On the last day of tryouts, coaches met individually with athletes to deliver team decisions. Less than 24 hours later, an email was sent to the Junior Varsity (JV) team explaining they had cut the team due to the lack of players.
With frustration from not making Varsity, several athletes collectively decided they would rather not be on the team at all then play on JV. Nine players are needed to start a game in softball, and at first, the team had about 14 athletes. After several members quit, the team was down by one person.
“We are disappointed and sad to have to send this email, but we are not able to field a JV team this season,” explained Lisa Demmell, head varsity coach in an email. “We want you to know that we did not foresee this problem.”
Prior to this message, another email was sent asking players to accept their position on the team. Several athletes declined the offer, leaving coaches and remaining players confused and with no other players to field the team.
“When I found out I was surprised,” Freya Heyman, a freshman who expected to play on the JV team, said. “And honestly I’m disappointed. I was excited to represent our school and play with my friends.”
During tryout week, athletes were graded on a scale of one to five. Determined by their strengths and weaknesses, the score told them what team they made. At the end of each practice, coaches asked the athletes their thoughts about their own performance.
“For those who attended the optional practice, we were told then what team we made. The coaches told us their thoughts about our performance and why they chose to put us on what team,” Devin Barnes, a Varsity pitcher explained.
As for next year, coaches are expecting a “possible” JV team. The Class of 2030, our incoming freshman, are expected to have several strong players to fill the JV and Varsity teams.
“We obviously want to have a JV team with players that are willing to work together,” said Alicia Hawks, the expected JV Coach, “I am hopeful for the new players coming in from Sandburg.”
Despite the canceled season, some players are continuing to stay active in softball by joining other leagues and participating in other sports during the spring season. Most athletes plan to try out for the team again next year.
“I’ve already joined Mount Vernon Magic, which is a travel team,” Heyman said. “I am also on the spring track team.”
Coaches from both Varsity and JV spent hours discussing what they thought would be best for the team. Removing the team completely, with the hope of having one next year, was what they decided on.
“Not being able to have a JV team this year even with all of the talent was a hard decision to make. There was unfortunately not enough to make a roster,” Alicia Hawks, JV head coach, said. “They [students] were upset, and I was too. It was difficult telling the players who wanted to play that it wasn’t possible this year.”
