Sports
Concord-Carlisle Softball in the Swing of Things
Patriots held sixth scrimmage on Thursday; opened season April 11.
Preparing to take on Medford High School in their sixth preseason scrimmage on Thursday afternoon, Concord-Carlisle High School’s softball team appeared ready and raring to get the spring season under way.
“We try and get as many (scrimmages) as we can,” said 12-year Concord-Carlisle Coach Lisa McGloin. “They are what they are, we don’t keep any score; we don’t care about the outcome.”
“(Medford has) some real strong hitters,” she added. “They’ve developed the program; one of my former players (Jackie Dempsy), who was at Villanova, is over there as their assistant coach."
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“Defensively they’ve improved quite a bit and they’ll put the ball in play against us, which is good,” said McGloin.
McGloin might not care about the number of times the Patriots trample the plate in preseason, but once April 11 arrived, C-C’s season-opener against , it's a different ballgame.
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The Patriots went 23-1 during their 2010 season, losing 4-1 to Wrentham’s in the MIAA Division 1 state semifinals.
“The only way you’re going to get better is trial and error,” said McGloin. “If we have those two things we have a lot to work with and I have confidence we can teach them the game."
“They’re working hard, they’re learning a lot,” she continued. “There are only certain things you can control at this point, effort and attitude. Those two things, effort and attitude, they’re doing a great job of controlling.”
Concord-Carlisle Softball Season Preview Capsule
Coach: Lisa McGloin (12th season)
League: Dual County League
Last Year: 23-1; Lost 4-1 to King Philip Regional of Wrentham in the MIAA Division 1 state semifinals.
Returning Players: Starting senior center fielder, Anna Kokos.
“It’s a pretty young team, it’s an unproven team. There are some older players mixed in, but they’re unproven and untested,” McGloin said.
Starting Roster: Seniors: Kokos, Gayle Miner (injured), Haley Yang, Brianna Rohan, Monica Diercks, Shannon Laughlin. Juniors: Margaret Perko, Abby Bruins. Sophomores: Galen Kerr, Belle Hanky. Freshmen: Angela DeBruzzi, Allie Colleran.
Game to Watch: “They’re all games to watch this season. Anything can happen.”
“I know A-B is gunning for us; they’re always gunning for us, and their coach is a good friend of mine and one of my former players and … I know she has her heart on beating us this year for sure.”
C-C plays at A-B in their first league game, the team’s third, on April 20th at 10 a.m.
Coach’s Take: “It’s a matter of how quick they grow up,” McGloin said with a laugh. “I keep saying that.”
“They’re strong kids, they have a good attitude and they put on a lot of effort. It’s how quick they can grow.
“Parents don’t want their kids to grow up quick, but here at Concord-Carlisle softball we’re looking for them to grow up quick. We have a couple freshmen that are with us and we’re hoping they grow up real quick.”
