As the 23-24 spring season starts, the Osbourn Varsity softball team starts off strong with a 6-6 overall from their past games and is placed fifth in the Cedar Run district tournament. The team’s roster has a total of 16 players, and 6 of these players are new additions to the team this year. Last year their season ended in 6-13 overall, so the team plans to make a comeback this season and strives to make it to the top of district play.

Although softball is a very mental sport when it comes to the amount of rules and the different plays, many people enjoy playing the game and watching from the sidelines. The lineup consists of 9 different players who play the infield positions known as catcher, pitcher, shortstop, third base, second base, and first base. Then, there are 3 outfield positions known as left-field, center-field, and right-field, “I play first base and what I do there is catch the ball on the base to get the runner out when it’s hit to the infield.” said sophomore, Mackenzie Fitterer. Fitterer is the starting first baseman and bats fifth in the lineup.

“I play shortstop for school ball and center-field for travel ball. At shortstop, I am in charge of the infield, and I inform my team what the play is when the batter hits the ball. At center-field, I back up overthrows to second base and I catch any fly balls going into the outfield.” said freshman, Lilly Donahue. Donahue is the starting shortstop and bats third in the lineup.

Softball is not the only thing going on during the school year for the team, many of the players participate in other Osbourn sports such as track, cheerleading, basketball, field hockey, volleyball, and wrestling. The off-season is a time you get to catch up on school work, rest, and train for the upcoming season, “My life is different during the off-season because I don’t get to see my teammates and stuff and I have more free time even though I wish I could be at softball practice,” said freshman, Adrianna Willard. Willard plays volleyball in the fall and is the girls basketball manager, “I sleep a lot more and hang out with my friends,” said senior Haylyn Gatewood. Gatewood does shotput for Osbourn along with softball.

The Osbourn softball team has a very strong lineup this season and plans to work hard to make it to the Cedar Run district tournament, but what are some of their goals on the way?

“My goal is that the team learns how to be a cohesive unit. Trusting each other and themselves, learning and growing together,” said Coach Kidwell. Kidwell is the head coach for Varsity softball, “My main goal for this season is to at least stay up high in my batting average and to at least get one home run for my freshmen season.” said Donahue. Last year, she hit an inside-the-park home run at Metz Middle School.

Game days are very fun for the team, you get to do your hair cool for the game, put on eye black, and maybe add some glitter on top, and the pregame music is always fun. “My favorite hairstyle for game days is probably a ponytail with a bubble braid. It keeps the hair out of my face and it’s cute,” said Willard, “I prepare for games by listening to whatever music I’m feeling that day and just tuning out everything except what’s ahead,” said sophomore, Maya Mira.

The four years you have in high school will go by very quickly, and continuing the game into college is always an option for a player at a D1, D2, or D3 level. Osbourn softball already has a D1 commitment to Delaware State University,  Rhyannon Stanley. But does anyone else hope to achieve the same thing?

” I definitely have thought about it. It would be amazing to continue to learn and excel at a sport I love,” said Fitterer.

“I don’t plan to play softball in college because I really want to focus on the academic part of college and not have too much stress on my shoulders with sports. It would be really cool to get an offer or something like that though,” added Willard.

Let’s take a look at their season so far, and join them at their upcoming home games!

2/29/24: Osbourn beats Annandale High School, 11-5.

3/12/24: Osbourn defeats Gar-Field High School, 11-1.

3/14/24: Osbourn beats Mount Vernon High School, 12-2.

3/15/24: Osbourn rematches Annandale and defeats them, 19-0.

3/21/24: Osbourn lost to Patriot High School, 1-19.

4/5/24: Osbourn lost to Battlefield High School, 2-9.

4/8/24: Osbourn beats Unity Reed High School, 17-0.

4/9/24: Osbourn loses to Osbourn Park High School, 2-10.

4/15/24: Osbourn loses to Hylton High School, 2-4.

4/16/24: Osbourn lost to Freedom South Riding High School, 3-13.

4/18/24: Osbourn loses to Potomac Senior High School, 3-6.

4/19/24: Osbourn beats Park View High School, 19-7.