Westport softball preview

Wildcats gain experience in loss to Holbrook

Photos and story by Richard W. Dionne Jr
Posted 4/18/18

Westport softball gains experience in loss to Holbrook

Despite getting whooped by Holbrook 21-3 in the second game of the season, the Westport High School softball team held their heads up high as …

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Westport softball preview

Wildcats gain experience in loss to Holbrook

Posted

Westport softball gains experience in loss to Holbrook

Despite getting whooped by Holbrook 21-3 in the second game of the season, the Westport High School softball team held their heads up high as they walked off the field. The young Wildcats have just four seniors on the team, a couple of underclassmen and a bunch of middle schoolers. 

“We are a young team and we are trying to figure things out. I think that we are going to get better as the season goes on,” said Wildcats Head Coach Monique Jones.

“The kids are great,” said Assistant Coach Mike King. “They all have a great attitude. They didn’t care what the score was, they were just cheering the team on. That’s going to be a huge benefit for us as the year goes on.”

Holbrook scored three runs in the first, three in the second, four in the third, seven in the fourth and four in the fifth. Westport scored one in the third, one in the fourth and one in the fifth. The game was called after the fifth inning. The Cats are now 0-2 in league play.

“We hit the ball well today. All of the girls made contact. The team is going to come along. Defensively, we are working out positions. We had two seniors out, so we had to adjust to fill the void,” said coach Jones. “It’s difficult mixing the younger players with the older players. The seniors need to set a good example for the younger players. You have to find a balance between them. The team needs to respect one another. Some of the younger players are starters. So we have to find that balance.”

The Team

Seniors Ashlie Thatcher, Aleah Cateon, Shania DosSantos and Zoe Lopes look to provide needed experience and leadership to the young team.

Thatcher is the Cat’s pitcher and hits third in the lineup.

“She was hurt and couldn’t play her freshman and sophomore years,” said coach Jones. “She hurt her arm her freshman year and was out with a concussion her sophomore year. She pitched last year as a junior. She was the team’s starting pitcher last year.”

Aleah Cateon plays first base.

“She played varsity last year. She’s a good infielder,” said coach Jones.

Shania DosSantos plays second base.

“She is a solid second baseman and she is a strong team leader. She bats in the middle of the lineup,” coach Jones said.

Zoe Lopes plays center field and right field.

“She played junior varsity as a sophomore. She’s new to the team,” said coach Jones.

Eighth grader Abby Macedo is the team’s shortstop.

“She’s very strong. She played very well defensively today. She is a good hitter. She had a single and hit the ball hard today,” coach Jones said.

Seventh grader Jordan Therault plays center field.

“She hits the ball well. She hustles. She knows what she is doing on the base paths. She has a lot of skill and she’s just going to grow,” said coach Jones.

Seventh grader Sarah Edwards plays left field.

“She hit the ball really well today,” said coach Jones.

Other team members are, sophomore infielder Maddie Collins, catcher Arianna DosVais, infielder Paige Churchill, infielder Cheyenne Smeaton and outfielder Charlotte Ronan.

Skill level appropriate

Assistant coach Mike King said that the team is skill level appropriate for the team’s age.

“When we take into account that we have seventh and eighth graders going up against juniors and seniors, it’s a maturity difference more than anything,” he said.

“As the season goes on you really find out what the determination for the team is and what their work ethic is,” said assistant coach King. “You have a game like today when things really didn’t go your way. Some of the younger players might get really turned down by this, but the players who are going to be prepared to play for the rest of the season will bounce back and be ready to play tomorrow. I think that’s going to be one of the most important things for the team.”

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.