By Emily Hau

As warmer weather approaches and flowers begin to bloom, the softball team is ready to dominate the spring season. This year’s team is led by three captains, Elana Gershwin ‘26, Danielle Winter ‘26, and Molly Hart ‘27. As of April 10, the team is off to a 1-1 start, with a 22-17 win against Hamden Hall.

The captains remark that their goals for this season are making it far in the Fairfield Athletic Association (FAA)’s tournament at the end of the season and securing league wins to attain a better seed in the playoffs. The team’s strength, according to Winter, is attributed to the “good mix of upperclassman and underclassman that are playing consistently…we have good experience on the field.” Even early in the season there have been notable highlights, such as a double play by both Michelle Zhan ‘29 and Hart, as well as a hard line drive caught by Gershwin in the game against Hopkins. 

The team’s chemistry is a crucial component as well, and team practices are punctuated with singing and dancing. The same upbeat energy carries into game day, where the captains keep team morale high during the season by making sure everyone is always cheering in the dugout, whether the team is winning or not. Gershwin noted that “spirit and team morale are important to keep everyone hyped and keep up the energy throughout the game.”

The spring training trip for the team was definitely a memorable one, as they slept overnight at the Atlanta airport after a flight mishap. Despite this less-than-ideal trip, Winters and Gershwin emphasized how this experience bonded the team through memorable events like  team dinners and visiting Universal Studios. Another highlight from the trip was forming friendships with other teams they scrimmaged against. In these scrimmages, live pitching and fielding helped the team prepare for the regular season. Sahar Harris ‘26 summarized the trip for the team, saying, “It was amazing!” 

In the coming weeks, batting will be a key priority, as Gershwin emphasized that the team will be “working on timing…as going against faster pitchers in the league is definitely a challenge.” With a strong bond and events such as senior night and Wildcat Weekend ahead, the softball team is heading into spring with momentum.