The Marjory Stoneman Douglas softball team honor Chris Hixon before the field lightning ceremony.
By: Matt Rothman
After a terrific run to regionals in 2019, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas softball team had planned on getting back there before things were cut short due to COVID 19.
The Eagles played eight games and won four of them against a very competitive schedule. They beat Pembroke Pines Charter 1-0, which was a team that won 22 games in 2019. They also won their other three games, outscoring their opponents 44-1.
Many of the seniors made an impact and were starting to hit their stride as the season went along. However, they were unable to have their senior day.
Fortunately, four girls will continue to play softball at the next level in college: Sierra Damiani (Suffolk University), Abby Dowd (Ava Marie University), Samantha Diaz (Franklin and Marshall University), and Jordan Ratner (Young Harris College) as well as three other seniors this season.
Head coach Brian Staubly though, could not be happier for the team and how they dealt with adversity throughout their whole high school career.
“I am proud of how they dealt with it all. Every one of them is moving on to continue their education. They are special young ladies, and I enjoyed coaching them.”
Damiani was a two-year varsity player who played with MSD as a sophomore and a senior. She played in eight games this year and had four RBI’s scoring five runs after occasional playing time during her first year.
Dowd played three years on the varsity team and had her best season as a junior, nearly hitting .400. She finished first on the team with nine doubles and fourth on the team with RBI’s. Dowd was off to a strong start again this season, hitting .344 and can play multiple positions next season for the Gyrenes.
For Diaz, she performed well on the field and was named BCAA Scholar-Athlete for her work off the field as well. She was also one of the go-to arms for Staubly for each of the past three seasons. Diaz had 12 wins in her first two years and contributed well at the plate this year with two of the team’s six home runs.
Ratner was the lone four-year player out of these seniors who also hit for power with five career home runs. Like Dowd, she is a solid defender and can play all around the infield. In her time with MSD, she helped to contribute 68 wins as well as two District Championships and a Reginal Finals.
The final three members of the senior class are Amanda Gomez, Jill Anderozzi, and Nicole Healey. Gomez had an incredible 2019 season with a .488 batting average and will be heading to Broward College for their nursing program.
It was Anderozzi’s first year with the varsity team with a pair of hits in seven at-bats, and Healey had one hit in three at-bats this season. Anderozzi will be attending University of Central Florida next year, and Healey will be going to Johnson and Wales University,
Despite the shortened season, four freshmen gained valuable experience. The team also will have three girls likely returning to the program next year for their senior year.
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