By Doug La Rocque
By all accounts the Berlin Mountaineer’s baseball and softball teams did not have a great season when you look at the number of wins posted by each team. Girls’ softball won twice and the Boys’ baseball team was winless. [private]
But when you talk to the coaches, you will find a lot of positives in the spring campaign. Softball Coach Art Schmich saw his team get blown out in the first two games, with many defensive problems and a lack of solid pitching. His squad could have thrown in the towel, so to speak, but instead worked hard all year at their craft. In the end, they were a much improved team defensively, found a young upcoming pitcher in sophomore Amanda Despart, and Schmich cites the hitting of Parker Crandall, Alyssa Bierwirth and Haley Maxon as some very positive notes to take away from the year. Schmich thanked the four seniors on the team, Tiffany Foley, Brianna Royce, Paige Boechker and Cassie Bentley, admitting they will be big holes to fill in the lineup. Schmich said there are several modified players “we have our eye on and if they continue to show improvement, the future of the team is bright. He also notes that with 6 sophomores helping to make up the nucleus of the team, “the experience they gained will only enhance their play next year.”
Baseball Coach Josh Weaver was equally optimistic about his young team’s future. “I was very happy to see the growth and development of our team this season. To look at us from our first game against Loudonville Christian to our last game at Heatly, I am proud of my guys for all their hard work and cannot thank them enough for the time they put in every day.” Weaver also pointed to the modified program and their success, which he said will make the transition to Varsity much easier. Weaver said all season long that Berlin was in a re-building year, “but as long as we coaches are doing our jobs this program has nowhere to go but up.
The Varsity Track team wraps up the spring sports season with the Class D sectionals this Saturday in Fort Plain. The annual awards banquet for all sports will be held Monday June 6 at the High School. Dinner is at 5:30 with the awards program at 6:30. [/private]