With a 16-1 victory over Antietam in the second game of a doubleheader sweep on May 1, the Brandywine Heights High School softball team clinched another division championship, and now await the Berks League playoffs to start.
‘Everyday the team is working to get better and it is a pleasure to watch,’ said Head Coach Don Roach. ‘They’re beginning to work well with each other and communicating better with their teammates about game situations.’
The season started out ominously for the Bullets with a 10-5 non-league loss to Minersville. But after that they reeled off 16 straight wins, with most of them being by a large margins. In those 16 games, they Lady Bullets outscored their opponents, 179-25.
Coach Roach cites several reasons for the success of the 2013 squad. Simply put he believes in the players he has on his roster.
‘There’s a solid core of athletes that the team has been built around,’ said Coach Roach. ‘They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm, as well as a strong softball IQ. There are several players who are like coaches on the field to help with communication and different situations.’
As is the case in many successful high school softball teams, pitching is the key, and Brandywine has a gem in Megan Olsen. She has earned the decision in all of Brandywine’s games, shutting out her opponents seven times, and allowing just one run four other times. The senior will most likely be named to her fourth All-County team in four years.
‘Megan is just a quality person with a lot of upside. She is arguably the hardest worker on the team and has proven that by earning All-County accolades three years in a row at two different positions,’ said Roach. ‘With that said, she understands the past is the past and what counts now is the next pitch. Her overall attitude is fantastic. She is a role model for our team.’
The team attitude is another thing the coach likes about this year’s team. The Brandywine Heights softball program has seen nothing but success in recent years. In fact, over the past seven years, the Lady Bullets have a overall league record of 75-1.
But this is not a team that will rest on its laurels. In fact, it’s not a team that will look to the past. Its main concern is this season.
‘The overall mindset of the team is that when we work hard to be competitors we will be successful,’ said Roach. ‘As a team, we have never had a conversation about our record, our standing in the division, etc. We talk about being competitors first and softball players second. Everything else will fall in place. The team understands that they can only control what is right in front of them and everything else is out of their control.’
What is in front of them now is the league playoffs. Last year the Bullets lost in the championship game to Daniel Boone, getting that close to their goal. But that’s not what they’re worried about. Next on their mind is the Berks County quarterfinals. Only after that game will they focus on the semifinals. It’s a one-game-at-a-time mantra for Brandywine Heights. They’re hoping it will get them a league championship – and maybe a little bit more.
