Akron Racers set to begin title defense
Defending league champions
gear up for 2006 season
By Mike D’Agruma
SOUTH AKRON — Imagine going to a White Stripes concert at the Agora and only seeing a handful of people there. Imagine J.K. Rowling’s next “Harry Potter” book only selling about 200 copies. Imagine LeBron James walking down a busy Cleveland street unnoticed.
Now you can imagine what it’s like to be the defending National Pro Fastpitch League champion Akron Racers professional softball team.
While professional sports success is usually the forbearer of fame, fortune and fan adoration, the taste has been bittersweet for the Racers, as they have proven to be one of the most underappreciated professional sports teams in Northeast Ohio.
While other professional sports teams in Northeast Ohio continue decade-long championship droughts, the Racers quietly toil on as the team who has never finished lower than second place in their league.
While thousands of fans complain, moan and go about their fair-weather ways, the Racers habitually give their 600 or 700 something to cheer about.
“It’s hard for me when my players make spectacular plays or hit the ball to the street and no one’s there to see them play,” said the Racers General Manager Joey Arrietta. “It’s frustrating for me because I’m frustrated for them. ... I want people in the seats for them. My heart’s on the line every night.”
Arrietta is something of a story herself. She’s a general manager who doesn’t just spend long hours wheeling and dealing on the phone; she likes to get her hands dirty — sometimes literally.
During the April 20-22 high school softball Summit Showcase at Firestone Stadium, it was Arrietta who was hopping between the two rain-ravaged fields, rake in hand, trying to make the surface usable for competing teams. The time she spent working for the benefit of local high school teams is an example of the work ethic she brings to her role with the Racers.
“Two full-time people run this organization — and one of them is me,” she said.
Part of that work involves an off-season spent trying to better a team that could potentially repeat last year’s championship run. Unfortunately, playing in a league where no team has a losing record makes Arrietta’s job that much harder. As if that wasn’t enough, she’ll be losing arguably the league’s most prolific hitter, Crystl Bustos (.398 average, 19 home runs [HR], 57 RBI), midway through the season when Bustos leaves town to suit up for the U.S. National Team. Joining her on the squad will be pitcher Jamie Southern (0.75 ERA, 67 strikeouts) and catcher Jenny Topping (.377 average, .551 on-base percentage). In addition to these early departures, the team’s top two draft picks, Jennie Ritter (University of Michigan) and Caitlin Benyi (University of California, Los Angeles), won’t be joining the team until June at the earliest, if at all. Benyi is still competing in the NCAA softball super regional, and Ritter will be trying out for the national team. She will not see action in a Racers uniform if she makes the squad.
Despite these setbacks, Arrietta is still confident that her team can compete at its usual high level. The team will retain outfielder Iyhia McMichael (.400 average, 11 HR, 35 RBI), infielder Oli Keohohou (.327 average, 6 HR, 34 RBI) and the bulk of their pitching staff, anchored by Brandee McArthur (1.83 ERA, 109 strikeouts). Arrietta said one of the ways she looked to fill this year’s future holes was on the base paths. Joining speedsters McMichael and shortstop Kristin Johnson, who combined for 27 steals last year, is outfielder Kim Gonzalez.
They’ll be backed by a strong group of contact hitters. Last year, the Racers had nine players bat .299 or better with 11 players registering on-base percentages higher than .385.
“We have filled the critical roles, in my opinion,” Arrietta said. “It’s going to come down to who’s going to suit up for 48 games.”
The Racers will suit up a nice blend of youth and experience for those 48 games. Their roster will feature 10 veteran and nine young players.
“I like the mix,” Arrietta said. “I like the people we picked up. I think it adds a new dimension to our team.
“We [won the championship] last year, and I think we can do it again,” she added.
Of course, the intent is to not only field a team that has the potential to hang up another championship banner, but also one that can draw the attention and appreciation of fans. While Arrietta said she’s extremely appreciative of the team’s loyal followers, she knows she’s holding a hidden sports gem just waiting to be discovered.
“I want people to see these young women play,” Arrietta said. “I think if they see them play, they’ll come back.”
The Racers will host league newcomers
the Philadelphia Force May 31 at Firestone Stadium,
1575 Firestone Parkway, with the first pitch to be thrown
at 7:05 p.m. Individual
stadium seat tickets are $7. For ticket information,
call (330) 376-8188 or visit the Web site www.akronracers.org.
Akron Racers 2005 National Pro Fastpitch championship team Photo courtesy of www.akronracers.org
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