The Lynn Classical softball team likes to think of itself as a family. That was always the goal for coach Erica Richard, and that feeling has been fostered through the years by the Rams’ on- and off-field leadership.
So it seemed fitting that among those streaming into the Wonderland subway station Wednesday morning were two of the team’s key players for the upcoming season — second baseman Kayla Morrill and shortstop Becca Walker.
They, along with Abby Stafford, also a Classical student, were eager to honor their heroes at Wednesday’s rolling rally/duck boat parade that celebrated the Boston Red Sox’s fourth world championship of this still-new century.
“We look up to them,” said Morrill, as the three waited for a train that would take them into the city. “We see that they have attributes that we want to have ourselves.”
Stafford, a hockey player like her brother, Jack, who was a goalie for the Lynn Jets combined team two years ago, was impressed by how hard the Red Sox players worked for what they ultimately earned.
“They always worked hard and sacrificed,” she said. “That’s pretty impressive.”
Walker, a junior who has played shortstop since her freshman year, touched on the closeness of the players.
“They act like a family,” she said.
The trio of high school girls seem to believe the belief that young people are streaming away from baseball in droves.
“I think playing softball ourselves makes you understand the game more,” Walker said. “I’ve been playing my whole life.”
They said they were partial to outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts, and marveled at the catch he made Benintendi made in Game 2 in which he leapt as if he was doing a grand jete in ballet to snare a line drive.
“I definitely would not be able to do that,” saidi Morrill.
Though they all profess to love the sport, they faltered at 3:20 Saturday morning during the 18-inning loss in Game 3.
“I watched it on and off,” Morrill said. “I kept falling asleep. I think that game is still going on.”
While the Classical girls struggled to stay awake, one Lynner was wide-eyed as he watched the Game 3 drama.
“Of course,” said English graduate Ryan McGrane. “I’d have stayed up until 5 if that’s what it took.
“I went to a game against Toronto (Blue Jays) that went 19 innings, and I stayed for all of it.”
McGrane said he appreciate the team’s “heart” more than anything else.
“They really came together to get this done,” he said.
And he feels it’s easy to pinpoint the most important play of the series.
“It has to be Mitch Moreland’s (three-run) home run (in Game 4, that put the Red Sox back in the game after they trailed, 4-0, going into the seventh inning Saturday).
“That,” he said, “was huge.”
Another English alumnus, Chanthy Phoutsakanh, waited at the station with a Betts jersey on, and one in tow for his cousin, for whom he was waiting.
“I’m a big fan of Boston sports,” he said, adding that he’s been in the country for 30 years and played basketball for the Bulldogs.
“That was the longest game game I’ve ever seen,” he said, regarding Friday night’s marathon.
While the ending of that game might have been anticlimactic, Morrill perhaps summed it up best.
“I was disappointed in how it ended,” she said, “but it was a minor setback before a major comeback.”
