Guilford Softball Eager to Compete in 2021

When the Guilford softball staff hit the diamond very last week, it marked the to start with time that the Grizzlies experienced noticed are living opposition in additional than a year. Past year, the whole 2020 period was canceled because of to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the team’s gamers and coaches asking yourself when they would be equipped to compete once again.

When she listened to the information that softball would be performed this 12 months, Guilford Head Coach Meghan Wiese could not wait around to get started doing work with her squad. On April 10, the Grizzlies began their period with a household recreation against Cheshire, taking a 9- defeat to the Rams. In spite of the reduction, Mentor Wiese feels positive about Guilford’s prospective buyers for the 2021 campaign.

“Our anticipations as a team is to participate in every single of our opponents competitively and with no regrets,” claimed Wiese. “No matter if we are working towards or enjoying in a recreation, we will try to give our very best and function hard—most importantly, persistently supporting a person one more and keeping a constructive mentality. Of system, we want to qualify for the playoffs and complete the season more robust than ever.”

Senior captains Jill Batick and Ema Signore are primary the way for the Grizzlies this calendar year. Batick performed middle industry through her sophomore period and will transition to the infield for her senior marketing campaign. As a sophomore, Batick earned All-SCC Next Crew honors following publishing a .333 batting regular on 19 hits to go with 12 runs scored.

Signore, a pitcher, started all 20 games for Guilford as a sophomore in 2019. She pitched a comprehensive activity in 17 of these contests.

“The captains for the 2021 year are seniors Jill Batick and Ema Signore. Batick earned All-SCC Next Team honors in her sophomore campaign, and Signore is completely ready to discover herself again in the circle,” Coach Wiese said. “Since becoming named captains, they have led the team on and off the field.”

Mentor Wiese also sees junior Allie Petonito creating a major contribution at second base this season. Senior outfielder Carissa Ross is a different one particular of Guilford’s crucial gamers. Both equally athletes have been starters since their freshman decades.

“Allie Petonito will go on her impact on the workforce as she returns to the infield immediately after starting up at 2nd base as a freshman. Carissa Ross has been a varsity participant due to the fact her freshman calendar year and seems to finish her career in a Guilford uniform sturdy,” claimed Wiese. “Coming into this period, we have various locations exactly where we will see new faces in the commencing lineup and, just about every working day, we continue to finalize all those decisions. I am expecting quite a few gamers to play a critical purpose in this season’s success.”

Guilford’s roster for the 2021 time also includes junior outfielders Maddy Smith, Ava Singleton, and Schuylar Giwa, alongside with sophomores infielder Sophia Stanger pitcher/infielder Sadie Huffman infielder/outfielders Kaili Rosa, Rubi Espejo, and Charlotte Martocci and outfielder Sami Eco-friendly.

The Grizzlies also have freshmen pitcher/infielders Sophia Meade, Anna Fagan, and Adrianna Piascik infielder/outfielder Zamira Penner infielders Marley Falcone, Addie Smith, Elizabeth Barcello, Emma Getrost, and Sadie Iozzia and outfielders Olivia Pionke, Eliza Chamberlain, and Saachi Mehta on their roster this spring. When Guilford played Cheshire in its time opener, Meade went 1-for-3 with a double.

After viewing the 2020 period get canceled, Coach Wiese explained that the Grizzlies are likely to experience grateful every time that they stage on the area this calendar year. There are plans for convention tournaments and point out tournaments to be held immediately after the common period. Wiese understands the significance of subsequent security protocols if her group wishes to perform a comprehensive campaign.

“COVID is of study course on all our minds, and accomplishing our part to keep everyone harmless is our initial priority,” Wiese claimed. “Since day 1, we know that at any moment our year could come to an abrupt stop or be set on pause. Players can be positioned in quarantine at the drop of a hat. With that mentality, we are concentrated on remaining in the second and currently being in a position to play.”

School districts have applied several procedures in terms of admirer attendance for the 2021 period. Guilford is restricting the amount of spectators that can attend its property game titles, and some faculties are not enabling going to spectators to go to their game titles at all. When she loves to see a good deal of lovers in the stands, Coach Wiese does not imagine that these limitations will have way too large of an impression on the Grizzlies.

“Fans can participate in a huge component for the duration of the online games, and every game will be distinctive depending on the district’s spectator plan,” reported Wiese. “I really don’t see a limited selection of lovers owning an influence on our staff, recognizing that our gamers are below to assist one an additional.”

Coach Wiese mentioned that the turnout level for the Guilford softball workforce is the optimum that it’s been in yrs. With a huge forged of dedicated gamers, Wiese feels psyched to see what the Grizzlies can achieve on the field all through the spring year.

“We just cannot be far more enthusiastic. We are one particular crew with the chance to engage in at the two the varsity and junior varsity stage. We will concentration on 1 day, 1 exercise, just one match at a time and, when we appear back again on the year, we want to make guaranteed we experienced no regrets in our effectiveness as an personal and, additional importantly, as a workforce,” Wiese mentioned. “At the commencing of the period, every participant selected 1 phrase that would summarize their period. All 25 words are on a crew ball and, right before each individual sport, we remind them to remember their a person phrase. It is just good to be back again on the subject.”