The varsity softball team worked hard on their hitting and continued to rise to the challenge, striving for a few more wins as they finished off their season with a 6-6 record.
After a close 2-1 loss to Marianapolis School, the young team diligently practiced in hopes of conquering Williston Northampton School on Spring Sports Day.
Despite senior pitcher and infielder Co-captain Noelani Jackson-Sherman striking out 17 Marianapolis batters, the Wyvern defense struggled, giving up two runs in the fourth inning and Marianapolis pulled through with a win.
Head Coach Jason Bradley said they worked on hitting a lot in practices. “We definitely want to grow and have competitive, quality at bats,” he said.
In other games such as Kent and Pomfret, however, the team had great success, beating Kent 14-2, and Pomfret 11-9. “[In the Kent game it] all just kind of came together,” said Jackson-Sherman, “and I think a lot of it was because Kyra was pitching and she’s younger so everybody wants to back her up.”
With six freshmen, seventh-grader outfielder and pitcher Kyra Dunnirvine, and eighth-grader outfielder Karishma Lawrence, the varsity squad is definitely young. “A lot of younger players and some middle schoolers have had to step up,” said senior shortstop and outfielder Co-captain Dakota McMahon. McMahon said that the younger players have worked really hard this season and have a strong work ethic.
While their inexperience may have shown through at times, Assistant Coach Lauren Yaffa agreed that they’re hard workers and that the upperclassmen contributed greatly to the work ethic. “All of the seniors, captain or not, are all being looked up to by the younger players,” said Coach Yaffa. “I think they’ve done a great job at being role models.”
Both Coach Bradley and Coach Yaffa said that the team could improve on hitting, but Coach Bradley added that their bunting improved tremendously.
Coach Yaffa said the communication improved too. “Communication is really important to a sport like this where you’re pretty much doing something one at a time,” she said.
The team had originally hoped to go to the New England Playoffs, but since their loss to Marianapolis the road to the playoffs was unlikely.
As the young Wyverns neared the end of the season, their goal was to end on a high-note, especially for their Senior Day, and until recently Spring Sports Day.
The Spring Sports Day game, which was canceled due to weather, would’ve had KO face off against Williston-Northampton, a team who has dominated the league all season.
The more recent Loomis game was an easy win as expected, and was cut short by the mercy rule, KO winning 14-2. The game against Miss Porter’s also ended in a KO victory, with a final score of 7-4.
One of the toughest games of the season was the final game against Suffield Acedemy. In spite of Suffield’s reputation, the Wyverns went into the game determined to play competitive ball.
Sherman-Jackson pitched six shut-out innings in this last game of her KO career, but Suffield came back in the sixth inning with a homerun and another run scored on some errors in the field. The Wyverns lost to Suffield 4-2.
Nevertheless, the team played some of their best softball in these final games of the season, and the team looks forward to another competitive season next year.
