Archbishop Wood stays focused through progress

HATBORO >> Progress is measured in many different ways.

It’s indisputable that Archbishop Wood’s softball team has made a lot of progress this season. Having just clinched the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs, the Vikings are hoping their year of growth continues.

Head coach Kevin Rosini is only his second year, but in short order, Wood has put itself on the map.

“Last year we had good players but we didn’t play as a team as much,” senior outfielder Jess Atwell said. “We had some drama and we are a team that comes across a lot of really weird injuries. We came across a lot of struggles but we’ve been able to adjust to everything.”

After grinding out a 4-3 walkoff win over Archbishop Ryan Monday, the Vikings are 11-6 overall and 10-2 in Catholic League play. Last year, in Rosini’s first season, the Vikings finished 6-10 overall, 6-6 in the league and ended their season in the PCL quarterfinals.

Now, they have a chance to host a quarterfinal, chase a league title and have an inside track to representing the league in the District 12 Class AAA title game. Most of the change has been internal, like Atwell said, having the players come together to work toward a goal.

There was also one big external change when pitcher Marisa Browne transferred into Wood from St. Basil. Taking over as the No. 1 pitcher and throwing 99 innings so far, the sophomore has been tremendous for the Vikings.

“There wasn’t any one moment,” Browne said after Monday’s win. “It’s been the team doing all the little things and coming together to build momentum and get back up.”

Wood has five seniors this season. Besides Atwell, Katie Barrett, Hannah Kolmetzky, Kirstin Wilson and Andria Nasiri have helped the Vikings take a big step from a year ago. Wilson plays right field, Barrett is a rock-solid shortstop and Nasiri bats cleanup and holds down first base while Kolmetzky fills any role needed.

Offensively, the one thing Rosini keyed in on was strikeouts. His hitters struck out far too often and in far too many key spots last year, so that had to change. Monday, the Vikings struck out just once as a team and all season have shown an ability to collect plenty of hits.

“He’s helped us gain our confidence,” Atwell said. “None of us really had it at that level but he’s really been encouraging with us and showing us we can do it.

“Last year was a lot of strikeouts, but we’ve been more aggressive at the plate and hoping for the best.”

Atwell said this year’s group is close and has a lot of trust in each other. Browne said that she has a lot of faith in her defense and she feels like she’s not alone trying to do it all herself from the circle. Monday, Wood showed that off in the top of the seventh inning, intentionally loading the bases with one out.

Browne then got two groundballs to Barrett and the senior made two great plays, first throwing out a run at home then getting the force at third to end the inning.

“We have to keep doing what we’re doing and not let up,” Atwell said. “We can’t get cocky, but have to continue to play with confidence. Every game we’ve come with the thought we could win or could lose so we have to fight for it.”

Coming off some tough years with bizarre injuries and agonizing losses, Atwell said she didn’t see this team letting its record get to its head.

“My freshman year on JV, we won maybe one game,” Atwell said. “It’s crazy to go from being nothing to a team that other teams may be fearing.”

Rosini said he sees more great things in the future for his team but like his senior outfielder said, it will only accomplish those things if it stays focused on what’s directly ahead.

“We have to keep putting the ball in play, we have to keep making things happen, we can’t get flat,” Rosini said. “If we can do that, get our offense a little bit more, I won’t try to predict how we’ll do in the playoffs, but we’ll be a tough team to knock out.”