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Scalf’s return to softball fuels team’s fire

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April 22, 2010

Nick Pelini

They hit, they slide, they score. They are Hoban’s softball team. The numerous starters coming back along with Scott Scalf’s return to coaching hope to inspire the team to lead a special run.

“With Scalf coming back, everything is good all around,” sophomore Nina Parri said. “He is the teams’ role model.”

First team all-state pitcher Lauren McNeil returns this season for her fourth year of starting. McNeil believes this season presents one challenging obstacle.

“This year we have a younger and more inexperienced varsity team so making it to states is going to be a challenge,” senior pitcher Lauren McNeil said.

Many returning players such as honorable mention all-state Jessacca Gironda, second team all-NCL Chelsea Evans and NCL Coach of the Year Mitch Wagner aspire to lead the team to overcome the lack of experience. McNeil feels these core players can strengthen the team as a whole.

“We get along great off the field but we need to play with that same chemistry on the field,” McNeil said.

Wagner thinks that the young team still has work to do, but this group is eager to improve.

“Definitely we will learn from our mistakes,” Wagner said. “We need to overcome adversity, learn and continue to get better.”

Last season, the team won the North Coast League Blue Division with an 11-1 league record and hope to repeat as champions this year. Trinity, Holy Name, and NDCL are the team’s most likely to challenge the team for the league banner.

Scott Scalf’s return to coaching serves to inspire the team this year. After suffering a brain aneurism last season, Scalf will be back to coaching the JV team and assisting with the varsity squad.

The inexperienced team will have to grow up quickly if a successful season is to emerge. So far the team has compiled a 3-2 record. The next game is tonight against Holy Name at 6 PM at Brookside Park.

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