By JAMES

ANDERSEN

News Sports Editor

ROGERS CITY-On an 85 degree day a few weeks ago, the Rogers City softball team took an unconventional approach to practice.

Rather than enjoying the nice weather and practicing outside, the Hurons holed up in the gym. No, the Hurons weren’t taking a day off in the middle of the season. They were putting in work with the future in mind.

With the Hurons struggling at the plate, assistant coach Duane Pitts worked with each player on their hitting, ironing out flaws and identifying ways to improve.

“There were certain flaws he noticed and we wanted to get our at-bats more consistent with each kid. He spent a lot of time working with each kid on certain things,” Rogers City coach Karl Grambau said. “It really paid off because we’ve gotten hot here toward the end of the year.”

Two weeks later, that day spent on hitting has made a world of difference. The Hurons are making better contact at the plate and playing well at right time. Offense played a big part in the Hurons’ district title win-their fifth straight-last week and they’ll be looking to their offense again today when they play Frankfort in a Division 4 regional semifinal at 12:30 p.m. today at Lake Leelanau St. Mary.

Central Lake will play Mio in the other semifinal at 10 a.m. and the regional final will be played at 3 p.m.

Rogers City (27-11) is used to postseason success, having advanced out of regionals in two of the past four seasons, but the Hurons know that past success brings no guarantee of future success. The Hurons found that out the hard way last season when they lost in the regional final.

“You can’t get cocky because there could be one day where a pitcher throws a no-hitter or a pitcher gives up five runs,” Rogers City senior Sarah Meredith said. “Anyone can be beaten and I think it’s important to not underestimate anyone.”

To that end, the Hurons focus their efforts on doing what needs to be done-pitching, hitting and defense-and let their efforts speak for themselves. It served them well last week as they defeated Hillman and Onaway by a combined score of 21-3 en route to the district title.

On the mound, freshman Jayna Hance has played like anything but a newcomer. While she admits to feeling some pressure as a freshman, Hance has played well under pressure. Last weekend she struck out nine, walked just three and allowed just three runs on six hits.

“Sometimes it’s challenging because sometimes when I’m on the field I don’t want to make a mistake being a freshman,” Hance said. But I think playing with more experienced players helps me build (or grow as a player).”

At the plate, Rogers City’s hitting-only practices have paid off, but Grambau said the Hurons’ success is also a result of lots of tinkering with the batting order. The Hurons have plenty of players who can hit, but Grambau said the key is putting together a lineup that flows together. That tinkering has resulted in a lineup where five of the first six hitters are underclassmen, but it’s a lineup that can hit and hit well.

Last weekend every regular in the lineup had at least one hit and Rogers City finished the day with more than two dozen hits.

“(We want it) where it’s one girl picking up the next one and you want an offense that can produce runs,” Grambau said.

Having experienced the highs and lows of the postseason, Grambau coaches his teams to take things one game at a time, but also to appreciate the experience. The Hurons will take the same approach today in regionals and expect a challenge from the Panthers.

“Frankfort’s very athletic and very well coached. They’re fundamentally a very solid team and they try to put pressure on you on the bases,” Grambau said. “It’s a one-game elimination, but this team has a lot of experience. We feel excited to play the next one. We know we have to get through one game to play the next one, but we take them one game at a time.”