CARIBOU, Maine — One-inning lapses have cost the Viking softball team dearly early on this season.
As a result, 12th-year coach Ryan Deprey said getting tougher mentally will be an area of concentration during upcoming practices.
Caribou is currently 0-5, a stretch that concluded Saturday with blowout losses to Class B North favorite Hermon. The Vikes played well for the most part in the other three games (two against John Bapst and a single game against Houlton), but fell victim to huge rallies that cost the team.
Sophomore Jaelynn Doody is the team’s leadoff hitter and a second-year starting catcher. She makes good contact at the plate so is well suited to the top spot in the batting order.
Following Doody is junior Maddie Doucette, a third-year starter at shortstop. Deprey said she has improved defensively each year and has been consistent at the plate. Junior pitcher Rachel Soucy bats third and is the team’s top power hitter, while Kaytlin Waldemarson has moved in from Florida and handles the third base position and the cleanup spot in the order.
Batting fifth is senior second baseman Jenna Boucher, who owns a steady bat and is a solid defender. Junior Katie Clark is next and will play either first base or be the designated player. She is a first-year varsity player who is a great teammate and has a solid all-around skill set, according to Deprey.
Adrianna Bither, who joins Boucher as the Vikings’ only seniors, like Clark will play first or be the designated player. The right field platoon includes freshmen Monica McLaughlin and Hollie McDougal.
“They both have bring futures and great work ethics and coachability,” Deprey said.
Searra Herbert and Hope Shea, both sophomores, round out the starting lineup. Herbert sat out last year due to a knee injury and will play left field. She had an inside-the-park home run in the opening doubleheader against John Bapst. Shea plays center field and is the only returning starting outfielder. Deprey calls her “an outstanding leader.”
The team’s only other player is junior Kaitlyn Nadeau, who will be used to fill in at numerous positions where needed.
Valerie Waldemarson will serve as Deprey’s assistant coach. Zoe Gerakaris and Megan Thornton, last year’s starting third baseman who suffered a torn ACL during soccer season, are the managers.
“This is a young group with lots of potential,” Deprey said. “They have a tremendous work ethic and are really dedicated to each other and to getting better. We are going to need to capitalize on scoring opportunities and on defense limit those big innings.”
