by Daniel Maiorana, Current staff writer
Coming off of a 2019 south region section finals loss to Glenelg, and a 2020 season that included a loss to a Maryland softball powerhouse, Sherwood, the Hawks are ready to get back to their winning mojo in 2021. Seniors Brooke Gettier, Sara Emig, and Ever Sheplee look to lead the team to a successful season. Underclassmen Kathleen Maiorana and Abby Shim have lots of potential and the ability to keep the Hawks strong for the future. With this versatile squad, expectations for coach Marni Rosenbaum are high, and the Hawks are looking forward to the season.
Practices have been going on for about two weeks now, giving the Hawks plenty of time to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the team. Coaches have had plenty of time to figure out the starting lineups in the field and the batting order, so there should be no mistakes made come their first game against Hammond on Friday. Sophomore Kathleen Maiorana tells how the Hawks have been perfecting their craft during practice, explaining that, “Every day at practice we focus on specific skills to ensure we are improving to have a successful season.” When everyone on the team is on the same page, it usually sets them up for success, so coach Rosenbaum is making sure her players are all dialed in. The team has no problems communicating with each other on and off the field, which is the sign of a very successful team.
Some goals that the Hawks have include making relationships with teammates and improving not just as individuals, but as a team. “My goals as an individual are to improve my batting so I can help the team score runs, and my goals for the team are to work harder everyday at practice,” says Kathleen. There is usually a common factor with teams that have great success, and it is the bonds they make with each other. Being on the same page with each other makes the game much easier and way more fun to play, leading to much more wins than losses. The Hawks are a high scoring team that excels when the bats are hot, so in order to win games, the intensity will have to be high in the dugout when the team is up to bat.
Players haven’t played a high school game since last March, so the energy will be at a very high level come their first game. In order for the Hawks to dominate both sides of the game, players need to be laser focused and make sure everyone has the right attitude. Senior captains Gettier, Sheplee, and Emig all bring a high intensity to practice everyday, setting an example for the newcomers that don’t have the same amount of experience as they do. Captains are very important to the team’s success during the games, as they lead by example. Come their first game, captains have a role to play, whether it’s in the dugout giving the team instructions, or out on the field supporting their teammates. The Hawks have high hopes for a winning season this year, so the captains have to make sure that the winning mindset is seen with all players day-in and day-out.
With county and state playoffs still being discussed, all the Hawks can do for now is focus on the regular season game-by-game. When the news comes out to whether states will be played or not, players have to make sure every win counts during the slightly shortened regular season. Improving everyday will be a focus heading forward for coach Rosenbaum, as for the players, they should be focused on improving their individual skills and improving the team’s chemistry. Look to see an aggressive team in the batters box this year that will try to jump on teams for an early lead. Good luck to the softball team and hopefully the team’s skills can be showcased at the state tournament.