WASHBURN, Maine — Most Class D schools losing 10 softball players from the previous year would not be able to field a team.
That’s not the case in Washburn. Even though three players graduated, five moved out of the area or transferred to a neighboring school and two opted instead to join the school’s track and field team, the Beavers are enjoying good numbers once again.
Most of that is due to a freshman class of seven players who experienced success as part of an undefeated middle school team last spring.
Paul Carter, in his third season as the the team’s head coach, has a roster of 15 players available with hopes of improving on a 1-15 record from a year ago.
The squad is made up of four seniors and four juniors along with the seven ninth-graders.
Carly Bragg, one of the seniors, will get the nod as the starting catcher. She is also one of the team’s top hitters. Classmate Macey Barker was set to be the starter at first base before suffering an injury that will sideline her until May.
Kassandra Farley, Samantha Churchill and Julia Dahlgren are juniors who will be part of the starting lineup. Farley is a captain who will play shortstop and do some pitching, while Churchill is the third baseman who could be moved to the outfield if needed. Dahlgren, who came off the bench last year, will both pitch and play first base.
Raegyn Chavez, Trinity Pellicer-Saucier and Chauntelle Kelly are set to start as freshman. Chavez will play second and Pellicer-Saucier and Kelly will play either in the infield or the outfield. Chavez and Kelly are also in the mix as pitchers.
Senior Amber DuBois, junior Sydney Chavez and freshmen Charlie Hobbs and Emma Johnston are players who will either battle to start or earn time as role players.
Senior Brianna Jernigan is new to the sport and freshman Arianna Elliott was injured in the preseason and is working her way back. Emerson Turner, another freshman, is a player-manager.
Freshman Kyli Farley, recovering from a soccer injury, is a manager and Crystal Hobbs and Grace Braley are assistant coaches.
“They are fun loving, yet serious about what they are doing,” Carter said in characterizing his team. “They are hard working as individuals and encouraging to each other, and best of all they are coachable.”
He said success will be determined through patience.
“Patience at hitting by not swinging at every pitch just because we want to hit, patience at taking care of the ball [on defense] as opposed to throwing it around, and patience in our concentration for the game as a whole,” Carter said.
