Conestoga softball squad hitting at right time

Berwyn – The Conestoga High School softball squad has won five of its last six games (as of Tuesday), including victories over Daniel Boone and Springfield (Delco).

With five games left in the regular season, the Pioneers (8-6 overall, 7-4 Central League), under first-year coach Pete Ricci, are in control of their own post-season destiny.

“The biggest difference between the start of the season and now has been our hitting,” said Ricci. “In our win over Springfield, we did just about everything right. They are a solid team and we just outhit them. That game gave our kids a lot of confidence. Hopefully we can maintain that.”

Conestoga senior co-captain Emily Conaway added, “We have definitely been hitting better now than at the start of the season. I believe that has given our team some confidence and self-belief that we can win games over good teams.”

Conestoga’s new found confidence comes as no surprise to Ricci, who believes one of the biggest hurdles a new coach faces is having a senior laden team buy into a new philosophy.

Ricci said, “Our senior leadership has been solid all year. They have set a great example for the younger kids and I have never had to say anything. They have encouraged the younger kids and today was a great example. Freshman Faith Walker started her first varsity game and everyone had her back.

“Sometimes it can be hard when a new coach is hired but they have been great about letting me do my thing.”

Conestoga freshman center fielder Olivia Cepielik said, “Our senior leadership has been really important. We look up to them and they have showed us attitude is everything and that can be the difference between winning and losing.”

With a senior laden line-up sprinkled in with key younger players, the Pioneers hope the adversity they faced early in the season will pay dividends as the regular season comes to a close.

“I would love [to make the district playoffs],” said Conaway. “This is the closest team we have had in my career, and that has do with the example former standouts (Monica) Hood and (Dani) Leibowitz set. I looked up to them and now that I am a senior I don’t want to see my season end.”