ATHOL — Two things come to mind when it comes to the Class of 2018: Fortnite and Post Malone. For the Athol varsity softball team, more of the latter than the former, however.
“Ball for me,” said senior Hannah Lajoie when asked her favorite Post Malone song.
These anthems are heard prior to most home games and before practices. But however grim it may sound, Monday might have been the last time these jams will float through the air and to the ears of this year’s graduating class before taking the field for a softball game at Athol High School.
“It’s bittersweet,” said senior Amber Mahony. “I’m excited to move on to bigger and better things in my life.”
The Red Raiders played their final home game of the season on Monday against the Belchertown Orioles. And it’s most likely the final home game for the team, even if it qualified for the postseason, which it will qualify for with one more win.
The Red Raiders have four seniors on this year’s team: Lajoie, Mahony, Kaitlin Baptista and Destiny Wrigley. All four stated that they’ve really enjoyed playing together. They also enjoy playing for their coach Sharon Chauvette.
“They all started playing with me at the (junior varsity) level, some of them played eighth grade, so I’ve had them four, five years now,” said Chauvette. “They’re a good group of kids. We’ve always had a really good relationship, I do my best to get along with the kids. I’m sarcastic with them. They get my sarcastic humor, which is nice. But they’re definitely going to be missed. They’re good kids and I’m proud of them.”
All four seniors came to the varsity level at different times.
Mahony has started on the varsity team for several years, playing center field almost every game this season. Mahony went 3-for-4 with three runs in her final game on her home field and has hit .351 her senior season. She also held starting roles on the varsity soccer team in the fall and girls basketball team in the winter. Mahony played a large leadership role on this year’s softball squad. She often made sure the bench was loud for every at-bat and was the last one there cleaning up the dugout postgame.
“Probably arguing with Sharon and giving her a hard time,” laughed Mahony about her favorite memories out on the softball field. “Everyone is sarcastic. We all mess around with each other pretty bad, so we’re all kind of close. We’re all kind of funny and we just mess around with each other.”
Wrigley was a role player on last year’s team. She stepped into a starting role this year and has hit .346 so far this season. She leads the team in runs (22) and has played a combination of second base and shortstop for the Red Raiders. She started the season in the leadoff spot and later moved into the cleanup role, batting fourth in the lineup. If she had to choose between shortstop and second base, though, she would pick shortstop.
“There’s more balls hit there than second,” said Wrigley.
Then there’s Lajoie, who played right field during her first year on the varsity squad. It is unconfirmed, but Lajoie might not have the ability to frown (joking, of course). Lajoie always has a smile — in the dugout or on the field — after making a play or a hit. Lajoie has seven hits this season. Her most memorable game might be against the rivaled Mahar Senators, where Lajoie went 2-for-3 and one double and one RBI.
“We all just work together,” said Lajoie. “It’s just fun. It gets us pumped up for each game.”
Baptista has sported many different hats this season (figuratively, of course). She has pinch ran numerous times this season and pinch hit several other times.
“The most fun for me, playing wise, has been running the bases,” said Baptista. “Just playing with everyone overall is just really fun for me.”
She made a play on a line drive right to her in right field during the first inning of Monday’s game. Baptista is hitting .287 so far this season in 11 at-bats.
“My favorite memory is playing with the seniors overall and having Sharon as my coach,” said Baptista. “I guess that’s just been the best of it for all four years that I’ve been here.”
All four seniors will attend college in the fall. With the team at 9-7 as of Monday following the team’s win and in need of one more win to qualify for the postseason, the group of four seniors could be playing softball even after they graduate. Which only means one thing: someone queue up Post Malone.