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Underdog Troy wins fifth straight softball district

Dan Stickradt | June 5, 2011 | Comments (0)

IN ACTION: Troy pitcher Katie Krajenta (front) and shortstop Kamryn LaCarter (back, left) helped the colts win its fifth straight district Saturday. File Photo.

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

UTICA — Playing in the underdog role is something that Troy has not been accustomed to in recent years, but it’s a role that the Colts are playing to perfection on the softball diamond.

Unlike in the past decade-plus-years, Troy wasn’t a heavy favorite at Saturday’s Division 1 softball district. The results were still the same for the Colts.

A rebuilding year turned up a notch when Troy won a pair of games at Utica High School, topping Rochester, 11-5, in the semifinals, then the Colts downed the host Chieftains, 7-5, in the finals to advance to regional play.

Troy will face Waterford Kettering at 12:30 p.m.in the second semifinal at Oxford High School. Romeo and Hartland will face in the other game at 11a.m..

“We’ve won five (districts) in a row. I must admit, I didn’t know what to expect this time,” said veteran Troy coach Tom Calnen. “In the past, we’ve had a dominant pitcher. This year I knew we would be competitive, but by no means were we a heavy favorite.”

Cori Mittelbrun gave up six hits with five strikeouts in the win against Rochester.

Kamryn LaCarter slapped two hits, including an RBI double. Mittlebrun had two RBI, Lauren Harden contributed two hits and an RBI, Lyndsey Mukomel had two more hits and an RBI and Laney Hart drove in a run and added two hits for Troy.

Carly Cribbs scored twice and belted a two-run triple for Rochester. Sarah Scheblbauer drove in two runs for the Falcons, while Mackenzie Irvine contributed two hits.

In the finals, Kate Krajenta scattered seven hits, struck out one and walked three to gain the win from the circle.

Troy (16-11) had seven hits, led by two from Mittelbrun’s two hits. Mukomel and Hart each added an RBI for the Colts, who led 6-2 through three innings and held on for the win.

Jill Kilane had three hits and scored a run for Utica.

CALLING ALL ARMS: Troy looked to several players, including third baseman Kristen Shelter, to win its fifth straight district Saturday. File Photo.

“We’re looking forward to the regional. It will be a little different not being a favorite, but who knows what could happen,” offered Calnen. “When we show up and compete, we can beat some teams. We do have some kids with experience form last year. We’re hoping that comes into play.

“I have seen Kettering this season and sometimes they are dominant and other times they are not,” said Calnen.”I would say that either Hartland or Romeo are the favorites, but we’re hoping to get to the finals and see what happens.”

Last season Troy reached the state semifinals, but graduated four all-state players from that team. The Colts were state quarterfinalists from 2007-2009.