It was a disappointing ending to what will  be remembered as an unfinished softball season in Lowell.

The Red Arrows finished with a record number season victories (34). Ironically it was an 18-strikeout, perfect game pitched by Morgan Groom against Rockford which put Lowell in violation of MHSAA rules.

That one extra game kept the Red Arrows out of post season play. One which carried high hopes that Lowell would venture further into the tournament than any other Red Arrow team which preceded it.

The senior-laden class of Groom, Sara Mogar, Jenna Smith, Lyndsey Crawford and Carissa Paiz all represented Lowell for the final time as Red Arrow softball players in the John Bos Conference All Star game.

Groom led the club to an 8-1 victory with a 15-strikeout performance.

For the senior it was just one more highlight during a stellar senior season.

Groom also earned a plethora of post season awards. She was named the top Division I pitcher in the state by the coach; a Detroit Free Press Scholar Athlete; to the Division I All State team; and as a member of the O-K White All Conference team, All District team and All Region team.

Groom set school records in ERA (0.25); career ERA (1.132; season strikeouts (349); most Ks in a six or seven inning game; runs allowed in a season (11); runs earned in a season (6) and wins (24).

The Red Arrow ace also pitched two perfect games in addition to Rockford, threw 18 shutouts; seven no-hitters; two 20 strikeout games; two 18 strikeout games. Groom averaged 15 1/3 strikeouts per game; while walking just 10 batters in 159.7 innings pitched.

All of this while hitting .400 at the plate.

Filed under: Softball