Andover Softball is primary comprised of Lowers, accounting for 8 of 15
players.
With her second home run, Kiley Buckley ’23 helped Andover Softball secure a win against Deerfield after losing the first game of the doubleheader. Despite struggling in its first game, the team found its rhythm by scoring a large number of runs in the second game this past Saturday, finishing with a 15-5 win. The team’s record now stands at 1-3.
According to Head Coach Lindsay Maroney, the team was able to build off of a tough defeat and capitalize in the following game. She noted numerous individual efforts that led to the win including crucial home runs to add to the score.
“Despite losing the first game in a tough fashion, we bounced back in the second. Defensively, we were sharper, and at the plate, we started to be more selective and really hit the ball. [Evalyn Lee ’23]made some great catches in center, while catcher [Kylie Frank ’22] threw out a pair of runners trying to steal. Kiley Buckley led the way offensively with a pair of home runs and five hits on the day, but we also had five other players with three hits apiece: [Fallon O’Connor ’23,] [Katie Morris ’21,] Kylie Frank, [Maris Moody ’24] and [Liv McManus ’23,]” Coach Maroney wrote in an email to The Phillipian.
Andover lost control of the first game in the final inning after letting up multiple runs. The close defeat fueled the players to compete at a higher level in the second game, resulting in an energized atmosphere, according to Co-Captain Katie Morris.
“We definitely brought the energy for the second game. We were ahead for most of the first game and then we lost because the other team scored some runs back in the bottom of the last inning in the first game, so it was a tough loss, but we definitely brought the energy and were ready to go after that. We had a lot of base hits after that in the second game and we won,” said Morris.
According to Buckley, the lengthy doubleheader also provided an opportunity to fuel the overall team performance with high energy which created momentum. Buckley described her mindset before hitting her pair of home runs that led to Andover’s ten-run win in its second game.
“With a doubleheader which is longer, keeping the energy up throughout both games was really important. I tried to focus on just attacking the ball and keeping my mind on nothing else and going after it. I think there are little things that we have to work on, mechanical things. I think the energy has been great and the team has really started to come together,” Buckley said.
According to Morris, playing doubleheaders is a new aspect of the season as she has not experienced this type of play often. She strives to keep the energy high throughout the competitions going forward this season.
“[Playing in doubleheaders] is definitely an adjustment. We have only had one doubleheader in my first two years on the team, so this is definitely something new to the team. I am pretty sure all of our games are doubleheaders on weekends going forward. It is something I am adjusting to and the other girls are, so we just have to learn how to keep the momentum up for both games. We have yet to win two out of two, so that is a goal,” said Morris.
According to Coach Maroney, the young team is continuing to gain knowledge from game experiences and will look to see lowerclassmen taking control of close games in the future.
“We are a very young team with only one Senior and one Upper on our roster, so experience is definitely something of which we don’t have a lot. Sometimes I feel that we are hesitant and afraid to take charge, which I think is a result of being so young. But as we continue to play more games together, I think we will start to see that change, and they will have more confidence in themselves and each other,” Coach Maroney wrote.
Softball looks to defeat Worcester Academy away on Friday at 4:45 p.m. and home on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
