Farmington High senior’s softball career capped off with All-State award By Mike Moore FARMINGTON HILLS — For Farmington High softball coach Tim Brown, the noise was as much a part of spring and summer as birds and lawn sprinklers. As soon as Brown heard that distinct “ping” from the common area behind his house, he knew Dana Velzy was taking batting practice, doing soft toss or working on her defense. And that was all before the recent Farmington grad even stepped into high school. “That’s just one example of the hard work that made Dana the player she was,” Brown said about Velzy, who was named to the 2008 Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 1 All-State team. “Her work ethic on a daily basis really set her apart.” Velzy, who lives in the same neighborhood as Brown, kept with the practice routine in high school, and it paid off. A four-year varsity player, she holds a number of school records and had one of the finest senior seasons Brown said he has ever witnessed. “She was, without question, one of the best all-around players in the entire state this year,” Brown said. Velzy batted .397 this year with seven home runs, six triples, 11 doubles and 30 RBIs. As one of the team’s top pitchers, she finished with a 12-7 record, with 156 strikeouts in 130 innings. A year ago, she recorded a program-best 18 wins in the circle. On offense, she owns school records for home runs (11), RBIs (126), slugging percentage (.568), doubles (36) and triples (19). In the circle, she’s the new leader in wins (50), strikeouts (607) and innings pitched (451). “To hold all these records is a pretty big accomplishment,” said Velzy, who was voted honorable mention All-State in 2007. “There have been some great players here, so it’s really an honor.” Along with all the numbers and records, Brown put another feather in Velzy’s cap by calling her as good a leader as she was a player. “A phenomenal leader,” he said. “She led by example all the time. She got girls together during the winter to throw or take swings. “She’d work with younger players on small things that helped the whole team improve. She organized workouts; she was just a great role model. Without her playing and leading the way she did, we don’t win an OAA title.” “I love the game; I basically live for it,” Velzy said. “Everything I do, every day, is about softball. I think that’s what sets me apart. My love for the game keeps me going, keeps me motivated to get better and help those around me.” Velzy said her goal when she gets set at Saginaw Valley State University is simply to get some playing time. But with her away at college, there just may be a void — a lack of a certain noise coming from just behind his house — that Brown will have to get used to. Then again, maybe not. “Dana’s younger sister, Hanna, is 7,” Brown said with a laugh. “I’m sure she’ll be out there soon, swinging away, following in her sister’s footsteps.” You can reach Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038. |
