The Irvington Varsity Softball team hosted their senior night on Tuesday, April 28 during their game against Mission San Jose. Although they lost 5-16, the team demonstrated spirit and resilience throughout the game. The game was also notably a marked improvement from the previous two games against Newark Memorial and James Logan, where the team lost 0-22 and 1-27, respectively. 

After losing ten seniors last year, the team had to start from scratch. From February to April, the softball team practiced diligently, even going out of their comfort zone to fill positions missing from last season. “Two of our players really stepped up to pitch the majority of the season, of which they haven’t had to do for the previous three years,” commented Head Coach Ian Vacin. 

Their league record currently stands at 0-9, but their overall record is 2-10 with a significant win against Tennyson High School during preseason.

One of the biggest challenges the team faced was that a lot of the new players were unfamiliar with the game. “We pushed through it by practicing and working hard,” said Siena Fiorelli (10) who was a returner from last season. 

There was a lack of infield players and an abundance of outfield players, which led to everyone needing to go out of their way to support the team. Yaamini Putti (12) said that as captain, her role was to “make sure there’s a lively atmosphere and no one feels too upset about their mistakes. Everyone’s doing something new, one way or the other.” 

The lively atmosphere was evident in the game against Mission, where spirits were high. Team captain Diya Vacin (12) said that part of what made the games so memorable was “cheering each other on.”

“We’re able to form a team of really cohesive girls that really work together. No matter what the score is, they’ve really got each other’s back,” said Coach Vacin.