Final thoughts by Rich (6/16/2006)

Note:  What follows are the thoughts and opinions of me (Rich) and me only.  Coach Rick Bridgens and Coach Bill Murphy are invited to supply their own thoughts separately, if they desire.
 
The first thing I have to say is, where did the season go?  At least for me, that had to be the fastest two months ever.  It seemed like only yesterday that the player evaluations where being held.
 
I must say that this has been a very enjoyable season for me.  Not only because you girls won the league championship, but because of the people you are.  You were a terrific and easy group of girls to coach; you were respectful at all times, listened to the coaches, and played hard.
 
I want to thank all the members of the team.  You gave me great joy this season.
 
Some highlights of this season (not complete, by any means):
 

• Our many epic battles with Pitt during the season and the playoffs.


• The night game at Kimberton on April 18th (which we won 16-6).


• Back-to-back shutouts of Michigan on April 19th and April 24th.


• The game with Pitt on April 29th.  After trailing 7-0 and 8-4 entering the seventh inning, we explode for eight runs with two out and win 12-8.


• Sammy's homerun against Michigan on May 2nd.

 
And the playoffs (a book could probably be written about them):
 

• In the first playoff game against Clemson, trailing 5-4 entering the seventh inning, scoring four runs to win 8-5.


• After losing to Pitt 2-1, beating Michigan 10-7 in extra innings, again coming from behind to tie the game at six in the sixth inning and scoring four in the eighth inning to ultimately win the game.


• Beating Pitt 15-8 to set up one game for the championship.


• Beating Pitt 4-2 to win the 2006 ARA Senior Girls' Softball Championship!

 
To the 16 (and older) girls, Emily, Kati, and Megan Stewart:  thank you for playing.  I hope you all enjoyed the time you played in ARA and especially this season.  You will be missed.
 
Final kudos to the girls on the team:
 

• Jenny Rose Bridgens:  great team spirit, always supported her teammates and was a solid defensive player.


• Nicole Bridgens:  technically not old enough to play in Seniors' yet, but held her own by always giving her best.


• Meghan Chambers:  also had awesome team spirit.  She unfortunately missed some time due to an injury she suffered in a game.  She showed consistent improvement throughout the season.


• Ashley Harkins: a gritty player, anchored our infield by playing great at shortstop.


• Meredith Hassett:  always played very, very hard and show constant improvement.  She had a one of the best batting eyes I've seen (she very seldom swung at bad pitches and had a lot of walks) and had several key hits during the season.


• Taylor Moran:  loved to play, was a good hitter throughout the season.


• Megan Murphy:  the backbone of our defense, our catcher, The Wall, and incredibly, was a an even better hitter than last year (and she was pretty decent then).  She was our best hitter during the playoffs.


• Emily Seeberger:  a consistent hitter and had many clutch hits, including a key one during the championship game.


• Samantha Seeberger:  AKA Sammy, was a tough hitter and hit the only home run all season!


• Julie Sjostrom:  played tremendous at first base, showed an incredible ability to stretch for throws (which allowed many key outs during the season) and was a good hitter.


• Kati Sjostrom:  another one with great team spirit, came to games even when she could not play because of a bad back and was a good hitter when she did play.


• Megan Stewart:  once again, just like last year, hit great and caused the opposition great headaches when she was on base.


• Maggie Thomas:  tried hard, had a hit in the championship game that cost me $5 (which I was very happy to pay).


• Danielle Troisi:  a truly awesome all-around player, one of the best I've seen.  The thing I remember about her, however, is that she always seemed to have a smile on her face.


• Nicole Troisi:  another one technically too young for Seniors'.  By the way she played, however, no one would say she didn't belong; she was great all season and pitched a complete game in the championship.


• Jessica Walchonski:  words cannot describe how valuable Jess was to this team.  This was her first year in Seniors'.  We asked a lot of her pitching wise; she came through brilliantly, showed poise beyond her years, and never complained.  This was especially noteworthy in the playoffs; she came into pitch in the middle of one game (and bailed us out), pitched the last inning in the extra inning game, and pitched four innings in the game before the championship to save innings.  Also, she was a good hitter, to boot.

 
I am very, very proud of all of you.  It was my greatest honor and privilege to be one of your coaches.  I hope you all play next year; I would not be upset to have all of you on the team again!
 
All of you have a great summer and year.  Just in case I don't ever see or talk to some of you again, I hope you a have a long, wonderful, happy life.  Remember, you are champions!!!
 
All the best,
 
Coach Rich Thomas

Championship game vs. Pitt 6/10/2006 (W 4-2)

We are the Champions!!!
 
Words cannot describe how happy the coaches are for you and how very proud of you we are for the effort you provided in winning the championship.  You played a flawless defensive game and on offensive took advantage of opportunities when they became available.  This was all against one the best pitchers in the league.  Of course, our pitching was pretty decent as well!
 
Kudos to:
 

• Nicole Troisi, game ball, pitched an awesome complete game, allowed only three hits and four walks and struck out 13.


• Emily, game ball, had a crucial hit in the first inning to drive in a run with two outs.


• Sammy, had a hit and a walk and scored the crucial third run.


• Taylor, had a hit and a walk and scored the crucial fourth run with great hustle on the base paths.


• Megan Murphy, anchored the top of the order with two hits and a run scored.


• Maggie, had a hit.


• Jenny Rose, great defensive play on a line drive.

 
All of you should be proud of yourselves.  You won this championship with your effort and teamwork.  Hopefully, as the years pass, you will remember this championship as a happy memory.  You have done this for the coaches.
 
Remember, this is an accomplishment that no one can take away from you!
 
Way to go, girls!
 
Mr. B. and Mr. T

Playoff Game vs. Pitt 6/5/2006 (W 15-8)

We win again!
 
Fortunately for the poor coaches' nerves, this one was not a close game.  You did what you had to do to win this game; took it to the opponents early and often.  There was good offensive balance during this game.  Eleven (11) players had hits, 11 players scored runs, and all 16 players were on base at least one time!  Everyone did something good during this game.  Way to go, girls!
 
Kudos to (everyone could be mentioned here):
 

• Jenny Rose, game ball, for a monster double.


• Meghan Chambers, had a hit, two walks, and scored two runs.


• Nicole Bridgens, also hit a monster double and had two runs batted in.


• Danielle, had two hits and four runs batted in.


• Emily, had two hits.


• Kati, had two hits and two runs scored.


• Taylor, had two runs batted in.


• Jessica, (once again) pitched four strong innings to save pitching innings for others.

 
We very proud of you all and no matter what happens in the championship game will still be proud.  Congratulations!
 
Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Playoff Game vs. Michigan 6/4/2006 (W 10-7)

We won!!!
 
Wow.  That's all I can think to say after this game.  This was another tight, tense (extra inning) game.  Once again, however, you girls came through and did what was necessary to win this game.  The coaches are (once again) very proud of you all!
 
Kudos to:
 

• Meredith, game ball, had a critical hit in the fifth inning to drive in two runs.  For the game, she had a hit and two walks and three runs batted in.


• Kati, game ball, for a double in the seventh inning that was absolutely CRUSHED.


• Megan Murphy, three hits, including a triple, a walk, three runs and two runs batted in.


• Meghan Chambers, had a clutch hit in our four run explosion in the eight inning.


• Taylor, a hit and two walks and made two good defensive plays.


• Julie, a hit and two walks and two runs scored.

 
And last but certainly not least, special kudos to:
 

• Jessica, came in to pitch in the eighth inning and calmly got the outs necessary to close out the game.

 
Great game girls!
 
Mr. B. and Mr. T.
 

Playoff Game vs. Pitt 6/3/2006 (L 2-1)

Girls, even though we lost this game, there is absolutely NOTHING to be ashamed of.  This was a very well played game by both teams.  We, the coaches, are very, very proud of the way you played the game and the way you cheered for each other.
 
Kudos to:
 

• Megan Murphy, game ball, had two of our three hits, with a monster triple and a double and scored our only run.


• Ashley, had the other hit, a double.


• Nicole Troisi, pitched four strong innings, allowed only one run, no walks, three hits, and had eight strikeouts.


• Danielle, pitched three strong innings, allowed only one run, one hit, and had six strikeouts.

 
Remember, this is only our first loss, so we are not out of this yet!  If you continue to play as well as you did today, the probabilities are low that we will lose again.
 
Again, we are very pleased with your effort today.
 
Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Playoff Game vs. Clemson 5/30/2006 (W 8-5)

We win!  Yessssss!
 
This game was definitely a struggle.  Our opponent played us tough throughout the game and even had a one run lead entering the seventh inning.  To your credit, however, you did not give up and got the hits necessary to go ahead an ultimately win the game.  A great comeback, one to be proud of.
 
Kudos to:
 

• Jessica, game ball, three hits in three at bats, including a clutch hit in the seventh inning to drive in two runs.  She also came in to pitch with the bases loaded an pitched us out of the jam.  We probably should have given her two game balls for her efforts!


• Danielle, two hits, both critical.  One hit drove in two runs, the other started the game winning rally in the seventh inning.


• Nicole Troisi, shut the opponent down with three shutout innings pitched.


• Meghan Chambers, had two hits.

 
One game down.  Time to win the next one.  Great game, girls!
 
 
Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Pitt 5/20/2006 (W 8-6)

No surprise, another nail biter again a team that has become our arch-rivals.  For the most part we played a good game; hit when we needed to and got outs when we needed to.  There are things that we can improve on (aren't there always?).
 
Kudos to:
 

• Nicole T., game ball, pitched four strong innings and shut the opponent down.


• Megan Stewart, had two hits and 3 runs batted in.


• Jessica, continued her hot hitting, had two more hits.


• Sammy, had two runs batted in.


• Maggie, on her 14th birthday!  Happy Birthday.

 
Good game, girls.  We now prepare for the playoffs.  The coaches very confident in our chances!
 
Mr. B. and Mr. T.