If you had looked at the Michigan softball roster before the 2015 campaign, you would have found a number of big names: Sierra Romero, Haylie Wagner, Sierra Lawrence and Lauren Sweet.
But more impressive than those names was what these players had in common — they are all upperclassmen.
With the experienced quartet — featuring two All-Americans — returning once again, there was reason for the fans to believe this was the year for the third-ranked Wolverines to capture a second national championship.
But as the season has worn on, a number of underclassmen have exceeded expectations, making the championship aspirations a legitimate possibility. Though the veterans were given the bulk of responsibilities, that hasn’t stopped the underclassmen from stepping up either.
“The game doesn’t know if you’re a freshman or a senior,” said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. “The game just knows that you show up to play.”
As expected, Romero has once again produced the numbers that have thrust her into the conversation about college softball’s greatest players. She leads Michigan in batting average and runs batted in with .468 and 62, respectively.
She boasts 17 home runs, but so does a less-expected contributor. Though sophomore left fielder Kelly Christner only started 19 games and recorded just three home runs and 23 hits as a freshman, she leads the team with 64 hits and trails only Romero with a .400 batting average, immersing herself as one of the team’s offensive leaders.
Lawrence, a junior, has also lived up to her expectations, leading the team with 21 stolen bases and 14 doubles.
Though Lawrence’s performances have been impressive, freshman Tera Blanco has impressed as well. She leads her class with 39 RBI and is coming off a stellar performance in Friday’s game against Maryland. Blanco batted in the Wolverines’ first two runs of the day, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI, guiding the Wolverines to an 8-0 win.
Blanco’s most significant contribution, however, doesn’t even show up in the box score. She has started 47 of 51 games at first base and has consistently performed defensively at the position.
“(I’ve worked on) pretty much everything,” Blanco said. “Hitting, defense and pitching. I haven’t pitched much this season, but I’m definitely working my way up there to get where I want to be next season.”
And while Wagner — a senior and reigning All-American — has been reliable for Michigan a sophomore has established herself as the go-to starter. Right-hander Megan Betsa holds a team-low 1.46 ERA.
Betsa has pitched 29.2 more innings than Wagner, while accumulating 244 strikeouts in comparison to Wagner’s 101.
Though there is no doubt that Sweet is the starting catcher, freshman Aidan Falk rose to the occasion when the senior suffered an injury earlier in the season. Sweet boasts a .318 batting average, a perfect fielding percentage and has immeasurable experience behind the plate.
But Falk started eight games at catcher during Sweet’s absence and recorded a .556 batting average in the series against Ohio State. Falk has also found significant playing time in the designated player spot, posting a .308 batting average and six home runs.
The high underclassmen production, though unexpected, is yet another example of a pattern that has allowed the Wolverines to succeed year after year.
One of Hutchins’ evident philosophies is to recycle talent, so that capable underclassmen mature into reliable veterans in an endless cycle.
The last time Michigan had a lineup with such a balance of veteran talent and underclassmen flair was in 2013, when the Wolverines found themselves in the Women’s College World Series. The 2013 team featured then-freshmen Romero and Lawrence, in addition to then-sophomores Sweet and Wagner.
That year, Romero finished with 23 home runs and a .841 slugging percentage, similar to Christner’s current 17 and .806 in the respective categories.
Betsa currently blows away Wagner’s 2.50 ERA from the 2013 campaign, and Falk’s current batting average is roughly .050 higher than Sweet’s 2013 average.
Even Blanco, recruited to Michigan to be a pitcher, has exceeded expectations both at the plate and in the field, posting a .984 fielding percentage.
While the Wolverines have an abundance of experience and talent, the underclassmen’s production provides a spark necessary for a deep postseason run. Because if 2013 is any indication, the only way Michigan can reach the WCWS is with all hands on deck.
“It’s a long season,” Hutchins said. “We’ve played a lot of games this year. We’re pretty experienced, and we need everybody to help us win.”