Johnson Gets the Job Done on Softball Team

Junior sensation Abby Johnson is in the midst of one of her strongest seasons of softball.  The shortstop was forced to cut last season short due to an ACL tear, but has managed to get back in shape, after surgery last June, and lead the team to a win in the first round of the MIAA tournament.

 “I was injured at the end of last season, and recovery is six months, so I was out for the winter. I just started playing again, so starting off it was a little hard, but my teammates kept me going, which made it easier,” said Johnson.

The Lions softball team has been nearly unbeatable this year, and without some clutch plays from the versatile player, the teams’ record wouldn’t be so strong. 

“I play shortstop, (and) I lead off for the team (when batting). A lot of my teammates help, I just try to get on and they hit me home,” said a modest Johnson, who has knocked out this season.

Last night, Chelmsford won their first game in the state tournament. Johnson contributed two runs to the 4-0 effort. 

“It’s exciting,” she said. “(In the regular) season, we went 19-1 which is the best record since I’ve been there. We just started off really strong, and we’ve been playing together for so long that it’s like we never stopped, we just continued from the year before.”

Johnson credits her team’s success to the fact that most of the varsity squad plays softball all year round. The continuous schedule has allowed all of the players to remain in top shape throughout the off-season.

“A lot of us are on the Baystate Bandits; we’ve been playing for about seven years together,” she said. “We play all through the summer, take the month of August off, and then in the winter, we continue playing. It’s a lot of softball, but we like it."

Johnson, who has been playing softball for the past nine years, excels at the sport mainly because she loves the game.

“My favorite part is just being on the field with my team, and having a good time, and scoring and hitting, I love everything about softball," she said.

Johnson and the Lions still have a ways to go in the tournament, but focused plays and a positive attitude could take them far.

 “Individually, I want to continue to hit, and help Meghan (Rich) with her pitching by playing well on the field. I want to continue to score for the team. As a team we want to take it slow and not get ahead of ourselves,” she said. “Take it one game at a time.”