https://www.michigansthumb.com/prepzone/article/Bulldog-rival-softball-team-is-a-contender-13815758.php
Bulldog revival: softball team is a contender
Mike Gallagher Tribune Sports Writer
Updated 11:25 pm EDT, Thursday, May 2, 2019
Owen-Gage at Caseville — Softball
Photo: Mike Gallagher/Huron Daily Tribune
CASEVILLE — After struggling to a 1-19 finish last season, the Owendale-Gagetown softball team is out to prove that it's not the same squad that it's been in recent memory.
The Bulldogs are off to a 7-2 start to the 2019 campaign, which includes five wins over North Central Thumb League Stars Division opponents. Following a 13-5 victory over Caseville Thursday night, they feel like they've made their point.
"This win shows the maturity of these girls and their toughness," said Owen-Gage head coach Bob Haldane. "It kind of sends a message, we're not just a pushover anymore. We've taken our lumps, now we're out there and we're battling. People are going to have to take us a little bit more seriously."
The Bulldogs team that finished in last place in the NCTL Stripes last season with a 1-7 mark, knocked off an Eagles squad that finished a perfect 8-0 in conference play last season behind a solid offensive performance.
Owen-Gage plated three runs in the first two innings, five in the third, four in the fourth, and then a final run in the sixth, taking advantage of 10 Caseville errors.
Carley Haldane, Libby Ondrajka and Monee Schember each had two hits, while Maddy Haldane drove in three runs on a triple.
Schember scored three times.
Aaliyah Gonzales walked twice, scored twice, and drove in a run, while Allison Haldane and Kaitlyn LaCroix both scored twice.
Carley Haldane earned the win on the mound, striking out six batters, scattering four runs, and allowing just two earned runs in seven innings of work.
For Caseville, Jessica Nugent drove in two runs and scored once.
Kaylin Ewald and Tyonna Outiveros drove in the other two Eagle runs.
Game 2 was called during the third inning due to rain, but before the game was called, the Bulldogs had built an 11-0 lead.
Gonzales picked up two hits, stole three bases, and scored twice.
Carley Haldane and Kaitlyn LaCroix both drove in two runs.
"This one was huge," Haldane said. "This is a rivalry game. When we had to come here, we had to refocus the girls because they couldn't wait to play them at home. So, this one was big for confidence. You build it as you go, and you build team chemistry. I'm very proud, Caseville is a very good team and well-coached and we were on their field. It's been a few years since the girls have beat them, so this is a nice feather in our cap tonight."
TURNING IT AROUND: Last season was a tough one for a young and inexperienced Owen-Gage team.
According to Haldane however, that season helped build to what the team is becoming this season.
"Another year, bringing people back, people that have played this game before, that's very important and that's been the difference," he said. "When you have experience and you didn't lose that many – we only lost two seniors – that's huge and it gives them confidence every step of the way. This is what this team needs. This team is so used to being there, but then they'll falter. We're learning to finish, it's been fun, and there's a lot of good things to come."
FAMILY AFFAIR: Haldane, who also coaches the Owen-Gage girls basketball team, has the luxury of coaching his four daughters Carley (junior), Maddy (sophomore) and twins Allison and Amber (eighth grade) in both basketball and softball.
"Tonight, we had two with a little bit of an attitude," Haldane said with a laugh. "No. 9 (Maddy) does not like to pitch in the rain and 26 (Carley) was worried about some other things. I'm extremely proud because two of my daughters pitch and they take it very seriously and they've put in a lot of work in the offseason. That has been one of our strong points. They're leading the way and people are noticing it. It's been fun."
Carley and Maddy are the two aces of the Owen-Gage staff, as the former has thrown 27 innings, striking out 20 batters, recording a 4-1 record and a 2.33 ERA, while the latter has thrown 20 innings, striking out 29 and recording a 2.80 ERA.
"It's stressful at times," said eldest, Carley. "They might get a bit of an attitude sometimes, but overall, it's pretty nice."
For eighth graders Allison and Amber, it's been about learning on the fly.
"I'm a father, yes, but I'm their coach first when it comes to the field and they know that," Bob Haldane said. "They're maturing with the team. I've got twins that are in eighth grade and they're battling. It's been fun and at times challenging, but they know how to deal with adversity and we talk about it a lot. That's the main thing, the communication."
PRODUCING OFFENSE: In nine games this season, the Bulldogs have scored 95 runs, which includes seven games where they have scored more than 10 runs.
Owen-Gage has been scoring their runs in a variety of ways, however.
As a team, the Bulldogs are hitting .257, but have a .474 on-base percentage.
They have drawn 73 walks, compared to just 41 strikeouts, have gotten on base 12 times after being hit by pitches, and have reached on error 30 times.
"I think that is another thing that comes back to the maturing process," Haldane said. "They're being selective, they know what to look for and yes, we're getting runs through a different way. Being patient is huge, and that comes with maturity, another year under your belt. We're manufacturing runs even by bunting."
Haldane added: "They're learning how to play as a team too. That's the biggest thing. They've knocked the I out of team. In year's past, I think that's kind of held them back. There are no egos, we're a team."
WELCOME ADDITION: Shortstop Aailyah Gonzales, a transfer from Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port, has been a solid addition to the Bulldogs squad, and a catalyst for their offense.
In 37 plate appearances, Gonzales had eight hits, 17 walks, and has scored 19 runs.
She is also a perfect six-of-six in stolen base attempts, sports a .444 batting average, and a .722 on-base percentage.
"She has been a welcome addition," Haldane said. "She's learning how to be a ballplayer in all aspects, defense, offense and being a patient hitter. There's so many ways that she can get on base.
She's got speed, she can bunt and when she wants to, she can put the ball in play and get on and really get this offense going."
PLAYER PERSPECTIVE: Carley Haldane was a big reason for the Bulldogs' victory over Caseville Thursday night, and have been a big part of Owen-Gage's early season success.
Haldane earned the win on the mound and collected two hits at the plate.
"I think that we really stuck together," Haldane said of the win. "We didn't give up even though the weather was bad, and we made the plays that we needed to."
Last season, as a sophomore, Haldane was part of a squad that went 1-19 overall, which she described as a tough situation to go through.
"It was bad," she said. "It was frustrating that we just couldn't do anything."
This season however, she has helped spearhead a 7-2 start, as she leads the team in hits (9), RBI (13), innings pitched (27), and wins (4), while hitting at a .346 clip getting on base in 50% of her plate appearances.
"It's been really great," she said of her team's start. "It's really put our confidence up there. It's got our momentum going and hopefully we'll be able to finish it out."
Now, with four conference wins under their belt, Haldane is hoping for bigger and better things for the Bulldogs.
"I think that we're doing really good," she said. "We've kind of gotten the feeling of what it's like to win, so now we just want to keep winning. I feel like if we just keep up with the work, we'll go far."
UP NEXT: Owen-Gage (7-2, 4-0) will play host to Genesee on Monday in NCTL crossover action, before heading to Peck next Thursday to resume conference play.
"I'd like to focus on what we have done up to this point and our first game with them last year," Haldane said of the matchup with Peck. "We were right there last year, and we lost it in the last inning. So, we know we can, and this is what we've been telling them, you show up, you play your ball. We haven't peaked yet, so I'm hoping to keep going next Thursday."