OOB will not field softball team this season

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — There will be no joy on the softball field at Old Orchard Beach High School ”“ this year at least.

Due to a lack of players, the Seagulls will not have a varsity softball program during the 2012 season. Old Orchard Beach Athletic Director Jack Trull said the program will return next year, but because only seven players were healthy enough to begin this season, a varsity schedule couldn’t be played.

Trull gave several reasons why there were not enough players for the varsity program, most notably, injuries to players that will prevent them from starting the season. Some players also switched from softball to other spring sports, such as track or tennis.

Old Orchard Beach head coach Nikki MacDonald said that, with spring being so close to summer, potential players have many different factors on their mind, beyond the playing field.

“I didn’t have any freshmen come out,” MacDonald said. “I had to rely on the veterans to come out as they get older. Softball is a tough sport to coach anyway, because it’s spring, the prom, work, the beach, finals, graduation, college. We’re stretching them already so thin. I think by spring time, they’re burnt out. They had a really successful soccer and field hockey season. They had a really great basketball season, and they’re all the same girls.”

On the field, play may not have been a factor ”“ the Gulls had six wins last year ”“ but the team is forced to take on Class B teams on the schedule and have trouble competing against the next level of competition.

“We only play Richmond and Buckfield for D schools,” MacDonald said. “Then it’s Traip (Academy) and Sacopee (Valley) for C schools. We can’t play the same two teams all year long.”

MacDonald said their only option is Class B, because the Mountain Valley Conference is not available to Old Orchard Beach.

“I think something has to give. I’d like to say my girls are competitive, when they’re on, they’re on. But it’s hard to play against schools that have three teams, and they cut (players), have feeder programs, train in the offseason. It’s an uphill battle.”

Trull said the seven remaining players have the option of playing other spring sports, including baseball. They cannot, however, play softball for a nearby school, such as Thornton Academy or Scarborough. The season is fast approaching ”“ the first game of the softball year begins Thursday. Rosters are set for freshmen through varsity teams, and there is not any room for Old Orchard Beach players.

“The problem is the numbers,” Trull said. “Thornton Academy is already cutting kids in that sport. If it was a sport like cross country, or track, adding a few more kids wouldn’t be an issue. A game like softball is a whole different issue.”

Trull said he will give the program until today to find three more girls to play. If they can find three more, they could play a junior varsity schedule for the spring.

This is not the first time that the Seagulls have had to shut down a varsity program. Trull said the Seagulls suspended the girls soccer program “four or five years ago,” but returned the following season. Old Orchard Beach has had success since, making it to the Western Maine Class C semifinals last fall.

There is still softball at the middle school level in Old Orchard Beach, giving a possible future for the program. MacDonald, an Old Orchard Beach graduate and former player, said she is looking forward to having softball back next season.

“I’m an alumni, this is my 11th year coaching,” MacDonald said. “This is almost like my legacy that is falling short this year, for whatever reason.”

Under the Old Orchard Beach school budget, head coaches are paid per diem. Trull said MacDonald will be paid for the three weeks she’s served as the head coach for this season.

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