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MARQUETTE -- There's something just a little more satisfying about beating up on teams from below the bridge than fellow Upper Peninsula teams.

That's exactly what the Marquette High School softball team did over the weekend capturing their second consecutive district championship, defeating Traverse City West and Alpena for the title.

On Tuesday, five members of the team received All District First team honors including first baseman Whitney Brugman, pitcher Ashley Bolduc, second baseman Jade Ledy, and outfielder Courtney LaFreniere as well as first year varsity coach Paul Seibert being named All-District Coach of the Year.

After losing in last year's Regional to Bay City West, this year's team says the big stage and bright lights at Saginaw Valley State University won't distract them this time.

"Regional's last year--probably the most scariest thing I've ever dealt with," said pitcher Ashley Bolduc.  "This year, I know what to expect and what the field's going to look like. The field had a big part in why it was so scary."

Her teammates agreed that Saginaw Valley's Softball Complex was indeed intimidating.

"The girls that went down last year definitely are going to be not as nervous," said senior first baseman Whitney Brugman.  "I know I was nervous when I pulled up to the complex and saw the field we were playing on, but now that I've been there, I know it's just another game and it's nothing special."

Head Coach Paul Seibert says crossing the Mackinac Bridge with six seniors who have already tasted Regional playoff action is a positive.

"To have half the team at least having already experienced it is going to be a big advantage.  I know Bay City West is in the other half of it (the Regional Bracket) and they pretty much return their entire team."

Marquette faces Flushing in the other Regional Semifinal; should they win, the Redettes would play either Bay City West or Lapeer West Saturday afternoon. 

Two wins would punch Marquette's ticket to the State Quarterfinals next Tuesday (June 14).