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Expectations still high as softball team returns to the field

Courtesy Photo The Alpena softball team returns to the field this year after the 2020 season was cut short after just four days. A team photo will be included in a future edition of The News when all players are present.

ALPENA — No matter the year or players on the roster, the expectations are always the same for the Alpena High softball team.

The Wildcats want to compete, improve, put themselves in position to win games and be in the mix for the conference championship and for postseason hardware.

That’s certainly true this season as Alpena returns to the field in 2021 after the 2020 season was canceled last April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have the same continued expectations this year, to compete and improve every day,” Alpena coach Paul Marwede said. “If we do that, the wins will take care of themselves.”

After the 2020 season lasted just four days, the Wildcats — and dozens of other teams in Michigan — have been eager to return to the field. With two classes of new players entering the program, the Wildcats hope to add another Big North Conference championship to their trophy case as well as postseason hardware.

Alpena will host a Division 1 district in June that includes Traverse City Central, Traverse City West and Mt. Pleasant.

“As coaches, we are excited about coaching this year’s team that consists of so many new faces,” Marwede said. ” We are looking forward to having an exciting season and to do everything in our power to bring home another BNC championship.”

This year’s roster includes seniors Sydney Chojnacki and Allie DeRocher and Corine Donajkowski, who are all returning from the 2019 season as well as senior Gabriella Smith.

The rest of the roster includes juniors Elysa Kelley, Olivia Leland and Kyra Lucas, sophomores Keely Dahl, Macy Schram and Marah Wisniewski and freshmen Avery Dubey, Sydney Hitzelberger and Emilee Modrzejewski.

The Wildcats opened the season with a pair of road wins against Swan Valley and will have several opportunities to play in front of a home crowd this season, assuming the weather cooperates.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the home schedule will be the weekend of May 7 when Alpena hosts Garden City on Friday and then Garden City, Clarkston and Grand Blanc on Saturday for a four-team tournament. Alpena will also have a stretch of home games against Central, Pinconning and Petoskey just before district play begins.

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