The 2013 Sitka High Lady Wolves. (Sitka High photo)
The Lady Wolves beat Ketchikan 7 to 6 on Saturday to claim their fourth consecutive state championship.
Coach Bob Potrzuski says winning has in no way become routine. Nevertheless, he’s not the kind of coach who runs out on the field to celebrate.
“That’s the girls’ time. I try to just back away and watch, and that’s the most fun. Just watching their excitement. Because they worked really, really hard for it.”
Potrzuski did have a special family moment. His daughter, senior Stefania (stuh- FAWN-yah) Potrzuski, has been on all four championship teams. She let the coach know he was appreciated.
“My daughter picked me out of the crowd after she was with her teammates for a little bit. And she came out and gave me a big hug. She was pretty pleased.”
The title game on Saturday was a nail-biter. The Lady Wolves scored with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the win. Potruzski says there’s no telling what might have happened had the game gone into extra innings.
He thinks his girls proved they were the best team in the state.
“We hit at 6 AM three days a week. And we practice until 6 PM at night. And it’s kind of a race, softball, because we start March 1 and we’re done June 1. It’s a relatively short season. The dedication that the girls put in this year just totally paid off.”
Dedication is one part of the Lady Wolves success, a deep reserve of talent is another. Potrzuski lost seven starters between 2011 and 2012, and lost five starters coming into this season.
Their team batting average was .401. There’s only one word for that.
“Which is ‘ridiculous,’” Potzruski said.
The Lady Wolves went 16-4 in the regular season, and were undefeated in four tournament games.
KCAW’s Ed Ronco contributed to this story.
