Sachems softball eyes state title amid strong season
May 16, 2023
Alex Welch prepares to swing at a pitch in the Middleboro High School varsity softball team’s game against Silver Lake on Saturday, May 13. Photos by Rusty Gorelick
Players and coaches celebrate Mackenzie Conlon (18) reaching first base.
Haley Puzzo bunts to draw the Silver Lake infield out of position.
Players and head coach Dan Sylvia put their hands in to break a huddle on the pitchers’ mound.
Mackenzie Conlon swings at a pitch.
Eva Jenness (16), Middleboro’s relief pitcher against Silver Lake, winds up to throw a pitch.
MIDDLEBORO — With a 12-2 win-loss record so far this season, the Middleboro High School varsity softball team is on its way to accomplishing its goal of improving upon last season’s state tournament championship game appearance.
The Middleboro Sachems lost last year’s championship game 8-5 to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. Impressive wins this season have illustrated the team’s desire and ability to get to — and win — the final game this season.
Big wins for the Sachems this season include a 16-0 win over Norwell High School April 13; a 15-1 win over Carver High School on April 28; a 12-0 win over Cohasset High School and a 16-0 win over Durfee High School, both on May 4; a 17-0 win over Mashpee High School May 9; and a 17-0 win over Rockland High School May 12.
Despite two losses in three days this past week, the Middleboro High School Sachems varsity softball team’s goals have not wavered.
The Sachems lost 1-0 to Greater New Bedford on Thursday, May 11, and 3-0 to Silver Lake Regional High School on Saturday, May 13.
The losses were the Sachems’ first — and only — two of the season so far.
“You’d rather lose now than in the [state] tournament,” Head Coach Dan Sylvia said after the Silver Lake game. “We understand that one game isn’t going to define who we are.”
This team knows what it takes to win: Sylvia said the current group of seniors did not lose a regular-season game in their first season with the program before losing in a regional tournament.
Last year, they lost in the state championship.
They’re now looking to get over the final obstacle and take home the trophy.
“Sooner or later, when you get to the state tournament, you’re going to run into that, and that’s what we need to see,” Sylvia said, referring to the quality of the Silver Lake team.
Sylvia added that Middleboro wants to challenge itself by playing teams in higher divisions, which are categorized by the sizes of schools throughout the state, or based on skill for private school teams.
This season’s Sachems have gotten a win over last year’s champions, earning a 1-0 win against Greater New Bedford April 26.
Sylvia, who is in his sixth year with the program, credited the team’s work ethic as the reason behind its success.
“We have three-hour practices and we get our work done,” Sylvia said. “We only take days off because we have to. But that said, the kids enjoy it. Not one kid complains about practice, not one kids complains about going six days a week.”
The Sachems have one more home game this season at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 22, against East Bridgewater High School. Before the playoffs, they’ll get another shot at Silver Lake on the road in their final regular season game May 24.
