HODGDON, Maine — Hoping to build upon the success of last year, the Hodgdon softball team has big plans for a busy spring.
A year ago, the Hawks finished 9-6 and were the No. 3 seed in Class D North, which earned the team a first-round bye and the second straight quarterfinal appearance, and first home quarterfinal for coach Sarah Williams. The Hawks fell to No. 11 Schenck in that quarterfinal contest 20-5.
Coach Williams, who is entering her fourth season as Hodgdon’s varsity coach, has been with this year’s senior class for the past seven years. She first coached the group when they were sixth-graders with the middle school team and took over the varsity program when they became freshmen.
“I have a good feeling about our team this year,” coach Williams said Thursday. “I foresee us having a season similar to last year’s. Hopefully we will go further in the postseason this year.”
And with a roster that boasts 10 seniors, she has reason to be enthusiastic.
Members of the 2018 Hawks roster are seniors Jordyn McKissick, Megan Russell, Sidney Crane, Kendra Gresko, Janelle Goff, Addie Woods, Grace Graham, Hannah Elland, Brianna Kaelin and Kathryn Rediker; junior Kora Lambert; sophomores Brooke Shrout, Autumn Ganzel and Martha Wilson and freshmen Allie Winship and Erin Peters. The manager is Grace Malone.
“We have many returning players this year,” the coach said. “We are a strong, defensive team with six returning starters. Sidney Crane (shortstop) and Kendra Gresko (catcher) are the heart of our infield, while Megan Russell and Grace Graham will hold down the fort in the outfield.”
Graham is a student at Greater Houlton Christian Academy who plays with the Hawks as her school does not have a softball program. She is also participating in track and field this spring.
Depth is something the Hawks should have plenty of to start the season, the coach said.
“We have a strong core of strategically smart players and base runners,” she explained. “Jordyn McKissick has been working hard all summer to learn to pitch in order to help fill that role this year. We also have six other girls who can be called upon to pitch. Pitching will be a joint effort.”
The Hawks will need that joint effort after losing their starting pitcher, and lead-off hitter — Taylor Desrosiers — to graduation last spring. Hodgdon also lost two key members of its outfield with Jessica Drew and Tabetha Ganzel graduating.
Outdoor practices have been non-existent this spring, but that is nothing new for the Hawks.
“We have been inside, but it’s really no different than any other year,” Williams said. “We are able to use our pitching machine and batting cage in the gym and execute defensive drills in the gym. Hopefully we will get on the field by the end of the week of April break.”
One area the coach hopes to improve upon is maintaining a hot bat throughout the season. “We seem to have a history of a mid-season batting slump,” she said. “We hope to overcome that this year and have some strategies in place to try and avoid it.”
This year, Hodgdon has dropped Ashland and Limestone from its schedule and has added a pair of games with Fort Fairfield.
Hodgdon is scheduled to open the season on April 24 hosting Washburn at 4 p.m. That game may be postponed if the field is not ready.
