MARSHFIELD – Co-head coaches Christin Martin and Summer Haverick will work with slightly smaller numbers this season with their Twinfield-Cabot-Danville (CCSU) softball program, as they look to build off a stellar 2023 campaign.
In just their third season at the helm, Martin and Haverick’s vision of restoring the softball program at their alma mater came to fruition with the Lady Trojans winning 10 games while securing the program’s first playoff win in almost a decade.
Numbers are down slightly this season in their second year of co-oping with Danville and there is work and development to be done to fill the holes of an experienced graduating class that included Maddi Duke, Aydyn Paige, Hannah Haverick, Kim DeBona, Aleacya Moshinskie, and Julie Williams.
“We started with only 12 when we began practicing in the gym, but we’ve added a couple more and we have a good mix of experience, youth, and some softball newbies this year. Last season’s success was the culmination of a group of girls who learned the game and experienced growth together for four years, while helping to bring the younger girls along as well. We have some talent and experience returning this season and they will now be in a leadership role to help teach the game and develop skills to the younger players on the team,” said Martin.
Junior Ida Astick has been playing varsity softball for the Lady Trojans since eighth grade and earned First Team All-Mountain League honors last spring after a sensational sophomore season. She’ll be a team captain for Martin and Haverick this spring, along with Sophie Mancini and Danville’s Kendall Hale. Mancini was a Second Team selection a year ago and Hale was an Honorable Mention.
Phoebe Crocker earned Second Team honors as a freshman and will also be returning to man first base along with fellow Danville teammate Austin Roos, who gained varsity experience last year as an eighth grader. Duke shouldered most of the innings inside the circle for Martin and Haverick last season and one of their challenges this spring will be to groom that next go to starter for the program.
“Kendall did a good job of filling in at times last season for Maddi and we’ll look for her to step into that starting role for the pitching staff this year. Freshmen Kyla Van Alstyne and Chloe North will also get opportunities to develop as pitchers this spring. The weather has kept us practicing in the gym and there is only so much space to be able to work on the drills you need as outfielders and infielders, but the girls have approached it with a positive attitude and are excited to finally get outside. Being able to bring the team to Danville for batting practice has been a huge help and we should be ready to hit the ground running offensively when the season starts. Last season was great, and we had fun as a team doing it and the goal is to approach developing the fundamentals of this year’s team with that same enthusiasm and positivity. We want to be a better team by the end of the season than at the start and we are excited to get the season going,” said Martin.
CCSU is scheduled to kick off the season on Thursday at Williamstown and will stay on the road for a match-up against Randolph next Tuesday.
