On March 6th, the varsity softball team got back on their feet for the 2015 pre-season. The team has already played their first scrimmage against Bridgewater Raritan, ending with a tied score of five to five. Coach O’Connor said, “Last year we did a great job coming together as a team. It was very natural for the girls to work well on the field together because they were such good friends off the field. They went out to dinner together, breakfast, baseball games, etc.” With five seniors in the starting line up, this is sure to be a successful season for the team.
Coach O’Connor thinks highly of her team and the leadership qualities they posses. The hard work and dedication players showed throughout the winter also translated into preseason workouts. “I would say Kramer is a standout. She was in the weight room all summer with a number of other girls” said Coach O’Connor. “If anyone knows Kramer, she is hysterical. She has a way of making practice fun, but can also be intense and knows when to do that.” Ali Kramer is one of the five returning seniors in the line up and serves as a leader on the field as a catcher, and off the field as a role model for younger teammates.
The team has an upcoming trip to Florida on March 26th and will return on April 1st. They have five games planned for their time there. Senior Erika Evleth said, “We have a strong lineup and I think we will serve as strong competition in Florida. It will also be a great team bonding opportunity – as if we don’t do enough together already.” Coach O’Connor said, “This is the first year we are taking the trip down south to train. It will be great to be able to get those games in and feel prepared for the start of our season. The weather in New Jersey just does not allow us the scrimmages we need when our field is saturated in water and unplayable.” The weather in Florida while the team is there will be in the high 70s and 80s and sunny, a vast change from the rainy wet conditions keeping them stuck in the gym. “It will be so nice to actually play outside and not be cramped in the gym all practice” said senior first baseman Jill Reinen.
“Our main goal is to have a successful season. We are in a new division, and we expect to do well. We are going to continue to work on fundamentals, mechanics and our mental game everyday to achieve that goal” said Coach O’Connor. Last year, the season had a winning record of 18-8. They lost in sectionals but Coach O’Connor said, “We can’t make up for that, but we can use that experience to make us a stronger and more experienced team moving forward. We know what it takes to win and we’re prepared to put the work in to get us there.” This team has one motto: survive, thrive and advance, and they plan to follow that motto this whole season.
