COLDWATER – When you are going through a special moment in time, the best way to spend it is with your family.
The Coldwater softball team has been able to do that this spring. The Cardinals are enjoying the best season in school history. And as they are going through that, most of the players on the team are related, and the rest feel like family, since they have all been together for so long.
“This has been special. When I was a freshman, we were struggling as a team, not winning too much. Now, we are having this special season,” said Coldwater senior Rylie VanAken. “And, getting to go through this, and play with my sister and cousins, has made it more special. And, getting to play with girls I have played with over the years, since I was little, and to see what we have accomplished together, is just unbelievable. Just makes me proud of what we have done so far.”
Coldwater is ranked No. 2 in the state in the latest Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association poll. It is the highest ranking the Cardinals have enjoyed in program history, according to head coach Aaron Bucklin.
“I’m guessing probably we haven’t ever been ranked this high before ever,” Bucklin said. “We have a special group of girls who are doing some some stuff that hasn’t been done. Or, if it has been done, it hasn’t been very regular in terms of softball at Coldwater. And, right now, we are enjoying the ride.
“It’s obviously really cool to see our team being rated so high in the state of Michigan. It’s nice to be recognized, but we also realize it doesn’t mean a whole lot in April and May. It’s going to be more important in June. But’s it’s awesome for the girls and cool for the community.”
Coldwater is 26-1 heading into this week. The wins are coming by way of a roster that is basically constructed by two families.
There are four Bucklin girls. Two sisters who are the daughter of the head coach. Two other Bucklin sisters who are the daughters of the assistant coach, who is the brother of the head coach. Then, there are two VanAken sisters and Mya Porter, who is their cousin.
“Out of the 14 girls we have on the team, between me and my brother Ryan and Ryan VanAken, we have coached almost all of them since they were young. So the transition to high school ball has been very good,” Aaron Bucklin said. “And, there is a lot of talent there. This is not your normal high school team. We have depth in pitching, players at every position, power and speed up and down the lineup. We are just fortunate to have a lot of pieces.
“We won a regional championship for the first time in school history last year and won a league title. We returned every single player, added a freshman to the mix that stepped in and played right away. We have been hot start this year, but we still have more in us as well.”
There are four seniors on the team, including Rylie VanAken, who is going to the University of Akron to play Division 1 softball, and Mya Porter, who will play at University of Findlay.
The entire group is enjoying being ranked No. 2 in the state, but mostly just focused on seeing how far this run can take them this year.
“We own that we are ranked. Whenever we go some place, play somebody, they are going to give us their best. We don’t get anyone’s No. 2. We get everybody’s No. 1 lineup,” Mya Porter said. “We are trying not to get too caught up in it, because rankings don’t mean anything. Our goals are to win conference, win districts, win regionals and get to the state championship.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Coldwater softball is ranked No. 2 in the state. Is this its best team ever?
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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