Heidi Charon

ESCANABA — Softball makes its debut at Bay College in spring, but Heidi Charon and her staff had a chance to get a preview of the team this fall.

The Norse played eight exhibition games. giving the players an idea what the next level requires and the coaches a chance to see them in action rather than in practice sessions at Lemerand Field in Escanaba. Home games were played at the Wells Sports Complex.

“They have all been working hard. We’ve seen their passion come out,” Charon said recently in her office. Charon, a former player at Escanaba High School and Michigan State University, is the retention program manager at Bay College and athletic co-advisor.

Her assistants are Lesley (Noel) Delvaux, Brianna Grimm and Ross Rahoi, also former Esky players.

Delvaux and Charon helped Gladstone finish second in the Senior Little League World Series in 2001 and 2002 and were softball teammates at EHS.

Having Delvaux aboard is a bonus for the Norse. She was a two-time all-state pitcher at Esky, helping the Eskymos finish second in the 2003 state tournament, and won 42 games at MSU. She has also been a private pitching instructor and pitching coach for West Coast Fundamentals.

“I’m excited to work with Lesley,” said Charon. “Having someone who has done what she has is huge. She knows what she is talking about.”

Sophomores Sam Connor of Escanaba and Riley Hubert of Rapid River and freshman Lexi Winling of Gladstone worked in the circle this fall.

The Norse will spend March 9-15 for spring training in Cocoa Beach, Fla. and will have two weekends (April 14 and April 20) of home games when the season begins. “We’re still finalizing games,” said Charon.

“My guess is we will play teams at every end of the (competitive) spectrum.”

The light fall schedule and winter workouts will give Charon and her staff an excellent opportunity to get a better understanding of their players. “We’ve just got to get to know the girls,” said Charon, who is also focusing on getting “the kind of culture I want. We have a foundation we need to build on.”

Charon spent considerable time recruiting players, attending high school games throughout the area last spring and meeting prospects, which opened her eyes to the fact her career was nearly two decades ago. “Even local girls don’t know me. I took time to meet them,” she said. “I have (recruited) an awesome group of local players.”

Three members of the EHS 2018 state champions have joined Bay and five sophomores are EHS alumni. She also attracted two girls each from Gladstone and Rapid River, which have been perennial local powers along with Esky, giving the Norse valuable experience.

She also added two members of the Bay women’s basketball team, sophomore Paige Welch of Bark River-Harris and freshman Kaitlyn Hardwick of Gladstone.

The Norse will work on hitting and fundamentals during the offseason. “I would say they are competitive. They were very competitive at the high school level,” said Charon. “There is a ton of work we can do and they seem open to working hard.”

Charon is hopeful this experience will serve as a steppingstone for her players to move on to the next level after they leave Bay.

“I knew it would be a lot of work, but it was more than I thought it would be,” said Charon. “I’m just really excited and very grateful for my role here at Bay.”