home against Churchill. | 
