Source: Hometown Life

Author: Marty Budner

Jerry Ashe has been associated with the Mercy High School softball program in some coaching capacity for the past 22 years, but never as a head coach.

That changes this year.

Ashe, who was officially given the job in January, takes over the program from Alec Lesko, who coached the Marlins to their only state championship in 2016. This marks Ashe's first job as a high school varsity head coach.

"It's a totally different animal," said Ashe, a 1971 Detroit Catholic Central graduate. "It's a challenge, especially taking over for Alec, because he's so knowledgeable and that kind of thing, but I'm welcoming the challenge.

"One of the things I've learned over the years is to help the kids out. And that's what I've done in an assistant's role. I never really aspired to be a head coach, but the position opened up and we couldn't fill it with anyone that we thought was adequate to do what we think should be done at Mercy.

"So I threw my hat in the ring," he added. "And I got it and I'm excited about it."

Ashe first came to Mercy in 1996, when he was asked to help out then Mercy head coach Jack Falvo, who is credited with putting put the Marlins on the softball map with four straight trips to the final four.

The West Bloomfield resident has served at every level of the Mercy softball program, starting as the middle school head coach, freshman coach, junior varsity coach and then advancing to assistant varsity coach in 2004. He has assisted under six different varsity coaches. 

Keep winning tradition going

Now he's ready to take over the program, with a goal of maintaining Mercy's winning tradition that includes an impressive 100-18 record the past three seasons. The mark includes a school-record 43 wins during the historic title-winning campaign two years ago.

"I'm looking forward to keep Mercy's winning tradition of competitive softball going," Ashe said. "I think it's been about seven years since we haven't had a winning record."

Last spring, Mercy captured its sixth straight district championship, was the Catholic League tournament runner-up and finished with a 30-12 record.

The Marlins enter this season with a young team composed of only three seniors and one junior. The roster includes 13 players who are either sophomores or freshmen.

Mercy's undisputed leader is senior Anna Dixon, who returns as the team's leading hitter with a stellar .491 career average. The Hillsdale-bound four-year starter batted a team-leading .565 last spring and also led the Marlins in RBIs with 70. She was second in runs scored with 73.

Dixon, who will be a team captain, will catch and play third base. She takes over the catching duties from Dunya Kizy, a returning starter who will miss the season due to injury.

"Anna is very consistent with her bat, although we'd like to see her hit for a little more power," Ashe said. "She is very knowledgeable of the game. She's a very quiet leader, but she sets an example by the way she plays, the way she works hard and the way she helps out the kids."

Sarah Cassidy, the team's only junior, will move from left to center field. The three-year varsity player is a consistent performer with a strong glove (.891 fielding percentage) and good arm.

"I see Sarah stepping up and becoming a leader," Ashe said. "She is very steady with a good arm and, with any speed she lacks, she overcomes by taking charge and going after the ball."

Grace Nieto is a promising freshman with a rich heritage — her sister Kaycee was an all-state pitcher for the Marlins who played college ball at Utah. Nieto, a shortstop, is already committed to play Big Ten softball at Northwestern University.

"Grace grew up with softball in her blood and I think she's going to be a heck of a shortstop," Ashe said. 

Sophomore pitching staff

The pitching staff is young, but returns with a year of experience as each member saw plenty of action last year as a freshman. 

Olivia Iafrate finished with a 21-7 record and hurled 156 innings with a 3.63 earned-run average and 113 strikeouts. Samantha Shea appeared in 19 games with nine wins. Sophomore Julia Crowley, a transfer from Ann Gabriel Richard, will offer depth on the pitching staff.

"Olivia was our mainstay last year and Sam is our other pitcher and we're really excited about getting them back," Ashe said. "Olivia has good control and hits her spots. She is not a flame thrower, but she hits her spots and her pitches have some movement to them."

Depending on the weather, of course, Ashe will make his varsity coaching debut at the East Lansing Invitational, scheduled for April 14. Mercy's first home game is scheduled for 4 p.m. April 17 against Gabriel Richard.

"We look to get back to the Catholic League playoffs. That's one of our goals," Ashe said. "It's a young team, but I don't think we have a weak player on the roster. 

"We really have a good group of kids and I'm looking forward to it," he added. "I'm excited about the season."