The first game against rival West Allis Central provided the first indication that the West Allis Hale softball team was headed for a particularly interesting and thrilling season.
In that contest, played in the wind and cold of April 6, the Huskies took leads of 4-1 and 7-4, only to see the Bulldogs rally to tie the game twice. Undaunted, they tallied the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a hit by Morgan Abel to prevail, 8-7.
In the weeks since then, Hale has continued its highwire act, beating Pewaukee, 9-7; Sussex Hamilton, 1-0; and Brookfield Central, 4-3, while falling to Divine Savior Holy Angels, 7-6, in nine innings after coming back from a 6-2 deficit after five.
The Huskies have proven they can be competitive with anybody this season behind the pitching of Nicole Grubor, who has hit double figures in strikeouts several times this year, and a strong lineup keyed by Abel, Jenny Rechlicz, Cheyenne Smith and others.
At this point, Hale is 3-2 in the Greater Metro Conference and 5-3 overall, pending a game later today against GMC leader Menomonee Falls, weather permitting.
The Huskies should be a team to watch in the coming weeks, starting with their May 5 contest against Central at Dorow Field. They also have two games with Brookfield East, including one at home on May 4, and a home contest against DSHA on May 14.
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Speaking of Hale, one of the school's most notable, even iconic, teachers and coaches is Mary Blandino, who coached Huskies' volleyball for 34 years while winning four WIAA Division 1 state championships, as well as gymnastics for 17 seasons and track for 14 years.
Blandino has received numerous awards in the past few months, capped by the Women's Sports Advocates of Wisconsin's Lifetime Achievement Award, which is considered the state's highest honor in women's sports.
Considering her coaching success, plus all her other work on behalf of Special Olympics, state coaches' advisory boards and Senior Olympics, Blandino is richly deserving of all these honors. Her complete story can be found on WestAllisNOW.com or in the West Allis NOW newspaper of today, April 30.
