LYNN — The Classical softball team took a major step forward last season. The Rams finished the season at 15-4, rolled through their slate of Northeastern Conference opponents and earned the No. 4 seed in the Division 1 North state tournament.
The Rams ran into a tough Haverhill squad in the first round and fell in a 6-1 loss that ended Classical’s season.
“I think we surprised a lot of people last season, even ourselves a little bit,” Classical coach Erica Richard said. “To start off 9-0, to win the league and have the season we did, it proved to ourselves that we could it.”
Now the challenge for the Rams is doing it again this season.
“With the kids we bring back this year, we have a lot to prove,” Richard said. “A lot of teams will be coming for us and we have to prove that we can do it again this year.
Richard added, “We just want to go in and show up every day. We don’t want to lose any games because we beat ourselves. We don’t want to go in thinking about last year. We want to prove ourselves again this year. Just because we have everybody back doesn’t mean anything. Teams will be out to get us this year.”
Key returners at the plate/diamond for Classical include senior catcher Meaghan Leavitt, senior outfielder Johnna Calder, junior shortstop Rebecca Walker and junior second baseman Kayla Morrill.
“Our entire infield, minus first base, is back,” Richard said. “Our entire outfield is back. The experience we return, already knowing each other and how we play, should help us start this season on a good note.
“Last year was the most consistent order, one through nine, that I’ve coached,” Richard added. “We have everybody back but two. We have a lot of players hungry to take those spots. We have a lot of opportunities to be consistent again and score some runs. I’m looking forward to seeing the team gel again the way we did last year.”
Pitching projects to be one of Classical’s strengths this season with senior Tori Adams, a team captain, back in the circle. Adams, entering her fourth season on the varsity team, started every game for Classical last spring.
“Tori has had our team on her back since her freshman year,” Richard said. “She has had so many great moments on the mound. I’m really looking forward to seeing her as a senior captain this year and watching her lead the team.”
With a core of returners coming back into the fold, experience looks to be one of Classical’s strengths this season. Richard hopes Classical’s experience drives the team to a strong start.
“We have an infield that’s juniors and seniors with only one open spot,” Richard said. “In the outfield, we have a senior captain out there. We have eight of the 10 starters back. You want to take that experience and hopefully get out to a good start once we get going.”
Classical began its preseason Monday with tryouts. The main focus in the early going has been working on the fundamentals.
“It’s just going through fundamentals and working on the little things, making sure that once we finally we do get outside we have to be prepared,” Richard said. “We have to be mentally and physically prepared. Softball’s lucky in that we can still see live pitching in the gym. We’re trying to do that as much as we can to be prepared.”
The Rams begin the new season April 9 when
