Seekonk Softball Ready for 2011 Season

Gary Miller returns this year as the girls softball coach at Seekonk High School, hoping to bring his group to the tournament. The team will need to win nine of its 18 games to make the postseason.

"If our pitching is there, we'll win a lot of games, we'll be in the tournament, because the hitting and defense will be there," said Miller of his team on Friday. Although the team still hasn't finished a game, they are closer to 0-1 than they are to 1-0.

The girls took to the field on Thursday to play Durfee High School and the results were not good. "It was very cold, neither team was fielding the ball very well," said Miller. But Seekonk appeared to have more trouble than Durfee. The game was suspended midway through the third inning due to inclement weather. When the game resumes later in the season, Seekonk will start in a 13-4 hole.

But one game does not a season make, and Miller thinks his team will be good enough going forward. "I think our defense is solid. We played well against Ursuline, Bishop Feehan and Hingham in scrimmages," said Miller despite the defensive struggles in the team's first half game.

Lindsey LeClerc and Samantha Berard figure to shoulder most of the load for the pitching staff. "They both look good. They both throw strikes," said Miller of his two big arms.

Miller has a solid mixture of classes and seems confident in the talent on his team. Two seniors anchor his outfield in Jody Halliday and Olivia Grocott. The coach seems to have high hopes for Junior Kelly Lewis Hicks, who will fill the infield with classmates such as Berard, Shayna DaCunha, Alix Delgado and Katelyn Sousa.

The team also figures to carry at least five underclassmen. Both catchers, Katie Andrade and Ally Whitelaw are Sophomores. LeClerc and infielder Kasey Webb will also represent the Sophomore class. "Allie Whitelaw and Katie Andrade have strong arms behind the plate," says Miller of his two catchers.

There seems to be one key player to watch, if things go Seekonk's way. LeClerc had surgery on her foot in the offseason. When pressed for a player to watch, Miller admitted LeClerc is the hitter to focus on. She will also be one of the key pitchers for the team.

"I'm excited about the year," says Miller. "I'm disappointed we only have 18 games," added the coach, whose team was affected by late cancellations as was the baseball team.

Miller's team has a tough slate of games ahead. "The conference is strong again this year. It's a tough conference, it really is. If the pitching is there, we'll win a lot of games, we'll be in the tournament, because the hitting and defense will be there."