Saline, Milan back in mix after one year hiatus

After a one-year hiatus, the softball teams from Saline and Milan high schools return to the regional round of MHSAA tournament play on Saturday.

First year Milan coach Stacy Heams may not be personally familiar with the Trenton team the Big Reds will play in a Division 2 semifinal at Chelsea High School, but rest assured her squad is. It was the Trojans - who have won four straight district titles and were state champs in 2005 - who eliminated Milan the last time the Big Reds advanced to the regional round in 2008.

Heams will have a better idea of what exactly her team is up against after watching Trenton play in an exhibition against Saline’s first round regional opponent, Southgate Anderson, today.

“We just need to come out with tough defense and keep our hitting going,” said Heams.

Here’s a closer look at Saturday’s regionals involving Washtenaw County teams:

DIVISION 1 Where: Allen Park High School

Schedule: Saline vs. Southgate Anderson, 10 a.m.; Westland John Glenn vs. Allen Park, noon; Final, 2 p.m.

The storyline: After a regular season full of ups and downs, Saline surprised everybody but coach Alicia Seegert while winning its third district title in four years last Saturday.

Despite losing twice to Monroe during the regular season, Saline (21-17) beat the Trojans 7-1 in the district final. After the game, Seegert said, “I told them that they were going to surprise a lot of people.”

No one should be surprised if Saline enjoys even more success at Saturday’s regional. Southgate Anderson and Allen Park are each making their second straight regional appearance, but without a ranked team among them, no team is a clear-cut favorite

With freshman pitcher Kristina Zalewski (who struck out 12 in the district title game) and experience at the plate (senior Emily Oullette, a career .500 hitter, was 7-for-8 from the plate and stole seven bases Saturday) the Hornets are poised to make a deep run.

DIVISION 2 Where: Chelsea High School

Schedule: Battle Creek Harper Creek vs. Tecumseh, 10 a.m.; Trenton vs. Milan; noon Final, 2 p.m.

The storyline: At No. 9 in the coaches’ association poll, Milan (32-6) is the highest-ranked team in the regional. But it should be a balanced affair with honorable mention Trenton, tournament-tested Tecumseh (27-6) and a Harper Creek team with a 26-7 record.

Key to Milan’s performance will be junior pitcher Kat Hoffman, who threw a two-hitter in a district final and has been sharp on the mound all season. Shortstop Lani Ernst has hit near .500 all season and she caught fire in the district final with two home runs.

In six years under coach Kristalyn Musselman, Tecumseh has won six straight district titles, including state championships in 2007 and 2008.