Softball Closes Strong in Tight Shootout
Girls’ varsity softball came back swinging this weekend with a big win at home, defeating Northfield Mount Hermon’s squad 14-13, thus sending them up to .500 with a 2-2 record. Although unfavorable weather conditions and a strong NMH team challenged Big Red softball, the athletes came out to the field hungry for a win and earned their second W of the season.
Team members credited most of their success out on the diamond to the bonding and team building they have developed across the last few weeks of their season. Prep Menat Bahnasy said, “We have been doing quite some bonding with each other - including games, a movie night, etc. I think that all the activities definitely help with our communication in the field and the comfort and trust we have within each other,” Bahnasy said.
Lower Daria Moody also commented on the team’s dynamic, noting that everyone promotes team spirit through cheering for each other and giving high fives. The relationships that the athletes have built so far have improved their trust in each other and consequently, their play.
On the more physical side of the game, prep Ella Johnson attributed the victory to their improvements on hitting and cutting down on errors while playing defense.
“We are hitting very well and making minimal errors. We have also done a great job keeping the energy up. I do hope to see us work on certain game situation plays and always knowing where to grow the ball.”
“We are hitting very well and making minimal errors. We have also done a great job keeping the energy up. I do hope to see us work on certain game situation plays and always knowing where to grow the ball,” Johnson said. It’s this work and practice that helped Johnson to rip two dingers to put the team up and lead them to their eventual victory off her walk-off home run.
Around the fourth inning, the team was down 11-7 and the rain started to come down hard, muddying up the baseline. However, the girls weren’t ready to give up yet. Upper and team captain Courtney Gibeley said of this important and trying inning, “Our motivation was on point. We were down 11-7 and it was pouring but we all kept our heads up. Everybody was in the game. It was so intense.”
With three away games over the next week and a half, the team is looking to improve its fielding. Most importantly, moving on the team will need to keep their attitudes and spirits high and not let the beginning of their season dictate their final record.
Mark May 2, 3:30 p.m. on your calendars and be ready to come out and support the team with the best spirit on campus as they hope to bring home another W.