Tight-Knit Softball Team Excited for Season

Girls’ varsity softball, a team consisting of only 12 players, looks forward to a successful season. Following last year’s record of 9 wins and 11 losses, upper Jaynee Ronquillo-Anaya hopes to have a winning season. “Staying positive in and out of the game is really important to our overall experience,” she said. “I’m building confidence.”

Due to the cohesive team chemistry that girls’ varsity softball has created, Ronquillo-Anaya is sure to do just that. Teammate upper Menat Bahnasy shared the same hopeful outlook. Although the team is small, she believes that the closeness of the team will lead to a better cohesive strategy. “In the game, you need to know your teammates,” Bahnasy explained. “You need to know where they want the ball thrown to them; you need to know which catches and pitches are their strengths or weaknesses. A small team makes that much more exciting!”

Bahnasy also expects the co-captains and seniors Brittani Chapman, Daria Moody and Lauren Fidelak to foster a strong and enthusiastic team environment. “They are all very different leaders in their own great ways,” Bahnasy said. Ronquillo-Anaya shared the same sentiment. “I’m looking forward to the game and being with my girls,” she said, continuing to say that she hopes to apply everything she learns in practice—and from the co-captains—on the field.

“Team chemistry is already present, so I think we’re ahead of the game, and we can just work fine tuning techniques.”

Chapman weighed in on the close proximity of girls’ varsity softball. With only two newcomers—prep Jill Cloonan and new lower Hannah Grace Johnson—to fill the graduated seniors’ spots, Chapman hopes to hone in on details.  Four players graduated last year, but the majority of last years’ team still playing. “Team chemistry is already present, so I think we’re ahead of the game, and we can just work fine tuning techniques,” Chapman explained.

However, senior Sydneé Goyer sees the sparsity of players as a disadvantage. Because of the smaller team size, the players will “have to be sure to adjust to playing in new positions that we aren’t used to.” Despite this setback, Goyer looks forward to seeing how the team “functions as a unit.” Goyer also wants to better herself individually and improve cohesively this season.

Chapman, Bahnasy, Ronquillo-Anaya and Goyer all cited Andover as a major source of competition this season. Set to face the opponents on May 5 and May 27, girls’ varsity softball is determined to settle the score after losing 1-11 and 1-4 last year. “As always, we definitely look forward to playing Andover,” Goyer said. Bahnasy reiterated Goyer’s point, saying, “I feel confident that [the co-captains] can lead us to a victory versus Andover, who might be our greatest competition this season!”

In the meantime, Big Red must prepare and train to face their rivals. With the first two games against Tilton Academy and the Noble & Greenough School postponed, Chapman is disappointed that it may be a while before they are able to practice on the fields. Goyer knows that with the help of Chapman, Fidelak and Moody, Exeter will achieve. “Our co-captains are all very knowledgeable and helpful on the field,” she said. “They were leaders on the team last year, and I know they will hold themselves and the rest of the team to high standards.”

The team is set to compete against the New Hampton School on Apr. 12 on home ground at 3:00 pm.