SOFTBALL Lake Orion’s diamond gem Tessa Nuss breaks record, bows out one of school’s all-time greats

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

Dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

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LAKE ORION – Ever since she was little, Tessa Nuss has been known as fast on the softball diamond. She more than lived up to that during her prep career.

A recent Lake Orion grad, Nuss was recently honored as the 2019 Lake Orion Female Athlete of the Year following an exceptional four-year career with the Dragons. She was also selected and competed in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association All-Star Game to cap her fine prep career.

Lake Oriun’s Tessa Nuss recently finished up her fine four-year prep career with a mutitude of accolades and records, including a pair of MHSAA records. Cortesy Photo / Lake Orion Athletics

“I guess I was always fast, or I knew how to run the bases,” laughed Nuss, who roamed center field for Lake Orion and also batted lead-off in the order.

One of her crafts was to track down fly balls with ease and cover a ton of ground in the outfield. The other was to – steal bases. And lots of them.

No one did it better than Tessa Nuss.

Headed to Division I Binghamton University (N.Y.) in August to continue her softball and academics career (she carried a 4.0 GPA in high school), Nuss eclipsed many records on the base paths. Nuss holds numerous school records and her 125-for-125 on base swipes is the new MHSAA career record for consecutive stolen bases. The old mark was 112-for-112 was set by Lansing Catholic’s Mikayla Sanford (112-for-112, 5-21-2016 to 5-10-2018).

Ironically, Nuss was never caught stealing during her four-year career. Her accomplishment also ranks in the Top 10 nationally and her career 1.000 career percentage is also the new state standard.

“She’s one of the best we’ve had here,” said Lake Orion coach Joe Woityra, who has been on the Dragons’ staff for 20 years, the past 13 as head coach. “We’ve had a lot of all-state players and we’ve had some good ones. Tessa definitely belongs up there.

“It’s definitely amazing when you think about it,” continued Woityra of her base-stealing mark. “To never get caught — not even once. And she missed part of her sophomore year. She was diagnosed with a stress fracture from basketball midway in her sophomore (softball) season and we had to shut her down. Her numbers would have been even better. But she meant much more to us than her ability to steal bases. She had a great career for us in many ways.”

Spanning 3.5 seasons, Nuss posted 424 at-bats. She slapped 250 hits, scored 216 runs, recorded 87 RBI, 30 doubles, 20 triples, five home runs, a .590 batting average, a .940 fielding percentage – and then there is the base stealing activities.

“I didn’t even know of the record or that I was close until earlier this year. Then I just blocked it from my head,” said Nuss. “I just wanted to help my team win games and compete (for championships).

“It was really hard sitting out part of my sophomore year,” she continued. “When the doctor told me the pain was from a stress fracture from basketball season and I had to sit out the rest of the season of softball, I was heartbroken. But I realize that everything happens for a reason. God had a plan for all of this.”

With a career, Nuss helped Lake Orion win over 20 games each year and be a mainstay in the Division 1 Top 20. The Dragons finished in the top three of a loaded OAA Red Division all four years. She was named to the Division 1 All-State Team all four years, including first team as a freshman, junior and senior and honorable mention as a sophomore.

“Tessa will go down in our softball history as one of the best we have ever had,” said Chris Bell, Lake Orion Director of Athletics. “After this season she will be softball’s first four time all-state selection. This season she broke the state career record for most consecutive stolen bases. In her softball career, she has never been thrown out while stealing a base. All four years she has hit well over .500 and she has been one of the best defensive center fielders in the state of Michigan.”

Nuss was also a finalist for the Detroit Free Press Sports Awards High School Softball Player of the Year in the state of Michigan and was also one of four favorites for the Total Softball Player of the Year.

Nuss recently wrapped up her club/travel softball career in late July with Finesse Fastpitch Softball Club, which finished high in a variety of tournaments around the country this summer. She looks back at her prep career with a smile and into the future with anticipation of her collegiate career.

“I had a great time playing for Lake Orion,” said Nuss. “I wish we could have won more championships. We won a league and district my freshman year, but we were in such a tough district the past few years. It was still a great time. I enjoyed it all. Now I am looking forward to playing in college.”

Where she can begin to swipe more bases.

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