LYNN — It was an incredible year for the Lynn English softball team as the Bulldogs made the playoffs for the first time since the turn of the century.
According to English athletic director Dick Newton and softball coach Ashley Aldred, this season’s team was the first to make the postseason since 1999.
Better yet, the Bulldogs began 4-9, but it was a team talk led by Aldred that got players to believe in themselves.
“When we got to 4-9, I asked the team if they wanted to look at the schedule and go over what teams I expect for us to win and what teams will be a bit of a challenge – and they all said yes,” Aldred said. “So, we did that and I told them that their backs were against the wall and that we can’t afford to lose another game.”
Well, the Bulldogs rattled off three straight wins, outscoring opponents by 34 runs in the process.
Riding that momentum, the Bulldogs faced a Malden team they previously lost to (3-2), and found themselves in an 8-0 hole early.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘This is how we’re going to bow out of the playoffs?’” Aldred said. “I talked to the team in the third inning and said they need to want this as much as we do. After that, they hit the ball really well and it carried from game to game.”
The Bulldogs rallied back, winning 15-14 in a comeback for the ages. Little did they know, it was a sneak peak of what was to come.
Despite a loss to No. 1 ranked St. Mary’s, what a finish to the regular season it was for the Maroon and White.
“Regular season-wise, winning six of our last seven was big,” Aldred said. “Anyone that knows Lynn English softball knows that’s a huge victory in itself.”
Now at 9-10, the Bulldogs were one win away – with one game left – from making history as they geared up for Swampscott.
“They were definitely excited,” Aldred said. “We lost 24-1 the game before, so we knew we had to move on from that quickly. I credit my bench a lot. They were loud all game and that really helped. We had great energy and it was something that we needed.”
The Bulldogs defeated the Big Blue 6-5 to clinch a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season.
“It was probably one of the best feelings I’ve had in a long time when we recorded the final out,” Aldred said. “The coaching staff and I believed all year that we could do it, but it was getting the kids to buy into it.”
“Seeing them get in was so special,” Aldred said. “Now, they proved to themselves that they can compete and they can do it.”
At the start of the season, Aldred said last season’s team lacked timely hits. This year, Aldred loved her group’s attack mentality at the plate.
“I think our approach at the plate was a reason for us being better at getting timely hits,” Aldred said. “This year, I emphasized that every pitch that’s thrown to them, they should be thinking to attack the ball. At times, I felt they were worried about the umpire’s strike zone rather than just being in attack mode from the start.”
The Bulldogs have a bright future as they graduate just two seniors. An excited Aldred is already thinking about next spring.
“My expectation for next year is that we’re going to be competing against each team,” Aldred said. “I think making the playoffs might have flipped a switch in the team’s head that now they know they can do it.”
