Softball
YMS Girls Softball made all the right plays for an outstanding season
By Melissa Wood
And what a year it was. The York Middle School Girls Softball Team, pictured here, went undefeated in 10 games before the school year came to an end.
Courtesy photo
YORK - Noble was going to be a hard team to beat.
According to the Wells' coach, whose team they had just defeated, the York Middle School Girls Softball Team was good, but they didn't have a chance against their next opponent, Noble Middle School, a tough team with many seasoned eight-grade players. That next game, however, York beat Noble 14-0.
The game against Noble was just one part of an amazing season where the York Middle Girls' Softball Team went undefeated in 10 games.
"They just never made mistakes," said Assistant Coach Joe Boudreau. "Every play they should make, they made. Even ones they shouldn't have made, they made."
According to Boudreau, the middle school almost didn't have a softball team this season. At the beginning of the season, the girls' softball team had trouble getting a coach, but Mona Simpson, who has coached girls' basketball, stepped in to take the role.
"The girls love her," said Boudreau.
The sport of softball is much different from little league. The pitching is faster and the games are shorter, with a lot of bunting and stealing.
Simpson had the team focus on these fundamentals in practice, drilling the girls on running the bases and making basic plays. The team didn't have a scrimmage before the start of the season, but instead focused on these fundamentals over and over.
When the season began, this hard work showed. Boudreau said three or four teams told them that they had never seen a team run the bases, slide, bunt and accomplish plays like they did.
"They did the town proud," said Boudreau.
Because of all the rain this spring, the team had to play six games in the last 10 days of their season. They also faced other strong teams, besides Noble, including some Class A teams. But the York girls were not be daunted and did not lose a single game of their 10-game season, despite the uneven schedule and tough teams.
"They're talented, good kids," said Boudreau.
He said the girls not only played outstanding softball, but also said they were really respectful of each other.
"They played so well as far as sportsmanship," he said. "They played hard."
Anyone interested in town sports should probably take note as these talented seventh- and eight-grade girls reach high school in the next couple of years.
"In two years, they should have some real solid teams up there," said Boudreau.
