Blue Devil Softball Honors Seniors on Special Day
The Huntington varsity softball team is in transition as many underclassmen have been rapidly promoted in an effort to rebuild the program and put it on a stronger footing. But, while the roster features numerous younger players, the six seniors on the squad have paid their dues and members of the group were feted on Senior Day following the last home game.
The Blue Devils honored seniors Samantha Conte, Rachel Evans, Janelle Fore, Esmeralda Hernandez, Kelsey Jamison and Annie Trousdell. Head coach John Walsh, assistant coach Jim Byrnes, junior varsity coach Maria Canino and underclassmen players took turns speaking about each of the teenagers while their parents and family members stood nearby in tribute.
“Playing softball this year has given me way more opportunities than I originally thought it would,” Ms. Evans said. “In the beginning of the season I thought I’d just be playing any old sport and staying active in a fun way, but as the season quickly draws to an end, I see now it’s much more than that. It’s been an opportunity to make new friends, including the coaches; to learn and grow as a team player and be a part of something great. Leaving my teammates and moving on to college is definitely not going to be easy, but all I can do is cherish the moments we’ve all shared together and hope everyone’s had as much fun as I have.”
Ms. Evans is headed to Los Angeles Pierce College in California. “I can honestly walk away from this season saying, ‘Wow, I wish I had tried out freshman year,’” she said. “I sincerely thank my teammates and coaches for helping me to learn and grow this past season and if there’s something I’m going to miss about Huntington once I leave for college, it’ll for sure be its softball team.”
Ms. Fore plans to attend the University at Buffalo in the fall. “Playing softball has been a great experience for me,” she said. “I have made great friends that are practically family, so it will be especially difficult for me to leave at the end of the year, but I know I will be back in the future to visit.”
The Blue Devil seniors will soon head off in many different directions for college, but the Huntington softball program will always connect them to each other.
“Ever since I was young, I have always had a strong passion for playing softball,” said Ms. Trousdell, who is headed to Binghamton University. “Starting the sport at the age of seven, I have grown from Little League softball to Huntington varsity softball and though it has been a rough journey with battered legs and bruises, I have gained many friendships along the way as well as sharpening my skills. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my coaches, family and friends always cheering me on and though it will be hard leaving them all for college, there is no doubt in my mind that I will visit and see them all again.”
While no one argues that this has been a very trying season for both players and coaches, the seniors all found something positive to focus on as they near the close of their high school careers.
“Playing softball for Huntington has been nothing but superb,” Ms. Conte said. “I really do love the sport and love the people I’ve gotten to play with these past four years. It didn’t matter what was going on in school, once I got to the field I was able to just clear my mind and play softball with some of the greatest people Huntington has to offer. Walking away won’t be too hard for me though, as I still keep in touch with a majority of last year’s graduating class of seniors, so I will be able to do the same for the friends I’m leaving behind. Not to mention I’m only an hour and a half away by train at the Stevens Institute of Technology, so if this team does something big, and I know they can, I will be back cheering them on. I’m going to miss it though, especially Coach Walsh and Coach Byrnes, who have both helped me understand the game better and what it means to be an effective coach. I wouldn’t trade these years for anything.”
Ms. Jamison has been associated with Blue Devil softball for many years and she will miss it, too. “Huntington’s softball program means a lot to me,” said the senior who plans to attend Farmingdale State University before ultimately transferring to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “We might not win a lot of games, but everyone on that field becomes my family. Win or lose we stay together like a family. I can rely on these girls to cheer me up when I’m down or even when I’m happy. Leaving this program is going to be hard. I’ve played in it for the past six years from Finley through the high school. Even though this is going to be hard, I’m not worried about not seeing my ‘family.’ We all hang out all the time and that’s what makes us a strong group of athletes.”
While she is headed to SUNY Maritime College, Ms. Hernandez’s thoughts will return to the Blue Devils on a regular basis. “Playing on the softball team for Huntington was a great way to relieve stress and have a good time with my friends,” she said. “Playing on the team meant building on our weaknesses through our tough season. Although we’ve only won two games, we’ve been able to maintain confidence and put up a fight. It’s definitely going to be hard leaving because I was privileged to make lifelong friends.”
The Blue Devil roster also includes four eighth graders, a sophomore and a junior. Coach Walsh is hopeful the team is on its way to a more successful future and the graduating seniors can always remember that they played an important role in the program’s turnaround.