By Dylan Albert ’28
KO varsity softball pushed hard until the end, securing an impressive 14-2 record, dominating not just on their home turf, but also at Kent, Westminster, Worcester Academy, and many more. Their overall gameplay has grown since day one and will continue until they add another ring to the collection.
Even with some recent cancellations and rescheduled games, the team has not let that stop them. They recently traveled to Westminster on April 20 and played a great game, ending up beating them 11-3. Their next game against Kent on April 25 was rescheduled, which gave them even more time to prepare for the following game versus Taft on April 27, where they had a big win, 13-3. Unfortunately, their next game was canceled against Canterbury on May 2, which let them all heal up and be ready for the game against Kent on May 4, which KO won handily with a score of 12-0. Following this, the girls played in a home game against Wiliston Northhampton School on May 7 with a 14-0 win. Next was an 11-2 win over Miss Porter’s School on May 8, and on May 9, an 11-1 win over Loomis Chaffee School. On May 13, the team traveled to Suffield Academy and had a 5-0 win. Their last couple of games have exemplified the KO softball dominance and capability of doing anything.
Sophomore outfielder Aniajah Sanchez has been part of this team since seventh grade and really knows her way around the playing field. “Our season has been going really well so far,” Sanchez said. “We’ve done a good job competing with strong teams and holding our own. It’s been a fun but competitive season, and we’ve already grown a lot together, and I think we are only going to keep improving!”
Sanchez and a few others have shown their dedication to softball and the team since their time at the KO Middle School, and know what a good team looks like. However, a good versus bad team is not always about the skills they have, but the chemistry and teamwork they display. “Our team chemistry is really strong,” Sanchez said. “We all get along on and off the field, and there’s a lot of trust between everyone. No matter who you are on the team, you know you can count on each other.”
Head Coach Jason Bradley agrees with Sanchez, and he thinks that the team has grown the most in their unity and their way of playing together. Coach Bradley is a newer coach but has been able to fit in with the team’s style on and off the field, really connecting with each player. “We are becoming the true definition of a team,” Coach Bradley said. “We will laugh together, cry together, and we miss each other.”
It doesn’t matter if they win or lose; the most important thing is that they bounce back and persevere until the end to secure another championship. “I think we’re in a really good spot right now and still have a lot of potential,” Sanchez said. “I hope we keep improving and make it back to the NEPSAC championship. I also want this to be a great season for our seniors.”
Although the team lost 4-1 in a game against Cushing Academy in the Western New England Prep Championships, junior pitcher Captain Alexis Nisyrios recognizes the team’s hard work this season. “This team has had so much grit and fight this year,” Nisyrios said. “We have come out aggressive in each game!” This softball team is truly something else and has had a strong season!
