SPORTS: A TRIBUTE TO THE GAME

ONE LAST PITCH: A TRIBUTE TO MY TIME ON THE FIELD

The Lady Bears home Varsity field.

BY: EMMA Throughout the Coach Whitely. Not only have I been encouraged and

KELLEY past year and a helped every step of my high school career, but I have half, the NRHS also been lucky enough to go through this experience softball program with two of my best friends. Both 4-year letter winhas faced many challeng- ners, seniors Paige Heffke and Jillian Baracz (captain) es and disadvantages due have been by my side since game one of our freshman to COVID-19 restrictions, rules, and year. As the pitchers for our team, Heffke and Baracz regulations. Last year, student-ath- have helped us reach many of our team wins and letes Casey Felton, Meaghan Stafford, goals, and have both put in so much work to help our Ashley Dlugolinski, Hailey Dlugo- program succeed. Also graduating this year are my linski, and Morgan Gresko sadly had great friends, Peyton Maciak and Shannon O’Malley. their senior season stolen from them. Not being able Maciak (starting right fielder) and O’Malley (starting to play was heartbreaking for our entire program, center fielder) have been amazing additions to varbut we tried to make the best of it. After not hav- sity for the last two years with many clutch hits and ing a season in 2020, we are so grateful that we can amazing plays in the outfield. I can’t begin to express step out onto our field five days a week and play the how thankful I am for these four girls and for the game in which we tirelessly sacrifice blood, sweat, great season that we have had so far. and tears. With a JV record of 7-11 and a Varsity While NRHS softball may be coming to an end record of 15-4, the Lady Bears are off to a great start for us seniors, I have full confidence that the rest of this season, and I know that we will continue to do our team and program are set up for future success. great things! On the 23 and 24 of April, the Varsity softball team

As a 4-year varsity athlete and a proud softball went 3-0 at the annual Priebus Tournament in Welplayer in the NRHS program, I have had an amaz- lington, Ohio. During the third game of the weeking experience playing for both Coach Koncius and end, we won 29-0 against Notre Dame Academy and

Coach K’s 100th career win (29-0 against NDA)

happily celebrated this as Coach K’s 100th career win. With thirteen people on the varsity roster, we all either played the field or were able to hit during this game. After playing twenty games this season, all of the underclassmen (Julya Dillon and Payton Liptak as juniors, Mia Maddamma, Liz White, Bella Weatherbie, and Lilly Putnam as sophomores, and Gia Lobello and Ashley Butler as freshmen) have also put in countless hours of work and dedication to our program and made so many great things happen this season. I believe that they will continue to do this for years to come.

Being a Lady Bear for the past four years has given me a second family, pushed me to better my game, encouraged me to continue being a dedicated team player, and has taught me that no matter what, we win and lose as a team. “The team culture is better than it has ever been, and it shows in our performance on the field,” said our senior captain Jillian Baracz. “I’m very grateful to play with this highly motivated and hardworking team. As long as we keep playing hard and having fun, we are going to do amazing things on and off the field.” Thank you to my coaches and teammates for an amazing season and good luck to those of my teammates who will be playing after the seniors are gone. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that I have been granted and the memories that I have made. Once a bear, always a bear!