After a rough season opener against Villa Rica, losing 18-0, the softball team has turned the season around, currently placing 6th in region 5-AAAAA, and winning their last game 21-2 on Sept. 19 against Banneker.
“So far the season has gone amazing,” senior captain Lily Reilly said. “We have done so well for a team that has had a lot of new players come on as well as a change in the coaching staff, but everyone has adjusted perfectly.”
Assistant coach Eric Twombly is optimistic about the start of the season, and said the Knights chemistry has really helped the team develop.
“Since we started voluntary workouts this summer, the players have made progress in all facets of their game, and their improvement is significant,” Twombly said. “What’s more, it’s a close team where players support one another, which maintains a successful environment, and a lot of that is due to our senior players, who set a positive tone for the team.”
The Knights started the season with many challenges, including the addition of two new assistant coaches. Assistant coaches Rita Cruz and Twombly came in to replace assistant coach Brishanti Weaver.
“Our new coaches have a specific way they like to do things and I appreciate the consistency of their leadership,” Reilly said. “They all work really well together and all have their different strengths that they lend to the team.”
The Atlanta weather has also proven to be a difficult obstacle. After having the hottest week of the year last month, many of the Knights’ practices and games were delayed or canceled.
“The extremely hot weather has affected game play quite a lot,” junior Megan Bookspun said. “There have been many games where we’ve had to push the game time back later so that we wouldn’t be playing at the hottest time of the day when it can get up to 100 degrees.”
Coming off a school record-breaking 2022-2023 season going 9-9, softball has every intention to keep the success going.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but I think we can break last year’s record,” Reilly said. “If we keep progressing at the rate that we’re going, I think we will tie last year’s record, if not beat it.”
Villa Rica has consistently been the Knights biggest rival, losing 18-0 in the season opener and again on Sept. 13.
“Villa Rica has the best record in 5-AAAAA and we always have a really hard time playing them,” Reilly said. “However, I hope that we made them work for the win.”
Twombly credits the Knights’ competitiveness for their success.
“We play in a tough region against some heavy lifting teams, and I see our players head on to the field to challenge those teams and never quit, which shows a lot of character,” Twombly said.
Twombly is confident in the Knights, and said they are on a path to success.
“Heading into this season, we wanted to build on the team’s very positive 2022 season that showed Midtown High School softball is on the rise,” Twombly said. “At the midpoint of this season, I see ample evidence that we are on the right path, and the players should be proud of that. We have a lot of pieces in place with good players, engaged coaches, a supportive school administration and a terrific array of parents who contribute to a growing and successful team culture.”
