By: Ryan Tigro

The Girls’ 2009 Softball season continues the long line of success they have had in years past. Finishing the regular season with a 10-9 record (9-9 PAC-10), the girls moved on to face Saint Basil in the District playoffs. After winning 2-0, they played top-seeded Nazareth . After their impressive playoff stint last year and the return of key players, the girls look to make it far in the district and even state competition.

Senior leadership provided the team with a competitive edge. Seniors Ruth Jasienski, Kacie Nemeth, and Miranda Peto, along with juniors Molly Ferguson, Lauren Granese, and Katie Kelly held down key roles on the team. Senior Captain Ruth Jasienski, a softball veteran of thirteen years, was particularly pleased with the season. “There were a lot of ups and downs. Beating Boyertown [one of the top teams and a AAAA school] and just the senior experience was very gratifying,” Ruth recalled of the season. Ruth is going on to Towson University next year and is considering playing softball there.

The team has veteran coach and former PAHS teacher Coach Bogus, who has been coaching softball for 20 years, along with assistant coach, Coach Devlin, to be grateful for a successful organization.

There are plenty of things that the Girls’ Softball team is thankful for, even though they were consistently hindered by rainy days and indoor practice, as well as many injuries to players and the lack of a junior varsity team to provide depth. There was also a hole with the loss of Coach McLaughlin who moved on to be head coach for Perkiomen Valley. Despite all the setbacks, the girls made the best of the season. Be sure to congratulate the girls on a great season.

What are your feelings on the season?

I feel that the season went very well for having such a small and young team. It probably could have been a little better had we a little less injuries, but overall it was pretty good. Myself personally, I had a good season head to head in the pac-10 but it wasn't my most stellar season and it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Districts was a bummer too.

Positives?

There were alot of positives mainly getting to run with my close friends and being able to watch the team develop.

Plans for next year?

I'll be attending Shippensburg University majoring in either exercise science or some sort of engineering. I will be running there also with the opportunity to recieve a scholarship