When the 2020 season began, Mingus softball coach John Brown told a young Marauders team that he’d look at the ensuing three seasons as essentially one long season broken up into three parts. As we know now, the first part of that season was cut short. Now with the second part upon us, the Mingus team is ready to make a statement.
While many teams embrace the underdog role, the Marauders know that it does not apply to them. They know that expectations are high. Now, with more than a year having passed since they were in action, they’re eager to finally get a chance to meet those expectations.
“We’re extremely eager,” junior pitcher Alexis Ayersman said. “We’ve all been so excited to come back onto the field and work hard for what we want.”
“Most of us have played together for almost all of our lives so I know we have really good chemistry,” junior infielder Ella Behlow added. “There are people working at different positions but I still feel like we’re picked to win — so we’ll be doing good.”
Part of the reason for the high expectations is that very little was lost from last season. Four seniors, including captain Dylan Sweeney did graduate in 2020. But for the most part, the team that had its season cut short in 2020 will look very similar to the one taking the field in 2021.
Ayersman and Behlow are two parts of a roster that features very few holes on the diamond. Outfielder Mallorie Copeland is a senior leader on the team.
The Marauders are strong in the ever important battery positions, with Ayersman and fellow junior Marissa Vocca throwing to sophomore catcher Sydnee Stapleton. But those are just some players on a full team that Brown feels has essentially no weak spots.
“They look good,” Brown said. “We’ve only had a week to work on stuff but they’ve been playing all summer. So they look fine. We just have to work out some of the plays and strategies more than anything. They’re all good players. We have a good core of 9-10 girls that are really solid.”
One of the advantages for softball (and other spring sports) this year is that while capacities will be limited and masks and social distancing will be required, fans will be allowed. This is a contrast to the winter sports season, which allowed only parents until the final games.
The Marauders hope that fans do come out to watch them play, helping them reach their lofty goals in the process.
“We’re a hard working group and we want support,” Vocca said. “We feel like we can go all the way and we really want that fan base that can keep us going during the games.”
“I feel like we are going to make up for last season,” Stapleton added. “People should come out to watch that.”
One of the advantages for the Marauders this year is that it’s not make or break for most of this group. While there are seniors on the Mingus team, most of the core players will be coming back to the team in 2022.
But while Brown knows that two seasons still remain in his three-year plan, he also knows that this team may not have to wait to achieve its ultimate goal.
“We want to win a state championship,” Brown said. “That’s what we want to do. It’s kind of a two-year run but we want to get as deep as we can this year. We’re going to give it heck. I think we’ve got a shot. I think this is a special group. They’ve been special since they were young. I’m hoping that they’ll finish out what everybody expects them to.”
