D-S Softball Team Hoping To Make It Back Into Tournament Play This Year

The Dover-Sherborn varsity softball team made it to the state tournament last year after going winless the year before. This year, head coach Jen Picardo is hoping they will make it back into tournament play as they prepare for their first game of the season on Friday April 8.

Last year, the team finished with a 7-13 record with all seven wins coming against Tri-Valley League opponents.

“I think last year we made a lot of good progress. We were coming off a season where we hadn’t won any games the year before so seven [wins] was a huge accomplishment for the kids,” Picardo said.  “A little bit better than last year, that’s what we want to be this year.”

Picardo said that the thing they are focusing on in spring training is getting better at swinging the bat.

“The TVL has traditionally got a lot of strong pitching from teams like Bellingham, Ashland, and Hopkinton. So we’re really focusing on our hitting, getting around on the ball and being able to execute when we need to,” she said.

“There’s a lot in spring training. I think you’re trying to cram everything you need to know for the start of the season in. So you’re looking at hitting, your looking at fielding, your looking to get your pitchers back in shape to be able to go every couple days and to go long periods of time,” Picardo said. “Hitting is really the big thing for us. We’ve got to get back into the groove of getting back into hitting form.”

Picardo said her girls are excited to get the season going.

“We’re anxious to get it underway,” said Picardo. “We have a good group of kids coming back that know what they’re doing, know what to expect and are working hard and are looking forward to the season.”

Their first game of the season is on Friday at Norton High School.

“Everyday we come out here and you want to be a better player than you were the day before,” Picardo said. “I think these kids see the benefit of the hard work they’re putting into it and I think they’re up for the challenge.”