Every team has its own personality, Orion varsity softball coach Shelly Hutton said.
The players on the 2009 squad worked together really well, with no drama queens, she said.
As a math teacher, Hutton turned to numbers to summarize the season.
One of the most important numbers was zero, for the number of times Caitlin D’Hondt complained about playing time. At the postseason banquet, she received the team ball for exemplifying the qualities a team player needs.
Working together enabled the Chargers to win the Riverdale Tournament and the Orion regional on the way to compiling a 19-9 record.
The girls finished with an 8-4 record in Olympic Conference play.
One of Hutton’s numbers, six, represented the number of girls receiving postseason recognition from Olympic coaches.
Seniors Alyssa Ellison, Tori Matzen and Jenna Nelson and junior Hillary Taets were unanimous selections to the All-Conference team, while senior Sami Mitton and junior Jena Malmen earned honorable mention.
Two of Hutton’s favorite numbers represented career records.
First baseman Ellison recorded 572 putouts, while pitcher Matzen had 1.58 strikeouts per inning.
With 211 at second base, Matzen moved into third place on the all-time list for assists.
Eleven was the number of games decided in five innings because of the 10-run rule, Hutton said.
In non-conference games, the Chargers topped the Erie-Prophetstown Panthers 12-2 and the Galesburg Silver Streaks 12-1.
During conference action, Orion whitewashed Knoxville 16-0 and 15-0 and Monmouth-Roseville 11-0 and 10-0.
Another Olympic foe, Macomb, fell 15-1 to Orion.
At the Riverdale tournament, the Chargers blew up the Fulton Steamers 13-0.
They dominated the Orion regional, overpowering Fulton 13-2 and AlWood-Cambridge 11-1.
Sherrard was the only team to hang a 10-run loss on Orion during the season. The Tigers prevailed 10-0 in a six-inning game.
One stood for the number of home run balls striking a car, Hutton said. Megan Blumenshein’s blast landed on Beth Lee’s car.
Fourteen represented the number of home runs clouted during 2009, she said. It matched the team record set last year.
Contributing to that total were Malmen and Maddie DePorter, four each; Matzen, three; Taets, two; and Blumenshein, one.
Two of DePorter’s homers came in one of the Farmington games.
Fourteen also was the number of consecutive games in Taets’ hitting streak. She had at least one hit in 22 of the Chargers’ 28 games.
Taets finished with a team-high .500 batting average. She banged out 38 hits in 76 at bats, and her total included 10 doubles and a triple to go along with the two home runs.
