STACYVILLE, Maine — A new head coach and fresh outlook awaits members of the Katahdin softball team this season.
Kelly Birmingham takes over as head coach this season, replacing Dillon Kingsbury. Birmingham, who is embarking on her first year as a varsity head coach, inherits a talented roster that enjoyed a great amount of success last season.
A year ago, the Cougars finished 10-4 in the regular season and earned the No. 4 seed in Class D North. Katahdin blanked No. 13 Fort Fairfield, 7-0, in the prelims and pounded Penobscot Valley of Howland, 19-7, in the quarterfinals before falling, 14-6, to top-ranked, and eventual regional champ, Stearns in the semifinals.
“I plan on a good season this year,” Birmingham said. “The girls have great potential this year. I look for the returning seniors to help mentor the younger girls as I have a lot of new players this year.”
Although in her first year of varsity, Birmingham spent eight seasons guiding the Katahdin Middle School softball squad. She also has a bundle of returning, veteran players to lean on early in the season.
“I have coached almost all of these girls when they were in middle school, so I know how far I can push them and what potential they have to play other positions that they may not have thought of trying,” she said. “I am extremely excited to coach these girls this year and am ready to see what they can do when put to the test.”
The Cougar roster includes seniors Georgia Landry, Bailee Moody-Kay, Kendra Patterson, Kelsey Hamm and Emily Knowles; juniors Hannah Drew, Leanne Fitzpatrick and Brianna Kaelin; sophomores Lindsay Drew, Josie Brownlee, Erin Lake, Madison Landry and Sierra Jamieson; and freshmen Shelby Lewis, Madison Robinson, Jordyn Gardner and Lily Cullen.
Exactly what position each Cougar plays remains up in the air, the coach said.
“This season we are going to have a lot of people playing new positions due to the loss of last year’s seniors,” she said. “They are doing great at stepping up and learning these new positions.
“Last year we lost our pitcher, second baseman, first baseman, and shortstop, which are crucial positions that we needed to fill.”
While practices have been good, Birmingham said she has had difficulty getting a full complement of players due to vacation plans. Nor has the Cougars softball diamond been available for use due to poor weather.
Katahdin opened its season Tuesday, April 24 at PVHS (Howland).
