East River
[14%]
page 10 fierce
Favorite part? Being able to get away from stress. Person who inspired you? My dad. He’s a baseball coach; he helps me. What does softball mean to you? [It is] a sport I love to have fun in.
Best game, personally? The St. Cloud game. I played three innings. Why did you join softball? I played travel ball recently and set this goal. Freshman on varsity? I feel accomplished and proud.
Most difficult game? West Orange. It didn’t seem we were focused. Word association: Softball? Hard-work. Describe the team in one word. Family.
Third Base, sophomore
“Boone being 60 is cool because I can sit down with relatives who are graduates from Boone
Center Field, sophomore
wind up. Before the March 5 game, senior Laura Gavern warms up. “I feel like I always have to do my best [when I am pitching] because if I don’t, I feel I let my team down,” Gavern said. Gavern had a fielding average of .923.
LESLIE CINTOLO
batter up. In the game against Winter Park, junior Elizabeth Cargo swings to hit the ball. “I prefer fielding. I believe it comes more naturally and [it is] less pressure,” Cargo said. Cargo had a batting average of .288.
HANNA SEKENSKI
photo/Blake Waranch
Catcher, freshman
KAYLEIGH SHUMSKY
the girls
meet
FIGHT
[14%]
University
[22%]
Colonial
14 Varsity softball players polled, April 9, 2012
“[The Hagerty game was most memorable] because ,” of the long innings. We had to freshman Sara Galvis said.
[22%]
Hagerty
[28%]
Other
varsity softball game?
most memorable
What was your
photo/Blake Waranch
go figure
field tough victory The team gazed from the scoreboard to its final hitters in desperation, willing them to break the seemingly indestructible tie. The batter’s hands clenched the bat tightly and swung, finally producing the satisfying cracking sound as the bat smacked the ball. “[The game against University High School was] a real nail biter and great game. University wanted to beat us and they came out and played outstanding. We matched them throughout. Our defense and pitching were outstanding,” coach Robin Bradford said. Matched in skill level, the teams remained scoreless during the typical seven innings of the game, ultimately forcing the game into
overtime. Ten innings after the game began, it was the girls’ final chance at bat. At last, both senior Katelyn Schettino and junior Sarah Hayes made hits. Schettino hit a double, which Hayes followed with her own double to get Schettino home. The girls won, 1-0. The game against University on Feb. 23, demonstrated the team’s ability to perform against fierce opponents. Despite losses, such as the close defeat by Hagerty, 5-4, on Feb. 7, the girls remained confident and continued to attain their goals. “Even though our record doesn’t show how strong of a team we are, I think we have a really strong team this year; we have great chemistry,”
page 11 sof tball
senior third baseman Brandy Eaton said. On Feb. 24, Eaton scored her second high school career home run during the Lake Nona game to help the team win, 6-0. Additionally, the Feb. 9 game against Ocoee resulted in freshman pitcher Chase Cassady’s first ever shutout. The girls won, 12-0. “I can’t really describe that feeling. It was all good emotions. There was a peace,” Cassady said. With their overall record of 16-6 and their win against University, the girls demonstrated their proficiency and ability to field challenging victories as a team. [amelia cheatham and blake waranch]
varsity softball team pitched winning effort
Girls
ballin’: sophomore Brianna Cameron, junior varsity first base; junior Sarah Hayes, varsity third and first bases; senior Katelyn Schettino, varsity outfield; sophomore Samantha O’Born, junior varsity first base; senior Marissa Edwards, varsity catcher and first base.
and talk to them about how their school days were and compare them to mine,” sophomore Kathleen Nelson said.
illustration/Amelia Cheatham and Blake Waranch