This season’s goals are clear for the Eastside Catholic fastpitch team.
And if anyone forgets, a reminder isn’t far away.
Attached to every players’ bag is a laminated card with a set of nine objectives for 2010.
“I think the most important one is that we’re always giving 100 percent attitude, effort and energy in everything we do — practice and games,” said first-year Crusader head coach Angela Napier.
Eastside Catholic certainly has the right core of veteran players to point it toward its goals.
The team returns three seniors from last year’s team, which finished fourth in the Metro League.
Leading that group is Boston College-bound pitcher Ronnie Mae Ayers. Second baseman Danielle Ulrich will secure the right side of the infield and center fielder Angela Lattanzio brings leadership to the outfield.
The Crusaders also return an experienced group of juniors and sophomores led by shortstop Alex Johnston.
“If you just watch how she plays out there, she’s mechanically fun to watch,” Napier said.
Caitlin Courshon, Monica Cuaresma, Missy Alleman and Desiree Mix also return to the team.
Eastside brings in a group of five talented freshmen led by pitcher and infielder Courtney Brown. She is expected to immediately contribute with her bat and glove.
“She’s somebody to be reckoned with,” Napier said. “She’s got four years of great things ahead of her.”
Freshmen catcher Shannon Deccio, infielder Lauren Johnson, outfielder Jessica Boyd and outfielder Naomi Heikkinen also join the team.
“(They’re) positive and determined,” Napier said of her team. “I think we’ve got a great team camaraderie. They’re eager and they’re willing to learn.”
While its her first year at the helm, Napier, who coached at Skyline for three seasons until 2006, is well aware of some of the Crusader’s struggles to push through the district tournament the past few years. But, with the attitude this year’s team brings to the field, Napier likes their chances of pushing it to that next level.
“We’re just going to get it done,” she said. “It’s a new season.”
