There is very little that can be thrown at the Jackson softball team that the Polar Bears have not seen at this point. Jackson plays in the rugged Federal League where every league game has a postseason feel.
The trials continued in the district tournament for Jackson. The Polar Bears found themselves trailing 11-6 going into the bottom of the seventh inning before rallying to win on a stunning grand slam by freshman Kendall Adams.
Those are games and moments that will have Jackson (23-4) well prepared for its regional semifinal game against Mentor (19-9) at Avon Lake at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
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“The girls are definitely battle tested,” Jackson head coach Adam Parker said. “We had been in quite a few one-run games at this point and we’ve played in numerous other tight games. We try to play a challenging schedule to helps us out at times like this. … I think a big thing for us going forward will just be sticking together as a team.”
That shouldn’t be a problem. The family atmosphere of the Jackson program is evident watching them play. Players are quick to congratulate each other. The dugout is lively and chants during innings are frequent. The Polar Bears appear to be high energy from the outside looking in. Jackson thinks of it as something else.
“I don’t think it’s so much about energy,” Parker said. “I think that’s more a byproduct of the underlying principle we teach. We like to think of it as engagement. It’s more a philosophy of being the difference for the team and your teammates no matter what the situation is. It’s about always being involved in the game. It’s something the kids do really well.”
The most impressive part of the success for the Polar Bears may be the maturity they show as a group. Madi Veno is the only senior on the roster. Key contributors like Abby Seders, Mackenzie Johnson, Kendall Adams and Remi Grooms are underclassmen. All have shown plenty capable of stepping up in big situations. All are ready for the opportunity that is approaching in the regional semifinals.
“We’re all very excited,” Adams said. “We’re hoping that we are able to find a way to win. We are all so close that we want to keep playing together for as long as possible.”
Parker said the Bears are excited for the challenge awaiting them.
“Mentor is a tough team and they have had a great season,” he said. “They have a solid program. I think they key for us is going to be staying together as a team.”
Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com
On X: @chickmanREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Close-knit nature of Jackson softball team obvious to onlookers
Reporting by Cliff Hickman, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
