As spring 2020 emerges, New England College Softball headed down to Florida to kick their season off.
On February 29th, in Clermont, FL, the softball team had their season opener against St. Joseph’s College-Brooklyn. Leading up to the third inning, the score was tied 0-0. Taylor Barbour, a junior from Bay Shore, NY, hit a two-run homerun, putting NEC on the board. This hit sparked a rally for NEC allowing them to get 7 runs within the 3rd and 4th inning. As the Grims got up to bat in the 5th inning, junior Destiny Helmedach, hit her 7th career home run, giving the team an 8-0 lead. NEC later ended up capturing their first win of the season over St. Joseph’s College, 8-2.
Later that day NEC faced Cabrina University where junior Emily Farone pitched the first three innings. Naomi Medrano, a freshman from Escondido, CA, made her first collegiate appearance when relieving Farone. After the game NEC took their first loss of the season.
On March 1st, NEC faced Northland College in Clermont. The Pilgrims led 1-0 in the first inning, then went scoreless in the second inning. Through the third inning to the fifth, the Grims managed to score 10 more runs, ending the game in five. Destiny Helmedach, continued to stay on top of her hitting game, as she acquired her second home run of the season. The final score was 11-0 in favor of NEC.
The softball team later proceeded to play a neck and neck game against Adrian College. Helmedach stayed strong with her hitting and got herself two homeruns in her first two at bats. On her second home run, Helmedach tied the game at 2-2. Adrian unfortunately drove in four more runs the next inning. Shortstop, Rachel Senechal, from Killingworth, CT, hit a double in the fifth inning, bringing in a run to make the score 6-3. Sarah Ferguson, a freshman from Weare, NH, then drove in another run. Adrian was unable to score in their next at bats. In the last inning, Senechal was walked with bases loaded, bringing the score within reach for the Pilgrims. Unfortunately, the Pilgrims have stumbled upon a curse for their second games and were unable to capitalize on the game.
Emily Farone started game five for the Pilgrims on March 3rd, against Elizabethtown College. Frone held her ground on the mound and never slowed down at any point of the game. Jasmine Alvarado got the Grims on the board first, on a single that scored Senechal. Then Alvarado traded places with Helmedach on a ground out, giving the Grims a 2-0 lead. The Grims got two more runs on a double from Senechal. In this game, Daelyn Ross, sophomore from NY, got back in her home run mentality, as she rocked one right at the scoreboard. NEC finished the game with a win over Elizabethtown, 11-8.
The second game curse continued onto game six for the Pilgrims. The Grims faced Bridgewater and were only able to score one run when Ross singled and got Senechal across the plate. The final score of the game resulted in 8-1, in favor of Bridgewater.
Overall the Grims were ranked second in the 2020 NECC’s team poll. If they want to come out on top they need to capitalize on every game of the season.
