Stoney Creek’s selflessness key to OAA-Red league title

ROCHESTER HILLS — Every team has their own motto for the season, or even for a particular graduating class that carries on throughout the team.

It’s inspiring. It motivates. It typically reminds the team why they step out onto the field for every game.

For Rochester Hills Stoney Creek softball, the word “ubuntu,” a word originating from the Nguni and Bantu languages of South Africa that translates to “I am because we are,” tells the story of what each Stoney Creek player prides herself on each game, and it extends beyond the softball field.

They have shown it all throughout the season, wearing teal May 6 in conjunction with Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance and selling T-shirts and collecting donations, or even their youth softball night May 24, held after press time, where all local youth softball players received a free hot dog and free softball skills clinic following the game with Stoney Creek players and coaches.

“They have really bought into the culture that we’ve been implementing for three seasons now, and that’s all about the team,” Stoney Creek coach Rick Troy said. “We are better together than we are singly, and they believe it. We have a little saying called, ‘ubuntu,’ and they all understand the meaning of it and know that we’re all better together than we are individually. They live it, and the results are there.”

The results are definitely there this season as Stoney Creek (27-5) not only captured the Oakland Activities Association-Red league title this year, but was the first team in school history to go unbeaten in the league with a perfect 12-0 record.

The success is twofold for Stoney Creek because on one side of the coin, there’s the on-the-field dynamic of an explosive offense and lethal pitching staff that wears down teams on both sides of the field.

On the other side, Stoney Creek’s chemistry is unlike anything the program has ever seen, forming a sisterhood that can face any obstacle throughout the season.

So much so that sophomore sensations Kate Stephens (SS) and Danielle Bryant (INF), who both started on varsity last season, have solidified their role as everyday impact players for Stoney Creek, and Bryant said the veteran leaders have played a huge role in that.

“I feel like they have confidence in us, and that helps us perform as a team,” Bryant said. “If we didn’t have that, everything would just be a mess. I feel like they complete the puzzle of our team.”

Senior pitcher Maddie Laviolette leads a strong Stoney Creek senior group alongside Mia Buckley (INF), Lane Ballard (OF), Sydney Rottermond (OF) and Emma Laurence (OF), and Laviolette, who pitched Stoney Creek to a district title in 2021, has been dominant on the mound this season.

When she’s on, it’s a tough at-bat no matter what hitter is in the box, and that’s just with Laviolette. Stoney Creek also has the option to throw juniors Erin Flynn and Morgan Greenwald, who both have been impressive this season. It’s also a bonus to have junior Christa Munn, a catcher with a cannon for an arm, behind the dish.

While Laviolette, an Alma commit, and Flynn, a Saginaw Valley State commit, may overwhelm hitters with their repertoire, Troy said Greenwald’s arsenal is tricky for hitters to adjust to.

“She’s got a whole different style of pitching,” Troy said. “We bring her in sometimes just to mess with the opposing team because she just pitches differently. She’s what we would refer to as a ‘spin pitcher,’ so it’s a whole other element. Between the three of them, we’re pretty confident with what we got.”

Offensively, it’s a team effort at the plate with contributions from the top to the bottom of the order.

Stephens and Bryant have carried their weight and then some as the underclassmen of the group, and Laviolette, Buckley, Rottermond, Munn and Flynn have all been consistent contributors on the offensive side.

Laviolette, a power threat any time she comes to the plate, said the team just embraces what Stoney Creek’s softball has always been strong in.

“We’ve always been known to be hitters, but I think our small ball maybe needs a little work, but we’ve always been known for our consistent hitting,” Laviolette said. “I think that’s been a key part of our game as long as I’ve been here.”

Stoney Creek will open up district play against Rochester at 12:30 p.m. June 3 at the Romeo Community Center and will face the winner of Utica Eisenhower and Romeo with a win.

Stoney Creek last faced Rochester in the opening round of districts last season, winning 8-0 before being eliminated by Rochester Adams the following game.

Stoney Creek last won a district title in 2021 and will look to make another addition to an already full trophy room with this season’s OAA-Red league title.

In addition to hardware, Troy said he’s more concerned with one aspect of his team.

“The wins will always be there, but we want to build quality people,” Troy said.