Mar 15, 2013 3 min read

Three runs are all that separated the Carmichaels softball team from greatness in 2012.

At least that’s the feeling around the Mikes’ program.

Carmichaels lost just three times in 2012, going 22-3 while capturing a sixth consecutive Section 2-A championship.

And all three losses came by just one run, as the Mikes lost, 3-2, to Trinity in the regular season, 3-2 to Chartiers-Houston in the WPIAL championship game and 2-1 to eventual state champion Fannett Metal in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs.

“I think the girls realize how close they were,” said Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs. “We lost by one run in the WPIAL championship and one run to the eventual state champion.

“We were so close.”

The Mikes have a solid group returning from that team, losing only three seniors.

But one of those seniors was pitcher Cameron Grimes, who doubled as one of the team’s top hitters.

Briggs, however, was prepared for that loss, at least inside the circle, and has sophomore Erica Burns ready to fill the void.

“She’s no slouch,” said Briggs. “We used her a lot last year. She went 6-0, mostly in relief. I would use both her and Cameron in the same game to keep opponents off balance. They’re different styles of pitcher. Erica is a little quicker. She’s more of a power pitcher.”

Burns has a solid returning defense to back her up, led by shortstop Morgan Berardi and catcher Lindsay Osbourne, a pair of three-year starters.

“We’re a spoiled a little bit by them,” said Briggs. “To have a pair of four-year starters at those positions is a nice luxury to have.”

The Mikes did lose second baseman Anna Cree to a knee injury suffered in basketball season, but Briggs expects her sister, Caroline, to slide over from first base to help fill the void. Amanda Brown, a junior, will move into the starting lineup at third base, while Regina Menhart, used mostly as an extra hitter in 2012, will find a spot in the outfield.

That group will face a much different Section 2-A in 2013.

Beth-Center bumped up to Class AA, but realignment added Frazier, Serra Catholic and Monessen. Frazier and Serra Catholic were both playoff teams in 2012.

“I really think this is going to be the toughest section in Class A,” Briggs said. “Plus, we’ll be playing 14 section games this year. It’s going to be a grind. It seems to me that we’re going to end up with a bunch of section games stacked up.”

But Briggs is confident the Mikes will be among the top contenders in Class A this season, especially with defending champion Chartiers-Houston also moving up to Class AA.

“I’m confident,” Briggs said. “I know we have talented girls. We just can’t get complacent. I know they won’t.

“We have some huge spots to fill, but I’m confident that we will.”