MCLA Prepares in the Florida Sun

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)”