Titans' VanDosen tabbed as MVP

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

Photo by David Schreiber Warren Woods Tower junior Rebecca VanDosen was named the softball MVP of the MAC Silver Division after helping lead the Titans to the division title.

Warren Woods Tower junior earns MAC Silver softball top honor

Warren Woods Tower junior Rebecca VanDosen was named the softball MVP of the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division after helping lead the Titans to the division title.

“I was real excited,” VanDosen said about learning she had won the award.

VanDosen played center field this past season for the Titans.

“She has good footwork, breaks on the ball — very precise, very strong arm — and when the ball is hit out in the outfield, I’m very confident she can make a play on it,” Tower coach Lance Sell said. “As far as outfield goes, she knows how to play it very strong.”

VanDosen moved to center after playing shortstop most of her softball career. She’s gladly accepted the challenge of the position change, prospering in the outfield.

“I’m so glad I play in center field,” VanDosen said. “I have a lot more ground to cover. I have quick speed, so it helps.”

Defense isn’t her only strength, though.

Sell called VanDosen, who also plays basketball and volleyball, a “very, very good athlete.”

“She’s just a hard worker,” the coach continued. “She’s got a very good bat. She batted in the third spot for us most of the season. She’s also a very smart base runner. I don’t have to do a lot of coaching with her. I rarely worry about her on the base paths.”

VanDosen said receiving the honor should help her in pursuing a spot on a college softball team eventually.

But before then, she and the rest of the Titans will look to defend their title and improve on their success from last season — something that shouldn’t be too hard since the squad had just one senior in Leah McArthur.

McArthur was named to the division’s All-Conference team, as well as a pair of returning players — junior Hayley Wrinkle and freshman Shelby Weeks.

VanDosen said her talented teammates helped her significantly in winning the award.

“Every position we’re strong, no one is struggling. We all work together,” she said. “The more experience you have as a team, you only get better. We were pretty good this year. Next year, we’ll be unstoppable.”

“We’re pretty excited,” Sell added, looking ahead to the future of the program. “We’re very proud of winning the MAC Silver, our first league title since the early 90s. We had one senior — most of these girls are coming back, so that’s a bonus.

“We want to work to get better. We don’t want to be complacent with were we ended up.”

The Titans finished 15-9 overall, 9-1 in the MAC Silver. They lost to St. Clair Shores Lakeview, the MAC Blue champs and eventual regional finalists, in a Division 2 district final.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040.