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They’ll get ‘em next year — maybe By Richard Carrier
Mar 19, 2008 Blessed Sacrament Huguenot will not field a varsity softball team this year and perhaps not next year either, according to Athletic Director Mike Henderson. “It’s a decision we made three months ago after the sign-ups,” he said. Only one returning senior, Savannah Duffy, and three juniors opted to play this year leaving a program that had struggled to be competitive over the past few seasons with almost no experience. “We have been playing at the varsity level with a few experienced players then bringing up eighth and ninth graders to fill in the roster and, more importantly, the kids were just not having fun.” This year the decision was made to “restart the program” from the junior varsity level. Although VCC league rules prohibit juniors from competing on the junior varsity, Henderson revealed that at least one is practicing with the junior varsity in anticipation of returning to varsity competition next year. “The Athletic Department is very sorry that Savannah Duffy and the juniors are not going to be able to play this year. It was a decision we felt we had to make, but it was not a decision we made lightly,” Henderson stated. But he was cautious in his evaluation of the program’s immediate future. “They (the juniors) may be able to play next year, but it may take two years to put together a competitive program. We’ll just have to see how it goes.” Again he stressed the desire to see that the young players developed the skills necessary to be competitive and have fun. As an adjunct to this desire, Blessed Sacrament has found a potential gold mine in coaching changes. Chris Stewart, a solid player during her years at Longwood University, was originally hired to coach this year’s varsity, but agreed to guide the junior varsity instead. Former Richmond Christian head softball Coach, Vicki Robben brings her years of experience to the Preps team of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders. Junior varsity girls will play a full ten game schedule this year and the prep program will play six. Senior Devon Batterson, a four-year starter on the BSH basketball team, held down an infield position for three years. Her reason for not returning this year echoes Henderson’s concerns. “For the past few years it just hasn’t been fun and this year I decided not to even try,” she said. (2) Comments • Email This Article |