BY SAPNA PATHAK
Christine Bourque knows what she needs to do: add some consistency to her program and help set the foundation for next year’s Bow High softball team.
But she just isn’t ready to do it.
“I haven’t had the same lineup all season long,” said Bourque. “Not one consistent lineup. I need to just take that chance and put players where they’re strong, and if they make mistakes, I have to trust they’ll bounce back.”
With 18 players on the roster, Bourque said the idea of finding a solid group of starters has become more difficult than expected. With a 5-6 record as of Tuesday, May 15, the Falcons have seen their share of mistakes this year.
The Falcons dropped a 5-1 decision to Pembroke Academy on Wednesday, May 9, before coming up with wins against Oyster River and Kearsarge.
Against the Spartans, Bow’s lone run came in the seventh inning when shortstop Lauren Allison reached base on a single, moved to second on a passed ball and came around to score on Maddy Wilkinson’s RBI single.
Bourque said a lack of communication has plagued the Falcons in their losses. Inexperienced players filling in for struggling veterans didn’t solve the Falcons’ problems either.
“Have my big players come up short? Yeah,” said Bourque. “But that’s not mistakes, that’s them having quiet bats when we needed hits. When I put in girls with no varsity experience, are you gonna see mistakes from inexperience? Yes.”
Focusing on the goal of not losing to the same team twice, the Falcons have a chance to avenge setbacks to Bishop Brady and Merrimack Valley. Bow was scheduled to face Bishop Brady on Wednesday, May 16, and ends its season at Merrimack Valley on Wednesday, May 23.
Despite the bumps, Bourque said her expectations of constant improvement haven’t changed.
“We don’t have to be perfect, but we have to get better,” said Bourque. “I was seeing higher things this season. I thought there were games we could’ve won, and we didn’t. Does that mean we failed or I lower my expectations? Absolutely not. I know what they’re capable of.”