MCLA Prepares in the Florida Sun
Its March 15th and softball is in the air in Kissimmee, Florida as the MCLA Softball team took part in the Rebel Spring Games, preparing for a ten game trip through the tropics.
MCLA Softball Takes on Florida
By: Brian Kelley
It’s March 15th and softball is in the air in Kissimmee,
Florida as the MCLA Softball team took part in the Rebel Spring
Games, preparing for a ten game trip through the tropics. Armed
with several promising newcomers and strong returning players, the
MCLA Trailblazers looked to make a mark (dare I say, blaze a
trail?) during the Rebel Games.
The first game pitted them against Endicott College, a game that
was slow to start. As the fourth inning came around, the game
remained scoreless until Endicott opened up with four runs scored
off of freshman newcomer, Hadley Ameen (North
Adams, MA) in her collegiate softball debut. While Endicott may
have stolen the show, another newcomer, Amber
Coburn (Colrain, MA) had a strong offensive day, going 2
for 4 with single, double, and one RBI. The veteran players were
not to be outdone as senior returnee Rachel
Desautels (Readsboro, VT) doubled and singled, scoring one
of the Trailblazer’s three runs, which would fall short of
Endicott’s eleven leaving the final score at 11-3.
Seeking to rebound, the Trailblazers came out fighting and looking
strong against Allighany later that day. The game got off to a
quick start with MCLA scoring two runs immediately and never
looking back. Ameen started her second game and pitched her first
win and shut out, striking out four and giving up five hits.
Sophomore Katie Ouellette (Norwood, MA) brought
her boomstick to the game, going a perfect 4 for 4, with two
doubles, two singles, scoring three runs, and two RBIs leading
MCLA’s shutdown of Allighany. Alongside Ouellette, senior
Steph Hendricks had two singles going 2-4, and
scored two of MCLA’s runs. The Trailblazer’s defense
remained strong throughout the entire game, and helped them record
their first win of the year with a final score of 6-0.
The Trailblazers’ third game kicked off once again with MCLA
scoring first against Rutgers-Newark with one run in the first
inning off of an error by the shortstop. Jamie
Signor (Westfield, MA) started the game for the
Trailblazers, pitching four innings and giving up two earned runs.
The Rutgers-Newark team played with little discipline, committing 3
errors throughout the game which made up all three runs the
Trailblazers would score in the game. Ameen and Jen
McMurray (Margaretville, NY) relieved Signor, each earning
one strike out with Ameen giving up two runs (one earned). Coburn
went 1 for 3 with two RBIs yet the Rutgers pecked away for a total
of four runs defeating the Trailblazers 4-3.
The second game of the day found the Trailblazers taking on
Wisconsin River-Falls. The game was another slow start as both
teams combined for two hits until the Trailblazers cracked the
goose egg with one run in the fourth thanks to freshman
Kayla Koumjian (Watervilet, NY) who finished the
day going 2 for 3 with a double and one RBI. Hadley Ameen pitched
once again, going five and two thirds innings and giving up three
runs in the fourth, the only inning she struggled, giving up three
hits outside of that frame. Ouellette went 2-3 with two singles,
continuing to boost her great numbers. McMurray relieved Ameen,
finishing the game. However, the Trailblazers could not score off
of Wisconsin’s starter who pitched the whole game, striking
out seven and walking one and ending the game 3-1.
The first four games were good displays of softball by the
Trailblazers yet they couldn’t seem to avoid narrow losses
through these first four games. It’s always tragic to lose
nail-biters but it tells us that as a team, they’re on the
brink of discovering the formula that will ensure them victories in
the future. With great performances by new players such as Hadley
Ameen and continued efforts from veterans such as Katie Ouellette
and Rachel Desautels, the MCLA Trailblazers look to be poised for
great things this season.
However, the rest of the trip was a hard fight as the Trailblazers
lost the remaining six games of the Rebel Springs Games including
being no-hit by Anderson. Despite the rough start, coach Kristin
Parzych remains optimistic about the Trailblazers’ this
season. When asked about goals the team sought during the trip,
Parzych said, “Our main goals were to improve on last
year’s record, stay competitive in every game and stay
positive in every game. We were competitive in half of our games;
we struggled in the other half. We played stronger against our
better opponents than our weaker ones. It was tough because we lost
those tough games.”
One of the big names on the roster for the trip was Coburn, a
newcomer who had a profound impact on the team. Parzych remarked,
“Our biggest player was Amber Coburn who was mentioned for
the All MASCAC Honor Roll. She had nine RBIs out of twenty-two the
team hit in, that was huge for a freshman.”
Time was also given to another newcomer, Komjian. “She
caught almost 90% of the games and came up huge, not a whole lot of
people were stealing on her. Rachel [Desautels] was DH because she
was catcher last year and we had to make room for Kayla. She will
be splitting time with Rachel however,” Parzych added.
As the conversation rolled to an end, Parzych was asked how to
remain positive in such a hard time, she smiled and spoke,
“When it gets negative, everyone becomes individuals. More
positive talk, picking each other up! So let’s say ‘Hey
Florida is done, let’s wash our hands of it,’
it’s our rebirth you could say! (Laughs)”
