Large Tiger team driven by youth
FORT FAIRFIELD — With 18 players on their squad consisting of one junior, eight sophomores and nine freshmen, the Fort Fairfield Tigers softball team will be one the youngest squads in the County this season. That being said, Coach Jamie Selfridge has high expectations for this team.
Photo by Dave Allen Graphics
KELSEY TURNER gets ready to make a throw across the diamond during her Fort Fairfield team’s season-opening game April 25.
“We hope to improve from our record from last year (4-12) and compete with all the teams we play,” stated Selfridge.
Despite their youth, Selfridge likes what she has seen from this group so far.
“They are aggressive and eager to learn the game,” she said, “and I hope their drive for success stays with them all season.”
While the Tigers’ strength will be on defense, their team speed will certainly make them dangerous on offense. With game experience, the team will improve in all aspects of the game from outing to outing.
After losing their starting pitcher, catcher and first baseman, the Tigers have some talented young ladies ready to step into those roles. Sophomore Emily Blaisdell will be behind the plate after playing center field last year. She has a strong arm and good game knowledge that will help the team.
Freshman Jordann Coiley will be on the mound, and she has been working hard throughout the year to become a quality pitcher. Freshman Abbey Player will step into the first base role. Player has a good glove and seems to get to every throw. Both Player and Coiley are competitors and will be expected to perform from the outset.
Sophomores Sydney Churchill at third base, Rebekah Pelkey in center field and Kelsey Turner at shortstop are returning from last year’s squad. They did a nice job last year, according to Selfridge, and with a year of experience behind them will continue to get better each time out. All three are quick and will be aggressive on the base paths.
Sophomore Kellyn McGillan has worked hard and will be at second base, while sophomore Camille Huffman is a steady fielder and will hold down the starting right field spot. Freshman Alyssa Dougherty is another very quick player who will get to a lot of balls in left field as she rounds out the defensive nine.
Off the bench, freshman Cassidy Godin will see time both as the designated hitter and at catcher. Sophomore Veronica Plourde is another quick player whose versatility will be an asset. She will see time in the outfield. The lone junior on the squad is captain Keegan Watt. Watt will be counted on to provide leadership to the young squad and will fill in wherever she’s needed.
Rounding out the squad are sophomore Courtney Morgan and freshmen Lindsay Blaisdell, Brittany Love, Sydney McEwen, Shyanna Smith and Madison Watson. Selfridge said these young players are working hard to learn the game and earn their time on the field.
Overall, Selfridge is excited about the upcoming season.
“As a coach, I believe success comes from setting goals and we do a lot of this as a team. Whether it is small goals like completing a certain number of successful plays in practice or larger goals such as improving our team record,” she said. “We look to set goals to help guide and judge our progress. As a young team, each day will be a challenge. If we push ourselves in practice, the successes will be made on the team.”
