News Photo by James Andersen Alpena Community College athlete Linnea Hentkowski, seated, recently signed a letter of intent to join ACC’s women’s basketball team for the 2021 season. Hentkowski will also play softball at ACC after participating in spring training earlier this year. ACC’s basketball teams will begin play when the spring semester starts in January, to deter the spread of COVID-19.

This spring has admittedly been a different one for Linnea Hentkowski.

With spring sports cancelled in the wake of concerns about COVID-19, Hentkowski has spent a lot of time running, keen on staying active and getting ready to return to the sport she loves, whenever that time comes.

“It’s definitely a lot different because softball’s been my entire life since I was a little girl and it’s like a blank space because you’re not doing,” Hentkowski said. “It just feels good to be on the field and play.”

Whenever sports resume, Hentkowski will undoubtedly be busy. She recently signed a Letter of Intent to join the Alpena Community College women’s basketball team and will return to the softball program in the spring.

Following recommendations from the National Junior College Athletic Association to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Lumberjacks’ basketball season will begin in January, when the spring semester begins. The softball season typically begins in late March and continues until May.

As a three-year softball player for Rogers City High School, Hentkowski was a member of two teams that made the final four in Division 4. In 2019, she scored a crucial run for the Hurons in a quarterfinal win over Rudyard.

“It was the best thing of my entire high school career because we were just on fire all the time. We always had each other’s back and we were unstoppable,” Hentkowski said. “I went to (the) state (semifinals) twice in my career and not many people can say that.”

Hentkowski was reunited with two of her former Rogers City teammates this year, Catheryn Hart and Alissa Bowden, as the Lumberjacks got 10 spring training games under their belts before the rest of the season was cancelled.

This spring, she’ll be joined by fellow Huron Kyley LaFleche as well as Alpena’s Aubree Sheldon, Dayna LaBell, Mollie Girard and Jade Schultz, who all signed with ACC earlier this month.

“It’s just thrilling and I loved playing with all the teammates I had last year,” Hentkowski said. “I’m sure all love it this year with new ones and it’s always a lot of fun.”

Before softball season, Hentkowski will also play basketball for the Lumberjacks and has been running in preparation for ACC coach Bobby Allen’s focus on conditioning. She’s also been playing slow pitch softball in Rogers City and should be in the mix for an outfield spot when the season begins.

Rogers City softball coach Karl Grambau is excited for both Hentkowski and LaFleche to continue their careers at ACC and praised ACC coach Christin Sobeck for actively recruiting players in Northeast Michigan.

“I think it’s great that they’ll get a chance to play at Alpena. They both played great for Rogers City,” Grambau said. “I really like how Christin has recruited Northern Michigan.”