HICKS HURRIES DEVELOPMENT, SHINING.....AND WINNING EARLY

"Coach Joe's" Lakeland Eagles softball squad lost some serious talent from last year's state quarterfinal team in Andi Dawson, Devan Olah, and Erica Rizzo, among others. But like all great programs, the Eagles didn't re-build, they re-loaded. Specifically, head coach and master field tactician Joe Alsup, has brought on board one of the best freshman in the state in Selena Hicks, this year to add to a superior returning line-up of veterans and the result has been more of the same – WINNING THAT IS: And lots and lots of it. Using a steady dose of Hicks' youth-infused skill, Lakeland is 9-1 out of the gate.

The young Hicks is a phenom on the diamond. There is very little that she can't do. She's a tremendous hitter AND terror from the pitching circle. Along with the incomparable Carlee Meek and the ultra reliable Michelle Stiltner, the trio of SCREAMING EAGLES make up one of the best pitching staffs the school has ever had. AND THAT's SAYING ALOT !!!

Oh, yeah, putting her into a hard-slugging line-up with the likes of Kelsey Cleary (best lead-off hitter in the state, Kelsey Johnson, and Kayla King is pretty freaking scary too. Hicks has been ratcheting up her batting average this week, as Lakeland has taken two of three so far since Monday. In a 9-0 win over Pinckney, she went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. On Wednesday in a win over Walled Lake Northern, she was 1-for-3 with a triple, RBI, and run scored.

Look for Coach Joe and the Screaming Eagles to be making a lot of noise this year on the softball diamond and I'll go on record by saying I would be shocked of this group didn't make it back to the quarters, if not way beyond. Burney would love nothing more than to see his main hurling homegirl, CARLEE MEEK get a ring to cap off a unbelievable career.