With big wins over Berkshire, Pomfret, Cheshire, and Deerfield this spring, Williston’s softball team controls its own destiny as the girls head into the final weeks of the season. The results of their upcoming matches against Loomis, Kingswood, Suffield, and Stoneleigh Burnham will determine whether our Wildcats will be selected to compete in the Western New England Class A tournament.
A combination of young talent and veteran leadership has led Coach Amber Rodgers’ squad to a winning record after seven games. Sophomore pitcher Jordan Strum has been nothing short of dominant in her performances on the mound; she has averaged over 11 strike outs per game in the team’s four wins! At bat, the Somersworth, New Hampshire, native hit a two-run homer against Deerfield, went 3-for-3 in a tight battle against Cushing, and was 4-for-4 in a one-run win over Cheshire! Strum, who was recently selected to play in the Western New England All-Star game, has a bright future ahead of her.
Senior shortstop, and fellow Western New England All-Star, Delany Belinskas, has had a standout season for Williston at bat. Belinskas has been a consistent contributor to a high-powered offense that put up 19 runs against Berkshire, 16 runs against Pomfret, and 14 runs against Deerfield! The Florida native has had exceptional performances against Cushing, Cheshire, and Deerfield, where she went a combined 6-for-10, scoring 5 runs and driving in 5 teammates.
Senior catcher Morgan Fisher and sophomore third baseman Gabby Jones have complemented Strum’s and Belinskas’ strong play with great performances of their own. Fisher was outstanding against Cheshire, where she went 3-for-4 and had 1 run and 2 RBIs, helping the team to a thrilling 5-4 win. Jones, who, like Strum, is a young, talented player for the Wildcats, went 3-for-4, and had 4 runs and 1 RBI in the 14-0 blanking of Deerfield.
Although great individual performances have been an important factor in the team’s wins this season, Coach Rodgers emphasized that “strong team play in nearly every game this spring has been the key to our success. All players have contributed to our wins.” She continued to praise all members of her team. “Kassandra Orcutt ’19 has been an outstanding base runner for us,” she stated, “and Jada Goodrich ’16 has come in clutch in the outfield and at bat, where she hit a great ball to center field to secure a win against Cheshire when we were down by two runs.”
It will certainly be an exciting end of the season for our softball team. The Wildcats will need more strong team play in their final games as they look to secure a playoff birth. The team is back in action this Wednesday when they travel to Loomis. Good luck, Wildcats!