Softball teams begin drive to Battle Creek with district play this week

Last year's softball district tournaments were tough on Washtenaw County, with only one area team taking home a title.

This year seems poised to be different, with multiple teams coming off stellar regular seasons and looking to make a run to the state semifinals and finals in Battle Creek two weeks from this weekend.

But will those teams turn potential into reality? We'll find out starting Tuesday with district quarterfinal play.

District outlook: It’s been a down year for softball in the three Ann Arbor schools. And that could open the door for their neighbor to the West to come away with a district title.

Four of the five teams in action at Huron this week will come into district play with losing records. The exception is Dexter, which finished 21-8 on the year.

That record includes going 6-0 against the three Ann Arbor teams, with each win coming by an average of 10 runs apiece.

None of these teams saw Pinckney this year, making the Pirates a bit of a wild card. But Dexter has shown it has the firepower to get past everyone in this district, with three capable pitchers and an offense led by Savannah Krull, Taylor Pasamani and Brooke Lupi, each hitting better than .500 on the year.

AnnArbor.com pick: Dexter.

District outlook: The top teams in the SEC will be down in Monroe for the week in what should be one of the most competitive districts around.

Last year, Saline lost its opening district game to Temperance Bedford. This year, the Hornets hope things will be different after they swept all of their potential district opponents en route to an unbeaten SEC season.

The Hornets should have an easier road to this year’s final: they face Lincoln, a team they swept by a combined 15 runs back on May 9.

But it will most likely see Monroe in the final to complete what’s been a competitive season series. Saline won two of three games, which were decided by a combined seven runs. Behind the area's top pitcher in Kristina Zalewski, the Hornets should be able to come up with a third win on the season.

AnnArbor.com pick: Saline.

District outlook: Only four teams will be playing in the Chelsea district. But two of those teams were tops in the SEC White this year.

Tecumseh went 26-5-3 on the year and won the SEC White. Yet the Indians and Bulldogs split a doubleheader back on April 26, thanks to a complete game, one-run performance from Chelsea’s Rylee Rosentreter in the first game.

The winner of that game will face Adrian or Onsted in the final, and should have a good chance of taking a district title.

AnnArbor.com pick: Tecumseh.

District outlook: This one might as well be called the Huron League tournament, with five of the league's eight teams represented.

The Big Reds open the tournament with a game against Flat Rock, the only team from the district that appears in the most recent softball coaches poll.

The two teams played a two-run game back on May 13, with Flat Rock winning, 5-3.

AnnArbor.com pick: Flat Rock.

District outlook: Four Washtenaw County teams will head to Jackson County this week. But there will need to be an upset in the works for any of them to come back with a district title trophy.

Grass Lake is ranked No. 8 in the most recent coaches poll, going 30-3 on the year, including an undefeated 14-0 in the Cascades Conference.

Greenhills may have the best chance of pulling the upset. But if Grass Lake gets past the Gryphons, it could have a quick day Saturday.

AnnArbor.com pick: Grass Lake

District outlook: The good news for the Lady Dutch is they aren’t in a district with Grass Lake, the Cascades Conference foe that handed them their only three losses on the year.

The bad news: Two-time defending state champions Clinton will be making the nine-mile drive to Manchester, and bringing its No. 2 state ranking with it. Manchester will need its A-game on Saturday morning to have any hope against the powerful Redskins.

The two teams didn’t play during the regular season, but are a good bet to face off in the second semifinal on Saturday (although the Lady Dutch’s quarterfinal against 19-8 Adrian Madison will be no walk in the park). And the winner of that semifinal is a good pick to take the district title.

AnnArbor.com pick: Clinton.

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.