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Belleville’s Curtis enters 3rd coaching decade
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Peggy Curtis said she still loves coaching after 30 years.During her first 29 years as a coach, there were a lot of good years and few bad ones but Belleville’s Peggy Curtis has enjoyed them all.
Entering her 30th year she hopes this one tops them all.
“It doesn’t seem like 30 years,” she said. “Well, some days it does. I didn’t know how long I would coach for but I’ll keep going as long as I’m having fun.”
The most memorable years to her were 1983 and 1984—when Belleville won back-to-back state championships. Before that and since then she’s had a lot of teams that were close but couldn’t quite get there.
She hopes her 2008 team can reclaim the crown.
The Lady Tigers, although racked with injuries, went 23-7 last year and lost to Ann Arbor Huron in the regional championship. Curtis has a majority of players back from the district championship team.
Hilary Ivan, Brandi Craig, Lindsey Williams and All-State Jasmine Blue Haralson were the only casualties to graduation.
That leaves five seniors, six juniors and three freshmen that are ready to kick it into second gear this season. Everything about this team screams championship—from pitching to hitting to defense.
One of the most notable returns is junior all-state hurler Samantha Cole.
She set the school record for the most strikeouts in a season with 226 and her .720 ERA tied Judy Wisnewski’s 1983 record. Cole pitched 175 innings and struck out 38 percent of the batters she faced—only three percent got hits.
“She’s a great athlete and a great kid,” Curtis said. “She’s the type of player that is all about the team. She’ll do whatever it takes for the team. She’s always gives us a chance to win when she pitching.”
Luckily, Cole doesn’t have to do it all by herself. She has a solid supporting cast around her and senior catcher Danielle Stabnau provides stability and leadership behind the plate.
The Stabnau-Cole duo works so well together that Curtis allows them to call their own game.
“To be a great pitcher you need a great catcher,” Curtis said. “They call their own game and I don’t have to worry.”
A host of returning players shore up the infield. Junior Angel Matthews is at first, senior Jessica Kovach is set on second and junior Cassy Prozondek will anchor third. Senior Kendall Acho was moved to centerfield this year.
Curtis was hush-hush on who will fill the other two spots in the outfield and which freshman pitcher will backup Cole. She said until those players prove themselves she’ll keep it quiet.
On offense, Curtis will miss Haralson’s big bat but said Matthews and Prozondek are capable of stepping up. Cole, as good as she is from the circle, is almost as good at the plate. She hit .313 with two home runs and was second on the team with 16 RBI.
“I’m really excited about this year’s team,” Curtis said. “Last year we had major injuries and still managed to keep it together so we’re expecting a good season this year.”
Curtis hasn’t set a timetable on retirement, yet—and that’s a good thing for Belleville and the softball program.
“I still enjoy it,” she said. “I figure I’ll know when it’s time.”
If she waits until she stops winning it could be a long time.
