Following consecutive conference championships, the varsity softball team once again has the opportunity to not only protect the title of conference champions, but to also pursue the ultimate goal of a state championship.
Junior Megan Palfrey believes that the team can exceed the goals they set last season.
“Most of the starters from last season are on the team again plus a couple new girls got added too so we’re coming back strong and are looking to take it a step further than last year by making it to states,” Palfrey said.
To specifically prepare for this challenge, the team is putting extra focus on hitting and pitching techniques to prepare for regional competitors.
“We’re mostly focusing on hitting and pitching faster to prepare ourselves for the teams we will be facing in regionals and other post season games,” Palfrey said. “We have been doing a little more defense training which has been good to help the coaches determine where everyone is going to play this season.”
The previous season’s team won conference as well as the team prior to that, but only made it to the second round of regionals. As a varsity centerfielder, junior Emma Knoke believes that the team will make it to conferences just like previous years.
“We have amazing coaches,” Knoke said. “Even though we have only been practicing for a week, we managed to hold our own against O’Connell; this bodes well for the season.”
The team lost in a scrimmage to O’Connell on Mar. 7. In response, Knoke assured that the coaches have a specific training regimen to follow in order to train as much as possible for conferences.
“We work hard in practices and we always come in 15 minutes early to get ready more efficiently,” Knoke said. “We focus on all the little things to get right during games.”
Junior Amelia Ely agreed that practices are becoming more focused as the season progresses.
“Everyone has been focused from the beginning which is great and will definitely help us reach our goal of getting to states,” Ely said. “We’re all looking forward to our home season opener this Friday against Wakefield and getting into the season.”