After a two-week break, the Deerfield softball returned to action on Wednesday at home against Suffield. The time off gave players the opportunity to focus on their batting against various pitching speeds and experiment with new positions. The quick rain shower during warm-ups only fueled the excitement for the game.
Suffield jumped out early with two runs in the top of the first, but Deerfield answered right back. Maggie Garbarino ‘27 got on base with four straight balls. Kiely Kinchla ‘28 moved her to third, and Nicole Lefavour ‘27 sealed the run, slamming a double to left field. Haley Abraham ‘25 then moved Lefavour to third, and Lexi Rohan ‘25 followed up with a clutch RBI single to keep the momentum going.
Despite the solid start, Suffield’s strong hitting lineup proved tough to contain. A handful of defensive errors allowed them to extend their lead. Regardless, the Big Green had some stellar plays of their own which deserve to be recognized. Kaylin Alverez ‘28 made several impressive long throws from third to first, where Izzy Kirby ‘26 – channeling her goalie instincts – secured every catch. Vic’Kaysha Rivera ‘26 made a couple on-the-run grabs in right field, saving numerous potential runs from coming in.
In the bottom of the fourth, Lexi Rohan showed the team wasn’t done yet. Leading off, she smashed the first pitch deep into right field and flew around the bases. As the ball sailed past third, she got the green light and sprinted home for an in-the-park home run!
Though the final score favored Suffield, it’s great to be back on the field competing. With renewed energy, the team looks ahead to Saturday’s home game against Stoneleigh-Burnham.