2024 Friars Softball Season Wrap

[Emily-Anne Patt]

Team!  

I can't believe it's time to say farewell to another Friars Softball Season; it's been a fun one. For those who couldn't be with us this Tournament, we played a brilliant defensive game against #4 Virginia Tech and came one inning away from the upset of the century. We handled Auburn in a full-squad win. And we don't talk about the Catholic game, but let's just say we gave it all we had.

We won off the field, too, obviously. Pits and peaks were shared, highlighting some of our favorite moments of the season individually and as a team...Big East Tournament, that W over North Carolina...and of course we gave out our individual awards. This year's theme was the Olympics; if you didn't get your award at the Banquet, please see E-A sometime for it. 

Congratulations to our MVP, our All-Around Champ, our Simone Biles: Aidan

Silver Slugger (400 IM): Pete

Softball Pentathlete: RePete

Gold Glove: Ben

Staff Ace (The Turkish Pistol Shooter): Tim

Rookie of the Year: Julia

Our Flag Bearer, Heart & Hustle: Burke

Mr. Ambassador: JR

Mr. Fundamentals: Mark

Ms. Reliable: Allison

Speedster (100 m Dash): Alvaro

Pommel Horse Guy: Allin

Breakdancing Breakout Star: Meredith  

Steeplechase: Patrick

Teammate of the Year (8-Person Rowing): Alexa

Don't Call it a Comeback: Greg (and his return to the pitching mound)

See You Next Season (Olympic Baseball): Matty

Rising Star (a la Olympic Skateboarding): Tess and Ken

It's on to 2025! 

And now some closing notes from your coaches: 

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Another season has come and gone! We lived, we laughed (I'm pretty sure I cried), and we loved. My only thought to close it out is a message of gratitude. 

To our rookies, thanks to each and every one of you for showing up ready to play every week. You guys were awesome on and off the field and I sincerely hope we'll get to see you again next spring. Jurphy and Tessica are here to stay (we can work on nicknames for Aidan, Mark, Ken, and Tim). 

To our vets, thank you so much for making this team's culture what it is - incredible. Week in week out, you guys made it a team that was such a privilege to play on, and you happen to be excellent at softball. I don't want to dwell on how our season ended, so we'll just say the countdown to the 2025 revenge begins now.

My happy place will always be out there on the diamond with my pals, and I couldn't find a better group than this one.  Catch you all on the flip side.

Paddy 

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Seventeen seasons of Friars Softball under my belt and there's nowhere I'd rather be all summer long than on a softball field with you all. Eight of those 17 have been as your coach, which has been an honor I treasure. The 2024 Tournament with our Elite 8 appearance is one of those feelings I will never forget--it took the best from each one of us to get there. 

With that, it's time to pass the torch! If you would like to join Paddy in leading this team through its next chapter, please let him know. And if you have questions about what it entails, I am happy to answer anything. 

I could not be prouder of the team that wears that black and gray to step on that field each week for these last 8 years. The next iteration is going to be great fun--can't wait to see what y'all do with it! 

Love,

E-A