Cape Cod Tech Softball Keeps Spirits Up After Early Season Loss

HARWICH – Alex Riker had never coached softball before, nor had he ever coached girls before.

But the Cape Cod Tech softball team needed a coach this year, and at the last minute Riker stepped into the role. 

The Crusaders then began the season with a win. And even after an 18-0 loss Monday to Old Colony, Cape Tech is keeping its spirits up.

 “We’ve got some serious potential, but I don't want to look forward to next year.” Riker said. “I want to play hard this year and keep it rolling.”

Freshman pitcher Alana Harty started the game for Cape Tech. Junior Bailey McMakin relieved Harty to finish the top of the first — after which Old Colony (5-5) led by 12 runs — then pitched the rest of the game. Old Colony catcher Kayleigh deSousa recorded her 100th career hit during the Mayflower League matchup.

Cape Tech dropped to 1-2 with the loss. After the game, Riker’s message to the team was to stay disciplined, that hard work pays off and that playing hard leads to good things happening.

 “Don’t act like the game is over until it’s over,” junior captain Lila Sullivan said. “Just try your best. Just keep it up. Keep swinging the bat. Keep doing what you can.”

Riker also said he told players that, even down 12 runs after one inning, the worst case scenario was they were playing softball on a beautiful day — not such a bad circumstance.

 “No matter how hard you're down in life, the minute you start trying, the minute things start getting better,” Riker said.

The Crusaders, in addition to their first-time softball coach, are a young group. Of the nine starters in Monday’s lineup, five were underclassmen and not one was a senior. Most of the team either played junior varsity or didn’t play at all last year, according to junior captain Kallyn Greaney.

That likely made a season-opening 22-12 win over Mashpee in early April feel all the better.

 “It was good to know that we can work together and pull out a win,” Greaney said. 

Everyone on the team is still learning, but they all help each other out, according to Greaney. They don’t think that just because they won one game, they’ll keep winning, she said.

 “We need to keep showing up to practice and keep trying,” Greaney said.

Sullivan said there were mistakes the group needed to work on through more practice and time as a team.

 “We can win,” Sullivan said. “We have the ability to win. We just need to put ourselves out there and keep trying and keep up our spirits.”