ROGERS CITY — It was almost a homecoming of sorts when Ella Klungle arrived at Rogers City High School’s softball complex last Saturday.
No. 1, the fields the Pellston senior and her teammates were practicing and competing on were the exact same fields where Klungle began her travel softball career.
No. 2, the Hornets were facing off against the Hillman Tigers, who had multiple players who used to play travel ball with Klungle. So, while the Hornets fell short in an MHSAA Division 4 regional semifinal to the powerhouse Tigers, it wasn’t as bad of a feeling for Klungle, whose softball career isn’t close to over.
In fact, reuniting with those travel teammates made it all the more special.
“There were some mixed emotions, for sure, but some of Hillman’s girls were on my first travel team ever,” Klungle said. “Finishing it off with them was actually kind of cool for me.”
The regional semifinals marked the end of a strong career for Klungle, who started at catcher during each of her four seasons with Pellston. Klungle’s development into a star was as impressive as any Hornet in recent memory, especially knowing the kind of defensive versatility, offensive power, work ethic, and leadership she brought to the Hornets each day she stepped onto the field.
Ironically enough, Klungle wasn’t with the Hornets for the first half of her freshman season. But once Randy Bricker, Klungle’s Pellston coach at the time, summoned the young Hornet and told her she was going to be starting at catcher, the nerves were through the roof before she eventually grew into one of the most impactful players in the program.
In the final game of her high school career, however, it was a much more relaxed and calmer demeanor from Klungle, who did everything she could to put Pellston softball back on the map in her four seasons.
“Our journey has been really good, and it’s had some rough patches, but we were resilient all the way through,” Klungle said.
Being resilient ended up being a major theme for Klungle and some of her Pellston senior teammates, who won a district title together as freshmen, navigated through some disappointing middle campaigns, and closed out their careers with a district crown on their home field.
As for Klungle, she was the gritty senior leader Pellston’s program needed.
If you want to understand her value and impact in the program, just listen to one of her closest teammates who’s shared the field with her since they were youngsters.
“She’s always trying to help coach other players and make everybody grow, and she’s just always there for you,” Pellston senior Allie Cameron said. “She’ll tell you the real truth. Every year, we all got better from her. We started in little league together and played every year together.”
What will be fascinating to follow is the next chapter in the softball career for Klungle, who’s going to be a member of the Alpena Community College Lumberjacks very soon. And while her high school career ended in Rogers City, her travel season started the next day. As she exits the Pellston era and begins the Alpena era, Klungle can’t wait for what’s next.
But right before she left the location where her true competitive softball career began, she paid tribute to those who’s made the adventure worthwhile.
“I just want to thank the coaches and the players and the team, the school and the softball program for helping me continue my softball career through Alpena, and all of my teammates for being there and supporting me, and always staying resilient and sticking together,” Klungle said.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Pellston softball star Ella Klungle ends career in full-circle moment
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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By Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune | USA TODAY Network
