This year’s 7/8 Softball team, which consists solely of seventh graders, won ten games this season in the Delphic League and lost only two games.
At the beginning of the season, there were barely enough girls to form a team.
“We had to bring three new players to the game. They had never played softball before, but they learned quickly,” team member Cami ’18 said
Hazel ’18 agreed that the more inexperienced players have been a great asset to the team. “My favorite memory from the team so far is seeing all the girls who have never played softball in their lives fall in love with the game, make great plays and hit the ball,” she said.
Coach James Dominguez described his team as “a good mix of experienced and inexperienced players. The girls build off of each other equally.”
Traditionally, Marlborough has had separate 7th and 8th Grade teams in more popular sports such as volleyball and, until recently, basketball. This is the first time in School history that a 7/8 Softball team has been comprised of only seventh graders.
However, some players, including Liv ’18, said they prefer a team of only seventh graders.
“I get to spend more time with my friends and we are all able to grow closer as a team,” she said.
Marlborough has had a combined 7/8 softball team since the spring season of 1994. According to School records, the sport has increased in popularity as more and more girls joined the team each year. Despite the lack of eighth graders on the team this year, the sport remains a popular choice among older classes at Marlborough.
“I think this was just a year when there aren’t many softball players in the 8th Grade, but we are so lucky to have such talent in the 7th Grade,” Physical Education Department Head Julie Napoleon commented.
Napoleon said she is not concerned about the effect the lack of eighth graders could have on the Varsity team next season. Varsity Softball only has two seniors this year, and over the past few years, the Varsity team has become very strong. This year, the Varsity team went undefeated in the Sunshine League.
“The Varsity team will be very lucky in two years when this crop of seventh graders will be able to play on Varsity,” Napoleon said.
The 7/8 Softball team were seeded number two going into the playoffs. Unfortunately, on May 8, the team lost 5-2 in their first playoff game to Oaks Christian School, the number three seed.
“Despite their loss, the team was still able to win a lot of games and have an amazing season with just a team of seventh graders,” Napoleon said.
Napoleon also said she is confident in the strength of future Marlborough softball teams. “I understand that we have some good softball players coming into the 7th Grade next fall, so the 7/8 Softball team next year will be even stronger, which is very exciting!” she said.
