The Montrose softball team, captained by Mary Korzenowski ‘17 and Maggie MacIsaac ‘18, did not have a winning season by the numbers. We won a single game (though the win was substantial, beating Brimmer and May 21-7), had only 10 players (9 are required to field a team), and weren’t able to play on a field for the first month of practice. Despite the odds stacked against us, the team built a strong base of skill work and, more importantly, became a tight-knit family. Julia Lewis ‘18, said: “I feel so blessed to have had the privilege to learn from all of these amazing girls and become a part of this group that’s not only a team but a family.”

The team bonded through their shared losses and rejoiced in their win. Maddie Marcucci’s ‘19 hilarious rallying cry — “GO TEAM! DEFENSE!” — from her place behind home plate rejuvenated a sometimes tired field.

The two seniors on the team, Mary Korzeniowski and Sarah McAuliffe, were experienced players who were eager to step up and teach the newer teammates. Mary, as pitcher, pulled the team together by displaying remarkable fortitude as she pitched inning after inning, often until she had trouble moving her shoulder. Sarah’s place at first base was crucial to cut off the runner quickly; and, recognizing this responsibility, Sarah caught balls that looked impossible. The consistent encouragement from these seniors allowed the team to learn new skills while still enjoying the game.

Our coaches, Mr. Lawes, Mrs. McGowan, and Mrs. McLeod, pushed us to be our best in whatever the skill. We sprinted bases in a relay, hit balls to the outfield until our arms ached, and caught ground ball after pop fly after ground ball. Any missed catches would be accompanied by Mr. Lawes shouting, “Dive for those!” while laughing.

The softball team has much for which to thank the seniors and coaches. We’ve learned resilience and the power of a strong cheer. We’ve figured out how to learn from our mistakes, and what we can do to improve our swing, throw, or catch next time around.

Congratulations to the Montrose Varsity Softball Team for an inspiring season of great sportsmanship and bonding!