Softball season has begun and the Malden High School softball team is already hard at work. The team is determined to win this season with their positive state and willingness to work industriously to win and get into state tournaments. The team is also working towards to making improvements to qualify for state tournaments.
This season, there are about seven open spots on the team for new players. Physics teacher and softball coach Julie Fox explained that the team is looking for people “with a strong softball knowledge”, and consistent performance on the field. Strong softball knowledge means someone would “know what to do when they throw or catch a ball, and things like that”.
Coach Fox mentioned that the team gets along very well, and the team has built a friendly and positive atmosphere. She explained that “a lot of players have been playing together for awhile, so a lot of them know each other” and everyone has been very “helpful to each other and everyone is very enthusiastic”. In fact, Coach Fox said her favorite thing about the team is their enthusiasm. She also mentioned that everyone on the team is dedicated towards softball.
Senior Ashlyn Fitzpatrick, who played outfield but is currently a pitcher, expressed that her favorite thing about the team is “how [they] always back each other up no matter what, even if [they] make mistakes, [they] always encourage each other to keep going”. Senior Mackenzie Furlong, who plays shortstop, mentioned that her favorite thing was playing with her friends and “just being a team”.
The team expects to do better this year than last year, especially because this year will be Coach Fox’s second year coaching the team. Coach Fox explained that “[she] is more focused this year on what needs to be improved” than last year. Additionally, she mentioned that this year, the team has “pretty enthusiastic [freshmen on the team],, a few of which will see some varsity time”. She later explained that “last year, [the team] was able to get eighth grade waivers so eighth graders could play on the team. So now that [these eighth graders are freshmen],, they are more familiar with the team”.
The first game of this season will be a home game on April 9th.
