Cleaver leads softball team all-state accolades

by Angie Asam. Staff Writer

Senior Dani Cleaver?s accomplishments in athletics and the classroom at Onaway High School are numerous. The Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association has now named Cleaver to the first-team all-state for the second straight year. This year?s selection came at third base, last year it was shortstop. Cleaver is a three-time district champion, a two-time regional finalist and a four-time conference champion, the first in the history of softball in Onaway.

With a batting average of .628, Cleaver scored 39 runs, had 49 hits, 22 doubles, one triple and nine homeruns. She had 35 RBI and 14 stolen bases for an on-base percentage of .674, that along with a fielding percentage of .915 this season as the Cardinals again made it to the regional final game.

Cleaver was a first-team all-conference selection, receiving the most votes for an infielder, was all-district and all-region and now all-state. Cleaver will continue her softball career at Lansing Community College in the fall.

?Cleaver was the hardest senior to say goodbye to. She is a very talented athlete; she was all-state in three sports. She made a great adjustment to third base for us this season moving over from short and she had a lot of power behind her swing. I wish her the best of luck at Lansing Community College next year,? said coach Jodi Brewbaker.

Cleaver?s all-time stats going into the regional tournament this season were a record of 90-28, a batting average of .428 with 110 RBI, she hit 26 homeruns, 12 triples, 40 doubles and scored 128 runs. She had 332 career at bats and had 142 hits. She had 52 walks and 39 stolen bases.

Junior pitcher Amanda Pomranke also was named honorable mention all-state after being first-team all-conference, receiving the most votes for a pitcher, and was all-district and all-region. Pomranke batted .489 and scored 37 runs for the Cards this season. She had 14 doubles, two triples, 16 stolen bases and 16 RBI on 43 hits. On the mound she had a record of 18-5, threw a no-hitter against Harbor Light in the regional semifinals, had an ERA of 1.99.

Pomranke threw three shut-outs and gave up just 123 hits in 141 innings of work. She faced 596 batters giving up 57 runs, 40 of them earned. She walked 28 while striking out 157, a new single season school record in Onaway.

?Amanda has great control, she pitches her different pitches to really mess with batters? minds. I am glad to have her back next year. She is a great leadoff hitter; she has such a natural swing. This year I think a lot of teams overlooked her because of Cleaver, next year I don?t think that will be the case. She doesn?t have the power of Cleaver but has great ball placement,? said coach Brewbaker.

In addition to the all-state selections two seniors were selected as academic all-state as individuals, Hayley O?Meara and Stephanie Richards. The team was named academic all-state for the tenth consecutive season.

?Academic all-state is something we talk about throughout the year. I keep track of the girls in school and ask how they are doing. If they are struggling we try to get them help right away. I always make sure they make it in the classroom before they make it on the field. It is a team goal every year, something I am proud of,? said coach Brewbaker.

Senior first baseman Richards was first-team all-conference and was all-district. Junior centerfielder Allie Nave also was named first-team all-conference, all-district and all-region. Melissa Pomranke and Kate Chapman were named second-team all-conference.

The Cardinals had another very successful season and although they will greatly miss Cleaver and Richards as well as fellow seniors O?Meara and Sachs next season, there is returning talent and talent coming up.