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ACC softball team ready for first spring training in program history

News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Members of the Alpena Community College softball team practiced one more time Friday morning before they travel to Myrtle Beach, SC for spring training. (L to R) Jacey Adams, Alexa Quaine, Monica Bartz, Kendra Cole, Mary Myers, Kelsey Huffman, Taylor Siersma. (Not Pictured) Ashley Meyers, Kayla Lenard, Jenna Hincka, Taylor Whitman, Brooke Ellis and Hannah Nostrandt.

For the first time ever, the Alpena Community College softball will travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to compete in spring training games.

Second year head coach Shelley Hance and assistant coach Kaili Ponik came to ACC last season with a vision to open up opportunities for athletes and build a winning program in Alpena. Hance and her Lumberjacks will make history Wednesday when they take the field against Southeastern Community College as it will be the first time an ACC softball team competes in a spring training game.

“With this exposure that these girls are going to receive and to have all of this competition and be surrounded by other softball players who want to play is just going to help us thrive even more and get excited about what we’ll be doing,” Hance said. “ACC has never traveled to play in a tournament like this and I’m really excited to bring this to the area and show everyone what all is out there.”

A total of 93 teams will compete in the same spring training tournament the Lumberjacks will be at. Hance heard about the location from other college coaches and jumped on the opportunity to give her team the opportunity to get some early season games in, while playing a variety of different competition in good softball conditions in March.

Last year, ACC won just two games and came into the season nearly 20 games behind its competition because it hadn’t played spring training games. That will be different this season as the Lumberjacks play eight games during their trip and will be better prepared when they head back north to begin conference play.

On top of the spring training trip, ACC also held practices and played games for the first time ever during the fall season.

“This first year will be good exposure for these girls and it will help us so much as a team. Being so many games behind our competition last year we were still able to be competitive, but we just couldn’t catch up,” Hance said. “This year we had a fall season where we were able to work out and being able to go on this trip and be able to see and work on things will benefit us tremendously.”

The Lumberjacks return just five players from a year ago. Ashley Meyers (Posen) resumes her duties as the team’s ace and three hitter in the lineup. Kendra Cole (Alcona) will also see time on the mound as well as playing first base. Alexa Quaine (Rogers City) will be the team’s starting second baseman, while both Brooke Ellis (Mio) and Mary Myers (Boyne City) will patrol the outfield.

Hance has brought in eight freshman to come in and make an impact. Kelsey Huffman (Newberry) will see time on the mound along with Meyers and Cole. Taylor Siersma (Zeeland) will complete the battery for the three pitchers as she will be the team’s starting catcher. Monica Bartz (Posen) and Jacey Adams (Harbor Springs) will also see time behind the plate. Bartz is expected play first base as well. Jenna Hincka (Posen) will come in and start for the Lumberjacks after a stellar career as a Viking and continue to play shortstop. Meyers and Huffman will rotate between third base when one of the two are not on the mound. Taylor Whitman (Mio) will be in the outfield along with Myers, Ellis, Adams and Kayla Lenard (Posen). Hannah Nostrandt (Frankfort) was expected to play a big role for the team, but suffered an offseason injury and will miss the entire season.

“I’m expecting good offense this year. We have a lot of good hitters and some of our second year girls have made improvements and I’m expecting them to produce,” Hance said. “The expectations are higher this season. Our goal is to have a winning record and the expectation is to be .500.”

The Lumberjacks will play the first two games on their spring training trip on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Southeastern CC. The team will resume play Thursday and Friday with doubleheaders before playing two games against two different teams on Saturday and will then head back north.

All ACC’s games can be watched via live stream at fastpitchdreams.citymax.com. Visitors to the home page simply click on Live Game Streaming at the top and find ACC.

“I’m just really appreciative to the community who supported us in order to make this trip possible,” Hance said. “The expectation is to continue going down to spring training tournaments in the future and we’re hoping the community jumps on board and continues to help us so that the girls can also continue to give back. It’s very exciting and we’re ready to go.”

ACC’s Spring Training Schedule

Wed. March 1, @ Myrtle Beach, SC vs Southestern 1:30 pm & 3:30 pm

Thurs. March 2, @ Myrtle Beach, SC vs Olney Central 9:30 am & 11:30 am

Fri. March 3, @ Myrtle Beach, SC vs Florence Darlington 9:30 am & 11:30 am

Sat. March 4, @ Myrtle Beach, SC vs Spartanburg Methodist 9:30 am

Sat. March 4, @ Myrtle Beach, SC vs Penn State – Schuylkill 11:30 am

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