Whiteford softball team ready for final steps of state tournament journey

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford’s softball players were too smart for their coach.

The Bobcats made it to the state quarterfinals last season with a team made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores, so expectations were bound to be high this spring.

Coach Matt VanBrandt tried to tamp down those soaring hopes.

“We didn’t set out to win a state championship,” he said. “We just set out to improve as a team.”

The girls saw right through that ploy.

“Early in the season, we just talked about doing a little more than last season, but we have a lot of smart girls,” VanBrandt said. “They knew if we improved, a state championship was a possible outcome.”

Now the Bobcats are back where they ended last year. They will play today in the state quarterfinals with hopes of moving on to the semifinals Friday and the finals on Saturday.

“We’re not really focused on that, just one game at a time,” VanBrandt said.

The game No. 2 Whiteford is focusing on now is at 5:30 p.m. today against No. 9 Kalamazoo Christian at Kalamazoo College.

“I know they’ve scored some runs, but I don’t think they’ve played the type of pitching we face, at least not regularly,” VanBrandt said.

And Kalamazoo Christian will face quite a challenge against Whiteford’s pitchers.

Unity Nelson and Berlynn Keller were nothing short of phenomenal during the Regional tournament, tossing a no-hitter and a perfect game.

Not a single hitter from Dansville or Reading was able to put the ball in play. Those two teams managed just one baserunner on a hit batter and that runner was cut down trying to steal by Whiteford catcher Kaydence Sheldon.

Of the 15 outs in the two games, 14 came via strikeouts.

Nelson and Keller both are on top of their game.

“They’re really good friends and great teammates,” VanBrandt said. “They are very supportive of each other. … If Unity is a little off, Berlynn backs her and it’s the same way if it’s the other way around.”

Offensively, Whiteford has a lot of different ways to score.

“We put the ball in play and run,” VanBrandt said. “Sometimes we get a little too aggressive, but that’s OK. We have a few slappers and everyone can bunt.”

VanBrandt is not concerned with having to play a Kalamazoo school in Kalamazoo.

“We’re just happy to be playing and Kalamazoo College looks like a great facility,” he said.

A win today would send Whiteford into the semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday at Michigan State University against Onekama or Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.

Neither of those teams are ranked.

“We have limited information on those northern teams,” VanBrandt said.

Whiteford will have a scout at today’s quarterfinal game between Onekama and Sacred Heart at Cadillac at 5 p.m.

VanBrandt does know quite a bit about two teams on the other side of the bracket – No. 1 Unionville-Sebewaing and No. 4 Riverview Gabriel Richard. Those teams will tangle at 5:30 p.m. today. The other quarterfinal features Pickford and No. 8 Hillman.

“USA is the No. 1 team,” VanBrandt said. They play a very difficult schedule. Their coach does a great job. We know they are good.”

“But Gabriel Richard is right in the mix, too. I think the winner of that game should win the other semifinal as well.”

VanBrandt is confident that his team is ready for the challenge of this week.

“We had one of the most difficult non-league schedules we’ve ever had and that was intentional,” the coach said. “We’ve done everything we can to prep the girls. They are ready to go out and play their best.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Whiteford softball team ready for final steps of state tournament journey