It was a spring season that never happened.
While folks throughout Franklin County have been impacted over the past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, we here at the Recorder sports department have decided to honor all the senior student-athletes who were unable to participate in spring sports. Practices and games were canceled, championship trophies weren’t able to be chased, but the graduating seniors throughout our coverage area still deserve to have their stories told and be honored.
We will recognize all eight of our MIAA schools over the course of two weeks, with senior rosters, photos and information about them all.
We continue today with Pioneer Valley Regional School’s seniors. Here are their stories, as told by their coaches:
Seniors: Noah Keith, Jacob Quinn
After reaching the postseason with a team featuring seven freshmen a year ago, the Pioneer baseball team was hoping to use that experience as a springboard into big things in 2020.
This year’s edition of the Panthers had just two seniors, though both were expected to lead the charge for head coach Jordan Branson’s up and coming squad.
“From a coach’s perspective, there could not have been two better young men to lead,” said Branson of the senior pair.
Keith was slated to set the tone both on and off the field, and Branson was excited to see what he could provide as one of the few upper class options.
“Noah is an overall incredibly strong athlete and a five-tool human being,” the skipper said. “He possesses the ability to lead by example with his work ethic on and off the field. His strong dedication to hard work and commitment to success are things that even coaches must admire and learn from.”
Quinn has been a mainstay in the Pioneer lineup for several years, and he’s fresh off a junior season where he batted .492 and averaged more than a run, an RBI and two stolen bases per contest. He would’ve been a key contributor on the mound or in center field.
“He is the kind of player who makes other guys better,” began Branson of Quinn. “He doesn’t do it with dramatic speeches or intimidation. He makes his teammates better by playing the game the right way. I could never tell at the end of a game if Jacob was 5-for-5 or 0-for-5. He was as even-keeled as a ball player can be, with wisdom of the game beyond his years, knowing that even having an 0-for-5 day at the plate, he could still contribute to his team’s success.”
With Keith and Quinn out front, Branson had no concerns about leadership with this year’s roster.
“They’re similar in that they would have made a strong leadership core to bring the younger teammates up to their level,” he said. “With these two leaders, Pioneer baseball was prepared for more than a run at a Western Mass. championship. We were ready for two outstanding young ballplayers to show us how they will approach life in the future with positive attitudes, team work and humble acceptance of success as this is inevitable for two such incredible guys.
“My heart goes out to all spring athletes who lost their final seasons, but especially to Noah Keith and Jacob Quinn. Good luck in the future.”
Seniors: Abigail Briggs, Anneka Johnson, Aliyah Kimball, Samantha Martinez
A late-season surge in 2019 gave the Pioneer softball team some momentum heading into this spring. But when the season was canceled last month, the senior class was unable to build off that strong second-half stretch.
Still, the Panthers’ four-member Class of 2020 left their mark during their time in Northfield, and head coach Tina Riddell said she will miss having the quartet around the program come next spring.
Third baseman Abby Briggs has been a consistent presence across the Pioneer athletic catalog, and Riddell said her contributions on the softball diamond were immense.
“Abigail made great strides, came up in clutch spots helping with big hits to help us win games,” Riddell said. “She is a great person who will go great places in her life. She will be missed, her attitude is spectacular.”
Two-year captain Anneka Johnson is someone Riddell wished had gotten a chance to play a senior season. Johnson, who played for Riddell when she was the JV coach and worked her way up to varsity, was slated to be a captain and play second base this spring.
“Annie always found a way to get on base and her head first dives were amazing,” Riddell lauded. “She has an enthusiastic attitude with a huge heart. She will be successful in her future. Annie was a bright player even since her eighth-grade year playing for me (on JV).”
One of the sparkplugs on the Pioneer roster was Aliyah Kimball, who Riddell said would’ve seen time in right field and as an important pinch runner this spring.
“Aliyah was always ready to play wherever I needed her,” the coach said. “Her attitude was peppy and always busy, she works real hard on and off the field, always kept me on my toes, always made me snicker.”
Rounding out the class was Sammie Martinez, who was expected to see time at third base and in the outfield this spring for the Panthers.
“She was always pleasant and always finding ways to make amazing plays,” lauded Riddell. “She was enthusiastic when in games, always hyped up. She gave it her all and always made me smile.”
Seniors: Brian Bodenstein, Gavin Johnson
Just two seniors on the boys track & field team for coach Jim Bell.
Bodenstein, a captain, was slated to compete in the distance events — 2-mile, 1-mile and 800 meters — while taking part in the relays as needed and chipping in on the long jump pits.
“Brian is the type of individual that whatever the coach asks him to do, he says, ‘OK,’” Bell offered.
Bodenstein is a National Honor Society member who is also in the band, Spanish Honor Society and Air National Guard.
Johnson was penciled in for a variety of events, including the 100, 200 and 400, as well as the javelin and long jump.
His extracurricular activities include acting in the school plays, and he will attend Greenfield Community College to study business and graphic arts.
Senior: Jennie Fuller
Just one senior on the girls track & field side of things, as captain Jennie Fuller was slated to compete in the 100 meters, javelin, discus and 4×100 relay.
A member of the National Honor Society and Senior Class President, Fuller, who stars on the field hockey team, will attend American International College and study nursing.