Athens Softball Wins First Division Title Since 1976

swept a doubleheader on Wednesday at Rochester 5-1 and 9-0 to give the school its first softball division title since 1976.

And that's a wrap for the Oakland Activities Association White division.

If the Falcons had won both games, the teams would have been co-league champions, but the Red Hawks weren’t interested in sharing.

“The girls were really pumped,” Athens coach Dave Marr said. “There were smiles all around.”

Red Hawks Locked In

As she’s done all season, Haley Zemmer pitched dominant complete games in both wins. She struck out 14 batters in the first game and 10 in the second. She gave up a combined five hits on the day.

With very few baserunners, the Falcons didn’t have a lot of scoring opportunities against the sophomore. They loaded the bases in the second inning of the first game and only had one runner reach third base in the second game, but that was it.

“She was on her game,” Marr said. “She had them (Rochester’s hitters) off-balance the entire time.”

Athens leadoff hitter Melissa Palmer had three hits and four runs in the first game. Sarah Watson knocked in three of Athens’ five runs.

In the second game, Palmer added two more hits and runs. Watson had another RBI.

“When Palmer gets on base we score, she also had a couple of walks,” Marr said. “And Watson was key for us. She put the ball in play every at-bat.”

Loaded Roster Helps End Title Drought

Last year, the Red Hawks didn’t graduate a single senior from their roster.

Athens (22-5-1; 10-0 OAA White) was a young team with tons of potential. Marr said it didn’t take long for the group to develop into something special, and that starts with Zemmer.

The sophomore has pitched nearly every inning for the Red Hawks this season and is mowing hitters down left and right.

“We’ve had good pitchers, but not quite one that could make the huge pitch like her,” Marr said. “She just knows how to pitch in close games; she’s rock solid.”

She’s also a fierce competitor.

At the 34th annual Fred Pieper Softball Tournament over the weekend, Zemmer didn’t have a great start against Lake Orion in the quarterfinals and Marr knew he wouldn’t be able to hold her out of the consolation finals.

“She wants the ball in her hand,” Marr said. “When she has an off day or something goes wrong, she wants the ball in her hand the next game.”

Offensively, Melissa Palmer is setting the table for the Red Hawks and then some.

The senior shortstop is headed to play softball for Western Michigan next season, but right now she is rewriting the Athens record books.

Palmer has set just about every offensive record, both season and career, hitting at the top of the order this season. She's racking up the runs, stolen bases, doubles and triples all while batting over .700.

“I just marvel at what she’s been able to do,” Marr said. “I’ve never had a girl like this, never had a girl hitting at this pace.”

Just how patient and disciplined is Palmer at the plate? With two weeks to go in the season, she’s struck out a grand total of…one time.

“I had to go back and double check it,” Marr said. “It was actually her first at-bat of the season. It’s unbelievable and a lot of girls with a scholarship wouldn’t push as hard as she does. She is so focused on getting better and works really hard.”

But Palmer isn’t the only Red Hawks player making noise at the plate. During their division title run, they’ve had contributions from all over the field.

Watson, who will step into the leadoff role next year, has had a solid season at the plate. Erica Siismets, who had a pair of hits in the first game on Wednesday, has been very good. Catcher Meg Richter, the only other senior on team besides Palmer, has provided some key hits.

Now, the group has its sights set on ending another drought. Athens hasn’t won a district championship since 1997.

“Hopefully, that’s the next step,” Marr said, smiling. “It’s going to be tough, we just have to be at our best.”

Athens road to a district title starts on June 2 with a game against city-rival . The winner advances to the district finals for a game against Avondale or Adams.