The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Opening Day brings new hopes to varsity Dutch
Ed Patino
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
As Major League Baseball begins a new season, new questions come to the forefront.
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After surprising everyone last year, can the Detroit Tigers produce an encore performance?
How much money will the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox spend this year and will it pay off?
Is this finally the Chicago Cubs' year? Will anyone outside San Francisco get behind Barry Bonds? And so on.
Opening Day brings about new hope and new storylines. However, the intrigue is not limited to just the Major Leagues. In fact, another interesting story is brewing just up the road.
Will there be a state championship at Manchester High School this spring?
With the varsity baseball, softball and track seasons kicking off Tuesday, Manchester boasts three strong teams looking in search of springtime glory. And with the personnel each team has, it's not impossible for Manchester to think about championships.
The baseball team has been strong for quite some time. Last year, the Dutchmen shared the Cascades Conference title with Michigan Center, but were stopped in the Division 3 district finals by Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.
It was the first time in three years that Manchester was eliminated in district play, and the Dutchmen are determined to make the loss a memory.
"Losing in districts left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "We're not taking anything for granted this year."
Not only is the team motivated, it's also very talented. The pitching staff is deep with four talented throwers, including two returning hammers in Will Rickert and Alex Kastanis. Lucas Sweet and Justin Welton give the Dutchmen more pitching depth, and Ryan Galaska is back to close the door.
Offense shouldn't be much of a concern, either, as Fether's lineup has plenty of speed and is smart on the base paths, which is always a bonus at the high school level. The Dutchmen's lineup and pitching staff matches up well with most teams in the Cascades Conference, and if they build momentum at the right time, this team could make noise in the playoffs.
Baseball is not the only Manchester sport with high goals this year. The softball team boasts many of the same elements as the baseball squad: team speed, deep pitching staff.
The Flying Dutch also gained valuable experience last year when they marched to the regional final. That experience can only help the Dutch make another playoff run. And if they can recapture their surprise element (Manchester went 16-15 last year, finishing fifth in the Cascades), the Dutch could enjoy a Tigers-like season.
Nikole Fether's softball team has not four, but six capable pitchers, giving Manchester one of the deepest staffs in the league. Leading the way are Gloria Stump and Alex Fairbanks, both returning from last year's roster. A solid mix of newcomers and experience give the Dutch and their fans reason to be optimistic.
Speaking of deep rosters, Manchester's track teams are sure loaded for bear this season. The boys' squad has around 45 on its roster, while the girls' team has about 40. Track provides a couple of interesting storylines as well. After all, the boys' are going after a third-straight Cascades title, which could spark talk of a dynasty.
Meanwhile, the girls only won one meet last year, but it was the season finale against Grass Lake. With an influx of newcomers giving the Dutch more depth, there's no reason to think they can't make a big leap in 2007.
It's nice to see local teams finding success, and in my short time hear I've witnessed the support the Dutch receive from the community. That's sure to continue this spring, as fans don't have to drive to Detroit, Chicago or Cleveland for intriguing stories.
There are plenty of stories right up M-52, with many strong athletes ready to tell them.
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