Howell High School has been known for many years as one of Michigan’s most prestigious fastpitch softball teams. For fourteen years, the team performed under the watchful guidance of varsity coach, Paul Bushong, but now the team is experiencing a change in management. Ron Pezzoni, coach and owner of the T2 softball and baseball facility accepted the job as head varsity coach just this past off-season. After being an assistant coach alongside Bushong last year, Pezzoni is ready to take command and continue the Howell tradition.

“I look forward to the challenge of raising the bar to an already very successful softball program,” says coach Ron Pezzoni.

The success of Howell’s softball team has earned them acclaim from many rival teams statewide. Throughout the years, coach Bushong fashioned the team into a well-established and, notably, winning group of players. He believes that coach Pezzoni is ready to take on the challenge of building and training nearly a score of teenage girls.

“I think Coach Pezzoni will do a great job. He has an extensive background in both baseball and softball. Having played professionally in baseball and his softball coaching experience along with the facility he owns and the former college players that instruct there, give him a unique perspective to start with. If the players and parents buy into his program the future of HHS softball is very bright,” says former coach Paul Bushong.

As softball season draws closer, coach Pezzoni has set up a system of workouts and one on one practices to get players back into the swing of things (so to speak). That perhaps is the hardest thing for a coach to do, brush off the rust from the long off-season and begin honing skills back to an optimum playing level. Most of the returning softball players are already familiar with coach Pezzoni and his work ethic so this season will not be too much of an alteration from the last.

Coach Pezzoni’s extensive knowledge in the field of softball and baseball gives Howell a huge advantage and the entire softball community is excited for this opportunity at a clean slate. From a player’s standpoint, a new coach could be a challenge to adjust to. But those who had the privilege to play with coach Pezzoni in years past are anxious to begin the season.

“I’m excited, it’s something new for Howell. He’s chill and a hard working coach. Last year he helped me a lot with my hitting, he knows how to break things down,” says senior Blessings Amituanai.

In lieu of this, the softball girls are ready to begin a new season with a fresh frame of mind. They will take their prior knowledge from past seasons and coaches to adhere with coach Pezzoni’s routine in order to reach their ultimate goal of winning districts once again.