By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
For her first two years of high school, Union Grove’s Annie McClelland found herself living under a pretty big shadow – that of her big sister, Emily.
One of the top players in the state all four years of her career, Emily McClelland ended up at Bowling Green State University to play softball for the Falcons.
Over the past two seasons, though, McClelland matured into a leader of her own for the Broncos.
“What can I say about Annie that does her justice, other than I’m really, really going to miss her?” said Union Grove softball coach Ryan Boylen, who loses a four-year varsity starter in Annie McClelland as she heads to the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in the fall to continue her career.
For that, plus a startling array of statistics for her senior season, Annie McClelland is the 2013 All-Area Softball Player of the Year.
She joins 10 other athletes on the team, including three of her Union Grove teammates.
Boylen said that, with a young and inexperienced pitching staff, Annie picked up the leadership reins incredibly well.
“Her competitive fire was the basis of our team, as she showed our young team what competing is about,” Boylen said. “Annie was asked to be over-aggressive this year, because we really needed her to extend hits and pressure the defense to open up our offensive.
“Even with expanding her strike zone and not getting a ton to hit, she still put together a fabulous season.”
Annie McClelland batted .547 for the season and had a .721 slugging percentage. She also scored a team-best 34 runs.
She was one of just four seniors on the Broncos’ squad – three of which made the All-Area team. But more than the youth for Union Grove was the fact that the majority of the pitching staff was comprised of freshmen following the graduation of Emily in 2011 and Alice Fitzpatrick – now at Michigan – in 2012.
“(Annie) took a young and inexperienced pitching staff and showed them what it takes to win in the always-tough SLC,” Boylen said.
Annie McClelland is one of nine seniors on this year’s All-Area team. They are joined by one junior and one sophomore.
Other members of the Southern Lakes Newspaper All-Area softball team for 2013 are, in alphabetical order:
Alicia Barbian, senior, Waterford Union High School: Playing at third base, led the Wolverines – who finished 17-5 and made the sectional final before losing to eventual state champion Westosha Central – with 28 RBI and 12 doubles.
“A consistent hitter and definitely a power hitter,” said coach Ellen Blair. “Also a smart baserunner.”
She finished with a .713 slugging percentage, three triples and two home runs as well. She will attend Wisconsin Lutheran College in fall to play softball.
Alyssa Helwig, senior, Waterford Union High School: Helwig was Waterford’s team MVP, a first-team All-County selection and had a .990 percent accuracy rate playing defense in center field.
“Alyssa is known for her cannon of an arm,” Blair said. “Her play of the year was when she threw a girl out at first base from center field.”
Helwig also hit .406 for the year with a slugging percentage of .783, picking up eight doubles, three triples, four home runs and 24 RBI. She will attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Megan Jensen, senior, Waterford Union High School: While Jensen’s main sport is basketball – she will play for Clarke University starting in the fall – she is no slouch when it comes to softball.
From the leadoff spot, Jensen batted .348 with a slugging percentage of .710. She served as captain with Helwig, and played shortstop.
“(She) has baseball in her blood, which made her the best shortstop in the area,” Blair said. “She made plays that would have made highlight reels.”
Jensen finished the season with three doubles, eight triples and two home runs.
Cassidy Kortendick, sophomore, Union Grove Union High School: While Kortendick went through something of a sophomore slump – mainly because she missed most of the first month of the season with a concussion she received in the very first game – Boylen said she got it together when it counted.
“With that being said, once we got her back and she got her timing back down, she was the Cassidy we all expected,” Boylen explained. “Regardless of what Cassidy’s stats are, she is an extremely intelligent player and always seems to find herself in the right place at the right time because she is an extremely heady ball player.”
Kortendick still batted .385 for the season, with a .492 slugging percentage.
Sarah Petrovic, senior, Union Grove Union High School: After serving as a backup pitcher most of the last three years, Petrovic found herself starting in a young outfield and pitching as well.
She also batted well in the middle of the lineup, hitting .338 with a .662 slugging percentage and 34 RBI.
“She really solidified the middle of our order, but, just as importantly, she led a young outfield and was always there to get us out of jams on the rubber when we needed her,” Boylen said.
Brooke Repta, senior, Union Grove Union High School: Repta was another part of the senior leadership the Broncos needed, and also batted .370 for the season with a .492 slugging percentage. Boylen also said she steadied the team on defense.
“Brooke worked hard all year to do whatever needed to be done to win ball games and really did an outstanding job of keeping our team’s heads up,” Boylen said.
Kelsey Robers, senior, Catholic Central High School: While Robers started the season at second base for the Lady ’Toppers, she voluntered to go into the outfield when it became apparent her team needed stability there.
“From center field, she could direct and help both corner outfielders and also help both the shortstop and the second baseman in front of her,” said CCHS coach Bill Greskiw.
Robers batted .382 on the season, with 21 hits and 22 runs scored. She also provided much-needed leadership.
“It was a particularly tough year to develop a young team with so few practices outside due to weather,” Greskiw added.
Maddie Szalewski, junior, Waterford Union High School: A starting pitcher now for Waterford for three years, Szalewski went 16-4 for the Wolverines this season – with those losses coming against Westosha and Union Grove.
Szalewski finished with a 1.92 earned-run average, and had 175 strikeouts and just 22 walks.
“Maddie was a strong pitcher this season and came in ready to throw full time for the Wolverines,” Blair said. “She matured into a very strong pitcher this season.”
Sara Terrian, senior, Waterford Union High School: Terrian had a unique honor as a softball player – she started all four years at catcher for the Wolverines.
“She called Maddie’s pitches and was always there as a leader and was a captain this season as well,” Blair said. “She had a great command behind the plate and opponents respected her arm.”
Terrian batted .370 with a .543 slugging percentage, and had 25 RBI as the No. 5 batter in the lineup. She will attend Marian University in the fall.
Abbey Zortman, senior, Waterford Union High School: Described as a quiet player by Blair, the coach quickly added, “She is not quiet with her batting average.”
Zortman led the Wolverines with a .462 batting average, and also had a slugging percentage of .679. She finished the season with 26 RBI, posting eight doubles, three triples and a home run.
“Abbey has the biggest stick for the second year in a row for the Wolverines,” Blair said. “A very quiet player that would move between left field, second and even once at first base.”
She will attend UW–Stevens Point in the fall.
Honorable mention
Chyanne Onstad, Burlington High School; Maggie Smith, Catholic Central High School.
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