OWOSSO – Nearly four months away from the start of the Michigan high school softball season, the state of the Owosso softball program was called into question during an Owosso Public Schools Board of Education meeting last week.

Parents of a current varsity softball player alleged physical and verbal abuse from current head softball coach JoEllen Smith, who has been at the helm of the varsity softball program since 1983 and currently serves as Owosso High School’s athletic director secretary.

The Argus-Press first reported the incident based on accounts detailed at a Nov. 19 school board meeting where nine different speakers discussed a situation where Smith allegedly struck now-junior catcher Ady Freeman, grabbed her by the jersey, and used profanity towards her.

The incident alleged

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