Girls’ Softball Season Wrap Up
By Brooke Hackel and Allie Dagg
Sports Reporters
The girls’ softball season has come to a successful end. There were many injuries on the team that kept the team from goals they set out to reach. However, the girls were still able to put their best foot forward and never give up.
Captains Monica Capriano and Kim-An Quinn reflected on the team’s experience, as well as their own throughout their years of Newton South Softball.
“Overall I think the season went ok,” said Quinn. “Our record definitely wasn’t what we wanted, granted we did have a pretty new team after losing some key players last year and losing some players this year due to injury. But, during every game, whether we were winning or losing, our team never gave up and kept fighting until the end”.
Capriano agreed, adding that the team improved vastly on more of their abstract goals during the season.
“I think the season went really well”, said Capriano, “We improved a lot with communication and fundamentals, which were two of our main goals going in. As far as what to work on, I think next year will be more of building off the momentum we have started to create.”
Capriano believes that the team became a much more tight knit community as the year went on.
“The team has made a lot of progress in being closer to each other,” said Capriano. “There were a few of us who knew each other or of certain players, but we weren’t necessary close when we first formed. But now the team is a second family. We joke around all the time, hang out outside of softball, and have a pretty awesome group chat going”.
Quinn noted that on a personal level, Newton South has helped her grow a lot as a player and a leader.
“Newton South softball has definitely helped me grow into a better leader,” said Quinn. “I remember being a freshman and looking up to my older teammates. These upperclassmen in the softball program served as examples for me as to what it means to be a leader. When it was my turn I knew what to do”.
Sports serve a purpose in many athletes lives in different ways. For Quinn, softball not only helped with leadership skills but it also introduced her to a new set of friends.
“Along with helping me grow into a better leader, Newton south softball opened me up to a new community,” said Quinn. “I met so many people and made so many great friends that I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for the softball team”.
While this season has ended, plans for next year are already under way. Courtney Pappas and Lane Ward will take over Quinn and Capriano’s captain duties.
Capriano’s final parting message to the team was one of encouragement for the players and captains next year.
“Practice in the off season and don’t be afraid to set ambitious goals for yourself,” said Capriano. “Both of these things are going to get you ready for the season and push you to be better than you thought you could be”.
