2005-2006 Varsity Girls' Softball

Coach: Ken Corey

The girl’s varsity softball season was characterized quite aptly by manager Siobhan Lavery’s phrase, “little team fights big.” On the strength of their all star battery, senior pitcher, Evee Elswick and catcher Nicky Hynes, the team was able to stay close in every game. Co-captain Elswick’s fourth season pitching for the Varsity team was marked by her usual strong control. She also managed to pitch every inning of every game for the entire 4 years, a remarkable achievement that earned her the ‘Iron Lady’ title, the most valuable player award in ‘05, and a Founder’s League All-Star award this year. The season began with a string of losses to Greenwich, Westover, and Suffield. However, the season brightened with decisive wins against Millbrook and Hotchkiss. A three hitter and a bases loaded triple by Elswick highlighted the victory over Millbrook. In the first few games, leadoff batter and center fielder Monica Valente and third baseman, Maddie Nickels in the third slot, led the team in hitting. Nickels sustained a torrid average of over .500 for the first nine games. Following close losses to a talented Kingswood-Oxford team and to Hopkins, the girls came back with a trio of decisive wins against Choate and Taft and a thriller against Berkshire.

The string of three wins, after which the team had a .500 won-lost record, was characterized by strong fielding and awakening bats. During the Berkshire game, co-captain Christine Fuchs, was injured and out for the season. During that game, the girls rose to the challenge led by a long, run-scoring sacrifice fly by left fielder Anita Mohan and an RBI triple by Catherine Shefrin giving the team an exciting 4 - 2 victory. The loss of Fuchs at shortstop followed with the loss of designated batter, Katy Scully to appendicitis. By working hard and playing a fine shortstop, while continuing to produce hits, Valente showed why she was the team’s most valuable player. The team ended the season with another string of losses to an overpowering Canterbury pitcher, a close (2 to 0) and impeccably fielded game against Westminster, and another close loss to Loomis. Other season highlights were strong improvements in hitting and fielding for first time varsity players Anita Mohan, Jayde Bennett, and Amandra Mongeon. Bennett was chosen for the Captain’s Bowl award and Mongeon, the most improved player. In addition, Brittany Echard bolstered the infield by playing a very steady first base all season.