By Chad Wingert (Contact / Staff Bio)

Originally published June 16, 2009, 03:46 p.m. EST. Updated June 16, 2009, 03:46 p.m. EST

By Chad Wingert

Sports Editor

BATTLE CREEK — The USA Patriots have done it again.

USA won the MHSAA Division 4 State Championship Saturday with a 4-0 decision over Decatur.

Any State title looks great in the school’s trophy case. But for a group of four USA seniors, this was their third title in four years, making this time around even more memorable.

“Most high school athletes never get the chance to play in one state championship, but to win three, it's just amazing,” senior pitcher Jillian Williamson said. “We are the seniors and leaders on this team, and that’s why this one means so much more.”

“It means more now because of when we won it as freshman and sophomores, they said it was a seniors’ game, it was their title,” Dani Gremel said. “But now us seniors won it and it means more. It feels like it’s ours.”

It was indeed a special night for the seven graduated seniors, but it was freshman Kelsey Schaus who starred for the second game in a row, hitting her first home run of the year to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning.

Schaus broke out with a clutch double in the Patriots’ 4-0 win over Rapid River in the semi-finals, boosting her confidence at the plate for the title game.

“After getting that hit on Friday, I had the feeling I could hit anything today. Yesterday I felt a little pressure. But today, for some reason, I just felt like it was another game,” Schaus said. “It was really sweet to finally get here and hit my first homer of the season.”

Head coach Lary Houthoofd will tell you that Schaus had been struggling at the plate, but after Friday’s clutch hit, Saturday’s decision to let her bat came very easily.

“She has been hitting very well in practice these past few weeks. We gave her the chance this weekend and she really came through for us,” Houthoofd said. “She put us up with a home run today that was hit really hard.”

Schaus’ postseason success at the plate as a freshman even wowed senior slugger Carly Treiber.

“Yesterday, she didn't want to hit. But then she goes out there and gets that key hit for us,” Treiber said. “That gave her so much confidence for today. She knows she can do it now and she still has three years left.”

The Patriots then capped off the game with three runs in the sixth inning, as Katie Schaus, Williamson and Gremel each scored on Decatur errors.

Even with Houthoofd’s seven talented seniors, out of his three State titles, he was first to admit that this one was the hardest for him and his squad.

“This one was the toughest one by far. Being on top right from the beginning of the year and being expected to win it put a lot of pressure on these girls,” Houthoofd said.

“They didn't feel the pressure at the beginning of the season, but from regionals on, you could see the pressure building, it showed in their play. As the season went on they continued to make more and more mistakes, and that was all due to the pressure.”

But when asked about the pressure of the postseason, the girls had mixed feelings.

“I like the pressure,” Treiber said. “When people are here and they want us to win, it helps us play better.”

Williamson, on the other hand, feels that the pressure is completely different when you are the one taking the mound.

“Pitching is a completely different pressure from playing second base or outfield,” she said. “The defense made some great plays today, and that takes a lot of pressure off of me. I really owe it all to them.”

Williamson pitched a gem Saturday, allowing no runs and two hits while striking out 11 and walking three. Williamson was also very accurate in the title game, throwing 103 pitches, 65 of which were strikes. But those stats do not matter to Williamson.

“You don't go out and expect to throw a perfect game,” Williamson said. “You just want the team to win and want a state championship.”

Williamson, Treiber and Gremel, along with Katie Schaus, Minda Martinez, Estey Ruppal and Kiersten McBrayer, round out the seven Patriot seniors on this year’s squad and they are sure to be missed when next season rolls around.

“These seven seniors are a special group, they can play ball,” Houthoofd said. “They have worked so hard and had a lot of fun. I just wish them the best for the future.”

USA has plenty of talent for the future, but the varsity experience will be what is missed the most by Houthoofd in 2010.

“Dani and Carly were starters for me for four years and Minda came up at short-stop up behind (his daughter) Erica,” Houthoofd said. “Some of the other girls I brought up at the end of the season so they can get a feel for all of this and it keeps them excited and coming back.”

This year’s State title team featured five groups of sisters from the Martinez, Schaus, Valentine, Williamson and Ewald families. So, no worries... USA does not plan on having an off year next spring according to Houthoofd.

“A lot of people think we are going to be down, losing seven seniors this year. But we are going to be very solid next season,” Houthoofd said. “I will be disapointed if we are not back here next year, because that is the way we play and that is the way we coach.”

Houthoofd’s 2010 season starts this week as he travels around the state with a summer league team that will play in numerous tournaments throughout the offseason.

“Everything will come together. Next week, we start preparing for next season. We plan to play softball all summer long.” Houthoofd said.

Even departing senior Williamson thinks that next year’s squad will be just fine with out them.

“They will be a competitive team. A lot of girls have seen what it takes to make it to the State finals now, so they will have that drive to want to make it again,” Williamson said. “Nobody likes to lose and I think thats a something we will leave behind.”

However, with Reese making it to the Division 3 State Finals, the Greater Thumb West has stepped up a notch after receiving state-wide recognition. And before the Rockets took the field Saturday, despite being a conference rival, Houthoofd was hoping for Reese win.

“This does so much for our conference. Reese is a great competitor of ours and we really hope they win; it makes our conference looks really great,” Houthoofd said.

“We have a tough league. I think if we were to put our top three teams in different divisions, all three would be here for sure.”

Three state titles in four years, five groups of sisters and contributing freshmen on a State Championship team? It is safe to say that Houthoofd has USA softball, and the Greater Thumb West, headed in the right direction.

Chad Wingert is the Sports Editor of the Advertiser and can be reached at Sports@tcadvertiser.com