"We really came together today, and we actually had fun," junior catcher Erin Rodes said after clearing the fence with a homer against Memorial. "Usually we are kind of down. But today we all came together and really encouraged each other. It was really nice. It was a good change. It was just like last year.
"When we get down in the game, we tend to get down in the dugout, too. This game should help us for the next games to come."
But the team can take some solace in that it started slow last season before coming on to tie for the division title.
"It was pretty upsetting because those are the ones we want to beat, but this is how it was last year, and we ended up tying for the division so I think we're going to come back from it," sophomore shortstop Stacey Klonowski said.
The team, which has five seniors, has been led by Rodes, Klonowski, junior leftfielder Jill Brennan, senior centerfielder Amy Bondy, sophomore third baseman Amanda Burnard and freshman pitcher Lauren Smith.
Klonowski and Burnard have provided a lot of the thunder. The team was averaging nearly six runs per game.
And the team does have a big win over one rival.
Trailing Plymouth Salem, 7-3, the Wildcats rallied to win 9-7. The team got a little revenge for Salem's upset win in districts last season.
"It was awesome," Klonowski said. "It was such a relief because we needed that revenge from them.
"When we were losing, none of us gave up. Like we were out there like, 'It's OK. We can do that. We've done it before, and we can do it again.' "
And as for districts, Canfield thinks her team has what it takes to be a threat when the postseason begins May 27.
"As long as we continue to play the games like we know how, we should go far," Canfield said. "The consistency should take us far, I'm hoping."
Contact VINCE ELLIS at 313-222-6479 or vellis@freepress.com.
| 
