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Six area athletes sign to play softball at ACC

ALPENA, Mich. — On Monday, six area athletes (Jade Schultz, Aubree Sheldon, Kyley LaFleche, Mollie Girard, Linnea Hentkowki, and Dayna LaBell) signed their National Letter of Intent to play softball next season at Alpena Community College and it’s safe to say they’re all excited to take their talents to the next level.

“When I started athletics, it’s always been a goal of mine to sign with a college,” said Sheldon. “To come at ACC and play means a lot.”

Schultz, Sheldon, LaBell recently graduated from Alpena High, while LaFleche just graduated from Rogers City.

Hentkowski and Girard were on Kristin Sobeck’s squad last season. However, both athletes didn’t get a lot of playing time, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Lumberjacks only played eight games (2-6), where their season ended back in March.

“Last season was heartbreaking,” said Hentkowski. “In our last game down in Florida, we had a feeling that our season was going to get cancelled because everything was shutting down. It was sad that we didn’t get the season we wanted together.”

Sobeck is now working with a group that was very successful in high school and/or summer travel softball. Alpena and Rogers City are two schools that are well known for softball. LaFleche and Hentkowski were part of a Hurons’ dynasty that won eight district titles and four regional titles since 2012, while the Wildcats have won two district titles withing the past few years (2018, 2019).

Four athletes will not only be playing softball next season, but they will also be multisport athletes at ACC. Schultz, LaFleche, and Girard will be playing basketball under women’s head basketball coach Bobby Allen, while Sheldon plans on playing volleyball.