Varsity softball team to play Lakeview High School at U-M field

BATTER UP | North plays against Lakeview last season at the University of Michigan field.

By Michal Ruprecht, Editor-at-Large
May 3, 2017

On Saturday, May 6 at 6 p.m., varsity softball will take on Lakeview High School at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor softball field.

This will be the second year the team has faced LHS at the university. Junior Rebecca Alway, who played last year, said she is looking forward to competing on the large field because it’s more challenging.

“It is honestly amazing. It is so different than any field I think any of us have played on. It’s so big. It’s gorgeous. It’s so nicely prepared. It’s just great,” Alway said.

Alway said the fence at U-M is further than the one at North.

“If you hit home runs, it’s obviously more of a challenge than having just a 200-foot fence,” Alway said. “The outfielders have to cover way more ground, but you know, I think it’s a challenge, but it’s good. It gets us ready if you want to play in college.”

Softball coach Ron Smith agrees.

“It gives our players an opportunity to play on a national champion’s field and experience the feeling of that setting,” Smith said via email.

According to Smith, his athletes were invited by LHS last year. Admission is free.

GOOD GAME | Players high five after last year’s game.

Although the stadium seats more fans than a high school field, sophomore Kayla Kettler said there wasn’t a large supporter turnout last year because they played on prom night. She added that she’d like to have more spectators come this year.

“We had a pretty good showing last year, and hopefully this year will be bigger because more people will know about it,” Kettler said. “We’ve had more time to know about it, and it’s not on prom night like it was last year.”

Because this game exposes Alway to a collegiate field, she said the experience prepares her for an athletic career in college. Smith and Alway said the team has a chance at winning this year.

“I mean I think any game really is, you know, pushing yourself to be better as a player, but the setup of the field is definitely something I’m going to have to get used to if I want to play in college,” Alway said. “The last time we played Lakeview, we had bit of a bad inning, and I think we definitely have a chance.”