PAW PAW — When it comes to inheriting a team, first-year softball coach Allison Frisinger hit the jackpot.

Paw Paw made school history last year, reaching the MHSAA Division 2 Softball Final for the first time — and with no seniors on the team.

With everyone back this year, the Red Wolves have some lofty goals and kicked off the season with a 6-0 record heading into spring break.

“What a job to come into,” Frisinger said. “We like high expectations.”

Although last year’s team won Wolverine Conference, District and Regional titles and advanced to the season’s final day, Paw Paw is hoping to add a Finals championship to its portfolio.

With impressive credentials, the new coach knows what needs to be done. She was part of Kalamazoo Christian’s 2002 championship team, coached by Marty DeJong, and was a two-time all-state player. For the last 10 years, she has also given softball lessons and is no stranger to most of her players.

“I’ve actually trained a lot of these girls,” she said. “I’ve been their pitching and hitting coach for a long time. I got to know a lot of the girls, and they talked me into applying for the job.”

Learning from the past

Last year, Frisinger followed the team all the way to the Finals and made some notes for this season.

One thing that caught her attention was watching Richmond pitcher Katie Shuboy lead her team to a 3-0 win against Paw Paw in the Final.

“That pitcher was really skilled,” Frisinger said. “Watching her, she moved the ball around really well. I think the girls learned we need to see some better pitching to prepare to hit off better pitching.”

To help with that, the coach worked with the pitching staff in the offseason and added some tough competition to this season’s schedule.

“I’ve been working really hard with those guys, developing their pitches better, getting better movement, maybe add a different pitch in, so they’ve been working really hard,” she said.

“The goal for building a better schedule this year was to face some really tough teams. I’m okay losing to a good team. You see better competition.”

Cami VanderMeeden, in her second year on varsity, is one of five seniors on this year’s team. The others are Carlie Streich, Stella Shaefer, Megan Miller and Kailey Nichols.

“We’ve learned a lot from last year,” said VanderMeeden, who will play softball at Western Michigan next year. “We learned that we need to have better practices. We work a lot harder in practices this year, and we work together more as a team.

“This group of girls, we’ve all been together through middle school and most through elementary school. We have a good bond with each other.”

Frisinger said the third baseman has matured a lot since she first started working with her.

"She just plays with her whole heart,” the coach said. “She does everything hard. It’s just fun to watch.”

No longer rookie on the mound

Lauren MacKellar is one of six juniors on this year’s team along with Aliya Edson, Bella Clemons, Elizabeth Vanderburg, Kourtney Nichols and Raegan Zache. Two sophomores are Ellie Herbert and Charlotte Harling. Terry Reynolds is the assistant coach; he led Kalamazoo Christian to Division 4 runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015.

Last year, her first on varsity, MacKellar was in the circle for the Final.

“It was a lot more than I’m used to, but I think I handled it the best that I could,” she said.

The pitcher is another who has trained with Frisinger.

“That kid is another one who has developed so much,” the coach said. “The way she gets the ball to move is impressive for her age.

“I’ve said that from when she entered high school, I was very impressed with the way she can spin the ball.”

Edson, in her third year on varsity, said the team never expected to advance as far as it did last year but is using it as a learning experience.

The catcher is “calm and cool behind the plate,” Frisinger said. “I would love to pitch to her. She’s just helps bring that pitcher in and control their emotions. She’s just very good and in charge out there.”

MacKellar said she and Edson work well together.

"We’ve known each other for a long time and worked together so much over the past years,” MacKellar explained. “Last year, it was on us most of the time to make the right decisions and the right calls for pitches.”

Sticking together

Edson said softball is really a family.

“It’s always been something I can look forward to to keep my spirit up,” she said. “It’s always been there for me when I was having a tough time.”

With this team, “We’ve been playing with each other since we were little and we just have that chemistry and bond,” she said. “We definitely have a lot of good players.”

Vanderburg, a shortstop on varsity all three years, said hitting and depth drive this year’s Red Wolves.

“Our hitting is super strong this year and we have depth in our lineup, 1 through 13,” she said. “I believe in every single one of them that they can hit the ball and get on (base). Our defense is super strong. We’ve got really good pitchers, all four can pitch against any team. We barely make any errors.”

Frisinger noted about her shortstop: “She’s just got this bunch of energy. When she gets going, there’s no stopping her.”

Besides a stronger schedule, Frisinger said the team has been working on “changing up at different positions because injuries do happen. I want a deep bench. I want people ready to go if something were to happen.

“It’s a very team-first mentality. They’re all so talented. I’m very fortunate to coach a team of girls that love the game as much as they do and work so hard. They support one another and are just great teammates.

“I love giving back to the girls. Love giving back to the sport that gave so much to me.”

Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Paw Paw's Cami VanderMeeden heads back to the bench after scoring a run last season. (2) Kalamazoo Christian standout Allison Frisinger is taking over the program assisted by former K-Christian coach Terry Reynolds. (3) Paw Paw junior Lauren MacKellar. (4) Paw Paw's players huddle at the pitching circle. (Coaches photo by Pam Shebest. Action photos courtesy of the Paw Paw athletic department.)