FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The Tigers won only four softball games all of last season in Vaughn McLaughlin’s first year as head coach, but two were against playoff teams (LCS/MSSM and Central Aroostook) that helped give them a Class D North playoff berth.
The Tigers came close to winning in the prelim round against No. 5 Madawaska, but lost in extra innings after mounting a huge comeback in regulation.
McLaughlin is hoping the experience will give Fort Fairfield “a leg up on the 2018 season.”
He said the Tigers return their core from last season and added a talented and athletic freshman group.
“Practices have been fantastic since the start of the season as we continue to work on both offensive and defensive fundamentals,” he said.
Sara Edgecomb is back as the team’s top pitcher, while Sadie Edgecomb will catch her twin sister. Two other seniors, Hunter St. Pierre and All-Aroostook choice Kayla Tisdale will start in left field and center field, respectively.
The left side of the infield is solid, according to McLaughlin, with sophomore Cammi King-Demerchant playing shortstop and classmate Makaila Beck at third base. Beck and junior Emily Everitt are the Tigers’ top hitters.
Kennedy Bencivenga and Kourtney West, two of Fort Fairfield’s six freshmen, will add speed to Fort Fairfield’s lineup.
The remainder of the roster includes senior Amanda Whipple, junior Cassidy Coiley, sophomore Riley Clough and freshmen Emily Greene, Brenna Levasseur, Olivia Langner and Hunter Perkins.
John McCrea serves as McLaughlin’s assistant coach.
McLaughlin is confident in Sara Edgecomb on the mound, saying that she has learned to spin the ball to make it more difficult to hit. He added that she doesn’t walk a lot of batters.
“The key to anyone’s success is pitching,” McLaughlin said. “We constantly work on improving ours and will try to have a more diverse lineup of pitchers.”
King-Demerchant and three freshmen are all working diligently in the circle, according to the coach.
“Our bats are getting better throughout the lineup, but the real key for us will be to eliminate fielding errors and not beat ourselves,” McLaughlin said. “Our goal for the season will be to try to win seven or eight games and get into the playoffs again.
“Then we will see what happens,” he added.
