For the first time in 11 years, the girls’ softball team made it to the playoffs, finishing with a 10-8 record and its best season since 2015.
The postseason run was short-lived, as the team was eliminated in the first round, but the season still marked a major step forward for the team. From the start, this team knew they weren’t going to be the same team they were the year prior. Led by their captains, seniors Emily Ruiz, Hannah Dunleavy and Chelsea Sainz, there was a clear shift in philosophy.
“We wanted to make things a little bit more organized and community-like this year,” Ruiz said.
One of the ways the team implemented these goals was by shortening practices, as in years prior, lengthy practices weighed down on the team.
“We’d practice every day from 2:45 to 5, which is kind of a long time for us,” Ruiz said. “We would do a lot of batting practice and a lot of fielding drills. [This year] when we do it, we do it hard.”
Although practices got shorter, the team continued to get better at the fundamentals.
“I would say our offense is definitely helping us a lot,” coach Kristen Morcone said. “It gives us confidence on pitching and defense, so I think when we have run support for our defense it takes a lot of pressure off our defense.”
Dunleavy was one of the main contributors to the team’s success. However, just three years ago, she, as well as the other seniors, were on a team that only won one game. They have come a long way since then and built more team chemistry and pride.
“Our team has gotten a lot closer over the years,” Dunleavy said. “We’ve had a lot of time to bond through pasta parties and hanging out with each other. We’ve gotten a lot closer, which makes it easier to play well together.”
That community-based mindset was felt throughout the entirety of the team and helped the team perform on the field.
“We have a lot of good hitters,” Ruiz said. “We’re locked in on the field when we’re playing on defense but also the community this year is very, very strong. We all support each other.”
In addition to being a community-driven team, their seniority and overall high school softball experience were driving forces in their success. However, it was not just the seniors who helped the team.
“We have great senior leadership that has really helped our girls, mixed with a bunch of talent and eagerness from underclassmen has been a great mix,” Morcone said.
Two juniors who especially stood out to Morcone were Nora Williamson and Maeve Walker. Williamson provided great pitching and offensive production, while Walker was a key outfielder for the team.
Although the first round playoff loss to Weymouth wasn’t what team members were hoping for, the season remains a resounding success for a team on the upswing.
“Our goals are making the playoffs again and getting further in them,” Williamson said.
