LYNN — The Lynn English softball team is looking to improve from last season – a successful campaign, but also a heartbreaker which saw the Bulldogs just two games short of the postseason.
Despite having a strong core of returners coming back, the Bulldogs, unfortunately, also lost some starters from last season.
“We are down four starters from last year due to graduation, a transfer, and someone deciding not to play this season,” coach Ashley Aldred said. “We have the girls working hard trying to fill in the spots that are empty.”
English also moves forward with just two seniors.
When asked what she wants to see on the diamond this season, Aldred pointed to consistency.
“Overall, we want to try and put everything together. I think, last year, we kind of struggled with that,” Aldred said. “We’d have good games where everything was together. Then, you’d have a few games where everything was sporadic where we would hit well, but field poorly – and vice versa.”
Of course, a softball team needs to hit the ball. But for Aldred, she hopes her group can improve in crunch time.
“We need to have better timely hitting. There were a couple of games last year where we were one hit away, or we left the bases loaded, which ultimately hurt us in the end,” Aldred said.
Bats and balls aside, Aldred is enjoying how well her players get along with each other.
“We have a great group of kids who all get along, and for a coach, that’s more than half the battle sometimes. So, it’s really awesome the new players and returners are all getting along,” Aldred said.
Aldred described herself as a players’ coach – one who wants her players to feel comfortable around her regarding any issues.
“We’re definitely not a “barking” coaching staff. I don’t find that it’s helpful – in any way – to scream and yell at the kids,” Aldred said.
Aldred said her goal is to win softball games, but it goes further than that.
“At the end of the day, when they graduate high school, or whether they don’t come back next year, our goal is just to make them good productive humans. We want to help the best we can so they can have a good head on their shoulders when they leave our program,” Aldred said.
English opens up the season on the road when it visits Revere Wednesday, April 5 with the first pitch set for 4 p.m.
