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Staff Photo by Emily Dudash

Outfielder Katie Pugh prepares for any hits to come her way.

After their first-place win in last year’s Northern Athletic 4A conference, Wakefield’s softball players are determined to work hard and maintain their record. So far this season, the team has a 90 percent win rate and is 2-0 in their conference. 

The team’s coach, Danny Inscoe, began coaching 19 years ago and is just as dedicated as the players are when it comes to motivation, enthusiasm and teaching his girls to play hard. 

“I enjoy coaching female athletics in general because I feel like they don’t get the recognition they need,” Inscoe said. “They play a little harder and differently to prove themselves.” 

In addition to his admiration for the girls’ determination, Inscoe also believes that having fun while playing is just as important as playing well.

“You can bust your tail and work hard, but if you’re not having fun, you’re going to burn out,” Inscoe said.

Keeping with that theme, he ensures that his players enjoy their practices. 

“I typically try to incorporate some kind of fun warm-up before we go into stretching and throwing,” Inscoe said.

When it comes to victories, Inscoe says that the team doesn’t talk about it – they simply work for it.

“We don’t talk about winning. We know if we do the little things, it will take care of itself,” Inscoe said. “When we do lose, we view it as an opportunity to reflect and grow.” 

Sophomore Brianna Riehle appreciates her coaches’ support both on and off the field, even through the more difficult aspects of playing. 

“The biggest challenge this season for me has been making sure my mindset is in the right place every game,” Riehle said. “But my favorite thing about the softball team is how supportive the coaches are in season and out of season.”

Assistant coach Robyn Dembisky works to see the team grow, succeed and overcome challenges.  With any sport, it is easy to become extremely self-critical about your performance, especially after a game doesn’t go as well as you are hoping. The coaches work to confront these issues and provide a safe space for their players. 

“[We] provide players with direct feedback and allow them time for self-reflection,” Dembisky said. “[We] remind them that softball is a game of failure, it is very hard. [We] remind them that we as coaches believe in them and put them in situations that we believe they will be successful in; however, they are not expected to be ‘perfect.’”

Motivation is a key component of the success of the softball team. While there are many different motivators, for sophomore Aniela Piscorik, two things stick out: her teammates and coaches. 

“Knowing my team and coaches are behind me all giving one hundred percent on the field motivates me to do my part and play my best,” Piscorik said. 

On the field and off the field, Wakefield’s softball team constantly puts in the work to be successful. Whether practicing plays on the field or working out in the weight room, one thing is certain: the softball team is a force to be reckoned with.

“We work to ensure that we are putting the best team on the field versus our opponent each day. We work to develop our players physically and mentally. We spend time as coaches reflecting on team needs for practice focus and any adjustments we may need to make,” Dembisky said. “The girls do all the hard work.”