Photo by Edward Osinski Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse junior Michelle Tononi, pictured in the circle during a game early in the season, was voted MVP of the MAC Gold Division.

By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse junior Michelle Tononi’s ability to play multiple positions on the softball diamond made her invaluable to her team.

It also made her a perfect choice for the MAC Gold MVP award.

“I think it’s a really big achievement,” Tononi said. “I was out all last year because I (hurt) my arm, so I had to work extra hard to come back to play this season. It’s a really big honor because there’s a lot of good players in the MAC.”

“She had a phenomenal season,” L’Anse Creuse coach Lisa Downey said about Tononi.

“She led our team in hitting and in pretty much every single category. She came up big in big games.

Over the course of her three-year career, Tononi has played all over the field — pitcher, shortstop, second base — wherever the team needed her.

Tononi is also a switch-hitter whose combined final 2010 stats included a .469 batting average, 38 hits, 11 doubles, four triples, 26 RBIs and an .888 slugging percentage.
In the circle, Tononi registered around a 2.0 ERA.

“It’s a big responsibility,” Tononi said regarding splitting time between shortstop and pitcher. “It takes a lot of dedication, and I just do whatever the team needs me to do to step up and fill in.”

“She pretty much did everything,” Downey added. “The more a player can do, the more valuable they become. She pitched more for us in the beginning of the season. Gradually, our ninth-grader (Monica Hassig) started pitching, which helped Michelle solidify infield defense. She’s a well-rounded player.”

A few of her offensive highlights from the past season include two clutch home runs — she had six in all — a walk-off shot in a 7-5 victory over Port Huron Northern and one against Roseville High during the Lancers’ first home game.

“She really set the pace,” Downey said. “She did such important things for us. She was key in league games.”

Besides her MVP selection, Tononi earned honors as All-Conference, All-County second team, All-District, All-Region and All-Academic.

More challenges are sure to follow, as Tononi gets set for her senior season.

“As a senior, we expect her to become the leader of the team,” Downey said. “Hopefully, she hits as well as she did this year. It’s very important as a senior that she shows great leadership and commitment, so the team can be as successful as possible.”

You can reach Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnewscom or at (586) 279-1107.