After finishing last season with a disappointing 10-24 record, Suffolk University’s softball program looks to hit the ground running with new coach Megan Cook..
“It’s been pretty exciting since I’ve gotten here in September. I think this season our goal is to always compete, work hard, and have fun. Something I’ve really been preaching with my players this year is being connected and forming that connectivity on and off the field,” said Cook.
One of coach Cook’s main focuses as the Rams head into the season is putting last season’s results to the side and focusing on the year ahead.
“I’m trying not to think about last year too much with them. I’m trying to get them in a more present type of mindset. Whatever happened last year was last year, and whatever is happening here, now and today is our focus,” said Cook.
Starting this season with a new coach has created a sense of optimism in the team as Cook is quickly being welcomed to the Rams..
“We all love coach Cook, she’s amazing. She brings out the best in all of us, she helps us be hungrier and want to win more. She shows us our potential and pushes us towards it. She’s really family-oriented and big on culture, and that helps us,” said All-CCC second-team pitcher and outfielder Ava Brandow.
Coaching isn’t the only thing changing with this team though, as all three of the team’s captains from last year have graduated. Brandow believes that the upperclassmen will do a great job of filling their shoes this season.
“We all have so much personality, we all have so much energy. What’s so great about having so many different types of personalities is we’ve all stepped up in a way and we all bring that energy on the field in a different way,” said Brandow. “I think everyone as a whole has stepped up and that helps us bond together more because there wasn’t one person who was appointed, we all molded together and took that role.”
Although Cook has only been the coach of this team for a few months, the thing that’s stood out to her most about this team has been their coachability.
“They’re so receptive and they’re so willing. They’ve been a really great group to work with. They want to grow, they want to improve and they want to fight,” said Cook.
Starting March 8, the Rams will start their season with The Spring Games down in Florida. They’ll be playing teams they don’t normally see during the season, but coach Cook looks forward to the challenge.
“We have a little bit of a tougher schedule, but I think it’s going to be a good challenge for them. I think we have some pretty strong key players on this team who are going to come in and do some big things. We have some key players who are going to go all out which is going to be really unique to see as we continue to build this culture,” said Cook.
Although a lot has changed from last year, the team is ready for a fresh start and is looking forward to competing.
“There’s so much potential. We have a great freshman class and I feel like starting on that new page, even though that can be a hard thing to learn how to work together, I think we’ve done a really good job with that,” said Brandow. “I think we’re finally at that point where we have a really good balance of being on the same page, wanting to compete, being great teammates and aligning our goals together, which is really important.”
This fresh start brings a sense of optimism as they’re no longer 10-24, but rather they’re 0-0 with an entire season ahead of them.
“I think we’re going to have a really successful season and I’m really excited about it. I’m excited to see how everything goes with having that stronger desire to win now,” said Brandow.
