After a good season in 2022 and making it to the playoffs, the Elmira High School softball team is excited for the start of the 2023 season.
The softball program hasn’t had a junior varsity team since before the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the JV team has made a comeback this year.
Head coach Paul Witt talked with Falcon News about the new season.
Question: What made you want to be a coach here at Elmira?
Witt: “I love sports, and I wanted to do something that would help me connect with my daughter.”
Q: What does a typical practice look like for the team?
Witt: “A little fun and a lot of hard work.”
Q: Do you feel confident about this upcoming season?
Witt: “I am confident that we are a young team that is going to be much better by the end of the season.”
Q: Even though you have a young team, do you think they will compete well?
Witt: “I believe if they continue to grow into the game physically and mentally, we will be competing for the top spot in our league this season.”
Q: Are you happy that the softball program has grown and had enough girls for a junior varsity team?
Witt: “A junior varsity program is essential for the growth of Elmira softball. Not only does it help train those less experienced players into better softball players, but it also gives opportunities to those who may not have participated in team sports before.”
Q: What is your favorite part about game days?
Witt: “Setting up the field. I have been setting up that field for 14 years. It gives me time to think of my game plan and reflect on the scenarios that may occur and my response to them.”
Senior Veronica Hanson, junior Dayshah Conklin and sophomore Layla Burgess have been named captains for the 2023 season. Falcon News talked with a couple of them about the season and their goals.
Q: What position will you be playing?
Hanson: “Third base.”
Conklin: “Left field.”
Q: Are you excited for this upcoming season?
Hanson: “Yes, I’m excited because it’s fun to play, but I am not excited because it’s my last year and if we do bad I’m not gonna enjoy that.”
Conklin: “I’m excited because I love this team with my whole heart. It’s the one team I feel like I belong on, and I’m excited to get closer with everyone and laughing and having fun while doing a sport we love.”
Q: How do you feel about your captain-ship this year?
Hanson: “I feel very overwhelmed, but also I feel confident that I can assist the younger girls and help them feel more comfortable playing.”
Conklin: “I am excited, but I don’t think being a captain is as important as being a good teammate.”
Q: How are you a leader on your team?
Hanson: “I would say I am a good communicator when it comes to the younger girls.”
Conklin: “I think I am a good leader because I am someone you can talk to about anything whether it be about softball or other things. I am a good listener, and I will always be there for my teammates.”
Q: What are you looking forward to most about this season?
Hanson: “I am looking forward to traveling with people on the team and getting to know my teammates better.”
Conklin: “I’m looking forward to improving in softball and spending time with my favorite people.”
Q: What’s your favorite part about game days?
Hanson: “I look forward to hanging out with my teammates on game days.”
Conklin: “Probably traveling with the team.”
