As coaches, former players give back to the softball community

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

TROY — Liana Easterby and Kim Kochjada were both members of Troy High’s softball team in the early 2000s, helping the Colts to multiple winning seasons and championship success.

Now, the duo is giving back to the community.

Both serve as coached in the Troy Rockets youth program, and are on staff with the organization’s 10U ballclub. And they are having a blast.

“I remember when (Troy High) Coach Tom Calnen’s kid was a just a little one, now she is playing on this team,” said Easterby, who graduated in 2004 from Troy and Alma College in 2008. “It’s funny how time flies.”

Kochjada was a teammate of Easterby at Troy and serves as an assist to Easterby with this Rockets team. Both graduated from Troy in 2004. Calnen also serves as an assist, trying to help build tomorrow’s stars today.

“It’s a lot of fun, getting a chance to coach these kids. I remember what it was like to be that age and playing softball,” recalled Easterby. “In some ways, it doesn’t seem that long ago.”

On this night at Waldon Middle School in Orion Township, the host Oakland Edge, which draws from multiple communities, proved too much to overcome. The Edge posted a 12-1, 13-6 double-header sweep of the Rockets in Waterford-North Oakland Area Softball League play.

The final score doesn’t mean all that much. These players are in the early years of their playing careers, still learning the fundamentals of pitching, fielding, base-running and hitting. The talent levels are significant from player-to-player, and from team-to-team, and can vary from day-to-day.

“At this stage, it’s about getting better and improving,” offered Easterby, who at 23 is a sales rep for WCSX radio in the Detroit market. “We’ve seen some pretty talented young kids in the league. Some of the teams are very good, some are not. We have our good days and bad days. But the girls are having fun and they are getting better.

This year’s group has been led by Miranda Urbin, Julia Calnen and Brittany Milaga, although other players have had their moments this season.

“It’s great to see my former players coming back and coaching,” smiled Calnen. “They want to come back and give to the program. I guess for some of them, it never gets old. It’s in their blood.”

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Last updated: Jul 14 2010 at 3:34 AM