The 2018 Deer Isle-Stonington softball team includes, in front from left, Kaylee Morey, Brie Limeburner,
Kaley Eaton, Kristin Thompson and Deja Benner; back, assistant coach Amber Jones, Makayla Lebel, Taylor
Hardy, Abby Stinson, Haley Hardy, Danielle Montoya and coach Darian Gove. Missing from photo are Amy
Friedell, Sailor Eaton, Katie Hutchinson and Grace Morey. By Monique Labbe
By Jack Scott
Deer Isle— Softball coach Darian Gove is optimistic about this year’s. With 14 players coming out, we have good numbers and a good spread of experienced players with a solid freshmen presence. Overall, Coach Gove is excited for this year’s team to improve on things from last year. Many of the players will be at multiple positions, especially early in the season.
Amy Friedell and Danielle Montoya are the two seniors, both of whom should spend time in the outfield. The juniors include Abby Stinson (captain) at second base and catching, Kristin Thompson (captain) at third base, Kaley Eaton at outfield and first base, and Haley Hardy at outfield.
The sophomores include Brienna Limeburner at shortstop and pitching, Katie Hutchinson at first base and pitching, Deja Brenner at outfield, and Sailor Eaton at outfield. Brittany Gray is injured this year and will help Coach Gove as manager. The freshmen include Kaylee Morey at catcher, Grace Morey at first base and outfield, Taylor Hardy at pitching and infield, and Makayla Lebel at outfield.
Coach Gove feels that this group is very team oriented and work together very well on and off the field through team building activities. She is also very happy to have Amber Jones as an assistant coach who brings collegiate level experience to the team and relates well to the players, giving them invaluable advice.
Coach Gove feels we will have a varied offense with skilled players able to hit the ball hard, and players who bunt and slap that ball as well. With many of the experienced players who are returning from last year along with a freshman class with a strong skill set, we are looking forward to a successful season. We should undoubtedly improve on the season last year where we just barely missed the playoffs.
Without any preseason scrimmages, we have had to practice real game situations with our own team. This is a motivated group and I expect them to be well into the playoff hunt at the end of the season. The big challenge for any softball team is to have a consistent pitching staff, which we will need to develop.