Marion softball relishes bonds during ‘roller coaster’ season

MARION — The Marion softball team has a really close bond.

“When we are together this season, we are like family,” said Michaela Goad, a senior shortstop for the Wolves who has a batting average of .500.

Outfielder Kasia Hahn, also a senior, shared similar thoughts.

“I just love everybody, it doesn't matter what grade they are from,” she said. “I just feel like we are all really close.”

According to Hahn, one of the main reasons she continues playing softball is the bond she shares with the team.

Mya Chamberlin is a pitcher and plays first base. She is a senior who, although only joined the team last year, has grown close to her teammates.

“I went from a different high school to this high school and I think this team is a lot closer,” she said

Due to their close bond, teamwork is very important to the Wolves.

Sophomore Grace Whalen, an infielder, said, “I don’t care if I ground out and a teammate gets in. I just want what's best for our team.”

These girls have helped each other improve ever since they started playing together. However, they all agree their coach, Joseph Swanson, has helped build them into what they are today.

“He is a coach for everybody,” Goad said.

According to Goad, Swanson is very encouraging and always there to help.

Swanson also urges the older girls to be welcoming toward the newer ones.

“He definitely pushed us seniors at least, to step up and try to help the younger girls,” Hahn said.

Swanson has been coaching at Marion for two years, but this is his first year as the head coach. He doesn't care as much about winning as he does about his team improving.

“It’s all about getting better, one day at a time,” he said. “If that’s a game, we gotta get 1 percent better. If it’s practice that day, it’s getting 1 percent better.”

Swanson also likes to build confidence within his players.

“You gotta keep reminding them of the good things they are doing,” Swanson said.

Overall, according to Swanson, the season has been a “little bit of a roller coaster,” but the team believes it soon will start winning more. The Wolves are 11-11 at batting .303.

“I think we are good at getting on base and we just need to continue to move those runners in,” Chamberlin said.