After missing out on last spring’s season, the Williston softball team is coming out with a new motivation to be great this year.

Spring sports just recently began on March 24, and the softball team at Williston has been preparing themselves for competition ever since. This past weekend they go to put their team skills to the test against Suffield Academy and Northfield Mount Hermon.

After a nail-biter of a game, which saw the wildcats lose to Suffield on a tough call in the last inning, they looked to bounce back in their away game against a solid NMH squad. The result of this game was a mercy-ruled 21-0 victory after three innings, a big bounce back win for Williston.

Devon Morgan, a senior captain from Westfield, Mass., is excited for the rest of the season and feels like the team is already starting off with a good connection.

“The season has been really good so far,” she told The Willistonian. “We definitely have a lot of work to do as a team but we already have a strong team chemistry. I couldn’t ask for a better team to spend my senior spring with.”

As a captain, Devon understands that the team has some work to do after missing last year, but she is very confident that they will put it together.

“The team brings a really good energy every day to practice and makes my job super fun and easy,” she said. “After missing a season, we have all had to try and get back into rhythm as a team again. We have to work to integrate new players in new positions and come together as a new group of people.”

Erin Davey, head coach of the softball team, is excited for this season with her team after missing last years. Although this year is different due to Covid regulations, she still believes that it will be a great.

“I think the biggest difference is the competition,” she told The Willistonian. “Some of the best teams in our league are from the Connecticut area. Our team is also often in playoff contention so without a tournament this year, we can relax a bit, have lots of fun, and learn as we go! We have an awesome team. Nothing seems to affect these kids!”

Due to the uncongenial season for the Wildcats, Coach Davey has introduced a new tradition that involves the entire team.

“When we can, we practice mindfulness before each game,” she said. “We also started a new tradition – The Team Log. The team had to go into the woods, find a log that was big enough for entire team to carry. We painted the log with this year’s team motto, ‘Better Together’ and each girl marked it with their handprint.”

She continued, “It will sit by our bench at each home game as a reminder that we are better and stronger together than we are as individuals. At the end of the season, we’ll have a bonfire to signify the end of an awesome season and the start of a new one.”