The softball team is looking to end over a decade playoff drought and qualify for the 2024 postseason. The team is under new coaching and now competing in Region 4-4A instead of Region 5-5A.
The Knights are now led by first-time head coach Jon Bookspun, the father of co-captain Megan Bookspun. Jon Bookspun grew up playing baseball and coached many of Megan’s younger teams, along with being involved with the Midtown team for years.
“I’d always been a parent helper with the softball team because Megan’s been on the team every year,” Bookspun said. “I would bring dinners to the players, and I would help in any way they needed it. Midtown was going to make a change, and they were looking for a coach. I talked to [athletic director Blair] Barksdale, and it was a great fit.”
Freshman MyMy Marshall said she is excited for the season with the new coaching staff.
“Our coaches are super amazing and only want the best for us,” Marshall said. “We have expectations, which are to hustle and work hard. The wins aren’t going to come to us. We have to work hard for the wins.”
Bookspun balances coaching with teaching at Virginia-Highland Elementary School, which he said is helpful as the two go hand in hand.
“Every team needs somebody who is a real teacher,”Bookspun said. “We happen to have a few guys who know a lot about softball as assistant coaches. But I think 20 years of being a teacher has really helped me in terms of developing relationships with players, spending some time actually teaching and learning.”
Bookspun said he is excited to get the opportunity to coach his daughter for her final year of softball.
“It’s awesome; my attitude is if Charlie [my son] or Megan want to do anything with me, I’m absolutely up for it,” Bookspun said. “[Being the coach has] been great.”
Unlike previous seasons, the Knights started conditioning in the spring and throughout the summer.
“We definitely have a better group this season, and we got started a lot earlier,” Megan said. “It’s definitely more organized. I can see this season going a lot better than other seasons.”
Marshall, one of the four freshmen joining this year, said the team has a welcoming environment, which should help on the field.
“Being an underclassman didn’t really intimidate me after talking to the upperclassman,” Marshall said. “Everyone is so welcoming and nice. All of them have been willing to guide us freshmen to becoming better players and communicators, as well. They keep our heads high and correct us when we need it.”
The roster consists of a near even number of players from each grade level. Bookspun said this bodes well for the team.
“It’s not an old team; it’s not a young team; it’s like it’s got everybody,” Bookspun said. “There’s a few freshmen who are legit players already. They absolutely will be starting. We’ve got a pitcher [freshman] Maggie Morran who’s amazing.”
The Knights are competing against new opponents after switching regions and dropping down in classification, including tough competitors like Pace Academy.
Junior Marin Mimnaugh said the team is prepared.
“I think the region change is no big issue at all,” Minnaugh said. “We have been practicing really hard, and even though we’ve gained new competition, we’ve also lost some good competition. We are focused on ourselves and being the best team we can be.”
Megan Bookspun said she is excited for her final season of softball and hopes the Knights break their playoff drought.
“I hope to grow the team and get to the point where we’re really good,” she said. “I hope to be able to make the playoffs this year. I just want to go out and have fun my senior year. I hope to play well and have fun with the rest of the girls on the team.”
