Algonac softball wants to make 2023 season 'one to remember'

RICHMOND — Expectations have risen for the Algonac softball team. So, understandably, the pressure has too.

"We were talking earlier that our theme for this year is 'All In,' " Algonac coach Natalie Heim said. "It's a team effort. We never get down on ourselves ... these girls play a lot of travel ball outside of school ball. They're always in pressure situations and that makes it a little bit less stressful during high school season. Because they've been there."

And these Muskrats have already been to a place where so few have gone — an MHSAA state semifinal. The program made its first appearance in the final four last season. Now Algonac wants to go back.

"The main thing is trying not to feel that pressure," senior outfielder Ella Stephenson said. "At the end of the day, it's just a game. We're all coming together and we're just trying to have fun with our teammates. We have great team chemistry. All together, we're just making this season one to remember. That's our goal."

With a 7-1 record, the Muskrats are right on schedule. They're 4-0 in conference play and have outscored opponents, 66-26.

Algonac also boasts two of the state's top players in Stephenson and junior pitcher Kenna Bommarito. Last year, both were named to the MHSSCA All-State First Team for Division 3.

"These (two) girls put in a lot of work in the offseason," Heim said. "And it shows up on the field, for sure. They're definitely big leaders in different ways — vocally and just leading by example."

Stephenson batted .632 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs as a junior. After eight games this season, she's 13-for-24 with nine RBIs, seven doubles and one home run. The outfielder will play for the University of Michigan next year.

Bommarito went 18-3 on the mound with a 1.63 ERA in 129 innings of work as a sophomore. This season, she's 5-1 and has struck out 81 in 36.2 innings. The righty tossed a no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Armada on April 11. Her 18 strikeouts that day tied the MHSAA record for the most in a six-inning game.

"(I didn't know about the record) until the next day," Bommarito said. "I was like, 'Wait. What? No way I did that.' "

The junior has already done significant damage in the batter's box. Bommarito is 15-for-32 with 12 RBIs, five doubles, two triples and four home runs.

As gaudy as those stats are, Stephenson and Bommarito haven't done it alone. Sophomore Jaycee Reams (12 hits, six RBIs), junior Sierra Vosler (nine hits, seven RBIs) and senior Tori Boyd (seven hits, four RBIs) have all hit consistently through the first week of play.

"We're all working together as a team," Stephenson said. "It's not just one person or two people sticking out and doing all the work. Everyone is chipping in when they've got to chip in to come out with a big win."

That includes the Muskrats' six freshmen, several of which made an impact during Tuesday's doubleheader against Richmond.

"Ava Murray drew a huge walk (in the first game)," Stephenson said. "And then Madison Grace hit the go-ahead double. That was huge for a freshman to do and come up big for our team like that."

"We had a freshman in left field today, Morgan Reams, who showed up with some big hits and some big plays," Heim said. "Autumn Dueweke had a pinch-hit triple in the second game that ended up being the tying run. So all those freshman have a lot of talent and they're going to be a big part of our team."

Heim said Algonac is still determining what its "best nine" is and at what positions. The Muskrats have several players who can play multiple positions and that flexibility is vital come tournament time.

"We've been preaching that the most important games are the last seven games of the season," Heim said. "Which are the playoffs. And then, obviously, the BWAC. I don't know if Algonac has ever won the BWAC. So, that's definitely on the top of our list."

"We want to go on another postseason run and go back to states," Stephenson said. "(Winning) the BWAC would definitely be another huge goal we have in mind. But we've just got to take it one game at a time."

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.