The softball team is young this year, made up mostly of sophomores and juniors. But junior Catalina Taitague, who played on the varsity team last year, does not see this as a bad thing. “We know how each other plays and we can help each other grow,” she said. The team also has a new coach.

Coach Keri Limpin has moved up from the junior varsity team, to the varsity team. The experience is different for her because she does not need to focus on teaching the fundamentals. “It’s about developing them mentally,” Limpin said. This can be a challenge because “you can’t teach a good work ethic and fortitude. You can only nurture it getting the girls’ confidence up.”

Taitague is optimistic about how this season will be. “We have a lot of talent this year,” she said. “We need to focus. We need to want it.”

But even with this confidence, the team’s top priority is not winning. “My focus and goal this year is to be a competitor and be respected as a softball team,” Limpin said. Winning would be desired, but the most important thing is earning the respect of other teams.

Arista Dutra, a junior, agrees. Coming from the St. Mary’s softball team, she says she feels a strong desire to win their respect. “I’m going to be nervous,” Dutra said. “I want to show them that Stagg is getting better… We need respect. We should earn it.”

The biggest challenge they face is believing that their team can do it. “A challenge for everyone is to give it their all,” Taitague said. “Even when you mess up, shake it off and get the next one.”

Another new challenge this year is keeping up the grades. Neither D’s or F’s will be tolerated for players on the team.

“This year we have the potential to go places,” Dutra said. “The biggest problem is to stay positive.” This is hard given that the softball team did not win many games last year.

“The school record hasn’t been that great,” Limpin said. Yet the attitude of the team is hopeful.

“We want (to win) more this year,” Taitague said. “We’re tired of being the team with the 10-run rule.”