Michael K. Bosi: Oak Harbor's Sorg knows what she wants, appreciates what she earns, wants more
Oak Harbor junior Alyse Sorg is first among seven stories in the Michael K. Bosi series to run on consecutive Saturdays. The Bosi series recognizes outstanding career or season achievement for high school athletes. The award is named for the late News-Messenger sports writer who died in 1997 at age 23 from cardiac complications because of Marfan Syndrome.
Most highlight reels ultimately contain similar catches.
Some catches are more exclusive. Margaretta's Addie Kromer cranked the first pitch of the game from Oak Harbor's Reagan Schultz deep to center field.
It looked like a home run, until Rockets center fielder Alyse Sorg stole a tally from the Polar Bears. She crashed into the fence as she jumped to make the catch.
It was the perfect ball to snap Sorg from a funk. She'd been taking it on the shin.
Sorg likes to observe her surroundings, taking a moment to appreciate special circumstances. The sophomore already competed in seven events at the state swim meet.
She qualified to regional in cross country last season. She'd earned a key role by the time the postseason started as a freshman for softball with nothing to lose.
She wanted to prove herself. Problem was, her legs were assaulted by batted balls while pitching in Florida to start sophomore season.
She couldn't walk for two days after one escape, which is easier for me to say. Pitches and swings made her flinch.
It's difficult to take things in, regardless of the atmosphere, if you're afraid to step into the box.
"Overcoming a mentally challenging season," she said. "Sophomore season started good. I hit a rocky spot. I got over it. I'm better than I was before the mental block. I'm mentally hard on myself. I practiced with my dad [Jeff Sorg].
"It was a lot of me telling myself I can do it, overcome it and get rid of it. Finding trust in myself. By the beginning of the tournament, I got back to where I needed to be. I realized I was over it the first pitch against Margaretta.
"I wasn't afraid. When I went to the plate, I had my confidence back. I outgrew it. I don't think about it, which is nice."
If softball is Sorg's favorite sport, swimming is probably her specialty. She'd like to extend her career after high school, with softball in the mix.
"Swimming is more individual," she said. "I made state the last two years."
She tied for the last spot in the final in the 100 freestyle at state as a sophomore. She lost a swim-off.
Still, she noticed not only the Oak Harbor fans, but Port Clinton as well cheering for her. That's enough for anybody to want more of such environments.
She was 11th in the 100 backstroke and 17th in the 100 freestyle at state last year. She was fourth with 400 freestyle and 200 freestyle relays as s freshman.
She competed at state in the 100 backstroke both years. A 200 freestyle relay was fifth and medley relay seventh last season.
"I always had the goal to make it to state and be there with my mom," she said
She qualified to a USA Swim event at Ohio State for Junior Olympics when she was 12 or 13.
"A high place gave me a boost to work hard at practice for high school," she said. "My mom pushed me. That was a big moment, people watching."
Andrea Sorg is her mom, and Oak Harbor's coach. She'll enter her 20th season at the helm.
"She puts in as much work as her athletes," Sorg said. "I don't think she missed a practice and she coaches every athlete. Winning state coach of the year and regional coach of the year was exciting for her, and for me.
"A small-town coach with so much recognition. My mom works with the younger kids, when they're 3. They don't know how to swim at all. She builds the program from a young age to help everybody build to high school."
Andrea competed in swimming and softball, before graduating from Oak Harbor in 1999. She helps with more than swimming.
"She has good inspirational speeches," Sorg said. "It works."
It's not just sports. Sorg's GPA is better than 4.0, she's taking three courses for college credits and she'd like to earn scholarships.
"During swimming, I have to wake up," she said. "More in the afternoon. I do as much in study hall as possible so there's not as much to do after. I try to get my school work done. Schoolwork always comes before athletics.
"You have to have your grades up to be eligible. It's very important to me to get what I need to get done in school."
Sorg helped a 200 freestyle relay top the former program record, held by her mom. Andrea was still part of the 200 medley relay record, which Sorg knows is likely out of reach.
She'll make four events at state a habit if she can.
"I might switch events," she said. "Try to make the top eight in all four."
Sorg's strengths are the 100 backstroke and breaststroke, but she's extremely versatile. Coach put her in the 200 freestyle at the Sandusky Bay Conference meet to help the team and she won without preparation.
"I can move around quite a bit," she said. "It's great to have options at the end of the season."
Sorg matched a single-season record with 19 walks and scored 29 runs last season. Oak Harbor advanced to state for the first time in program history.
"Seeing the bunch of people from our town," she said. "School administration canceled the last day of school. We all took it in. It was a great experience. It would be so cool to make it back. The little girl in me is proud of how far I've come and how I made it.
"I always thought it was swimming, now I have softball too."
She narrowly failed to qualify to regional for cross country as a freshman. So close, it made an impression.
"I missed by one or two places," she said. "It helped me set my goals to get to regional. Freshman year, I had bad shin splints. I did physical therapy. Acupuncture. I went before practice for the needles. I strained my ankle.
"I saw how well I did with the injuries and showed what I can do my sophomore year."
She played soccer before high school.
"I loved it," she said. "Cross country was a better fit conditioning for swimming. Now I have goals I want to get to."
She'd like to add state to her courses.
"Maybe get five girls to go with me to regional," she said.
Despite trials fighting injuries and their ghosts in two of her sports, Sorg remains on her feet. In fact, she deflected toward the top.
She still has two years left at Oak Harbor.
"It's great to make state for swimming and softball," she said. "Regional for cross country. I had no idea what to expect. Now, I'm used to it and prepared for it. I know what to work toward."
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Michael K. Bosi: Oak Harbor's Sorg sees it, makes it happen for self
