Finley Softball Struggles to 1-8 Mark
Eighth graders Cassidy McCann and Emily Shutman were standout players, but the J. Taylor Finley Middle School softball team struggled this past spring, compiling a 1-8 mark under longtime head coach Nancy Colon.
"This Finley team had a lot of heart," Conlon said. "They came, they learned and they had fun." The 18-player squad was captained by McCann, Caroline Petrozzo and Samantha Conte.
McCann was the team's pitcher, who hurled all nine games. Shutman was Finley's full-time catcher. "Cassidy is a good pitcher, who plays her position well," Conlon said. "It was very rarely that a ball got by her. She's great at bat, as well."
Shutman developed into an outstanding catcher this year. "Emily is an amazing catcher," Conlon said. "She gets in front of everything and has a strong arm. She threw out many girls at second base [trying to steal.] She can hit, too."
The Falcons' lone win came when they topped Elwood, 20-10. "We finally came out swinging," Conlon said. Looking ahead to next year, there are six current seventh graders eligible to return as eighth graders, providing Finley with some veteran talent.