The Valley Regional softball team recently held its annual end-of-the-year banquet where the Warriors presented their awards for the 2016 season. Left fielder Kaleigh Caulfield was named Valley’s Most Valuable Player, while fellow senior captain Katie Amara took home the Sportsmanship Award. Sophomores Grace Martorelli and catcher Rylee DaRe were the recipients of the Coaches’ Award and the Warrior Award, respectively. Freshman first baseman Olivia Kollmer was named Valley’s Most Improved Player. Mackenzie Toler won Most Improved honors for the JV team and fellow freshman Grace White received that club’s Sportsmanship Award.

On the season, Head Coach Ken Wilson’s club posted a 6-14 record this spring. After starting the year at 2-9, Valley played better in the second half of the campaign, winning three-straight games and four out of five at one point to remain in the postseason conversation. Valley’s six wins came against Old Lyme (forfeit), Old Saybrook (14-1), Career (11-8 and 11-3), East Hampton (17-5), and Portland (6-5).

“It was difficult to get any momentum in the early part of the season due to injuries and weather. This season, by far, was the craziest and most unbelievable challenge that anyone could have imagined. We did not play for over 10 days in the early part of the season because of rain. As a result, we were slow to get going. The Shoreline Conference is a tough conference to compete in and you need to bring your A-game against the likes of North Branford, Morgan, Coginchaug and Haddam-Killingworth, to name a few,” Coach Wilson said. “[But] with every play and game, we improved defensively and offensively. This was very noticeable in the [second] Branford game [a 3-2 loss that followed a 23-0 to the Hornets earlier in the year] and the Portland game and we started to work better together as a team. [Also], a couple of freshmen who were inserted in the lineup started to feel more comfortable playing in each game.”

Valley was led by Caulfield, who was named Second Team All-Shoreline Conference for the second year in a row. Caulfield batted .323 with 15 runs scored, 10 RBI, and had 21 hits with three doubles and a triple.

“This player was a force for the team both offensively and defensively. She is a three-year starter who has played one position in her career,” Wilson said. “She plays every game like it is her last one. She leaves it all on the field every time. As I told my fellow Shoreline Coaches, she plays with no fear, lays out when needed. There isn’t a ball that she doesn’t think she can catch or field. Will run through anything to get to a ball. She is also an excellent offensive player and a threat whenever she steps to the plate.”

Amara finished the campaign with 16 hits, including two triples, with 11 RBI, and 10 runs scored en route to batting .267. Amara was an All-Shoreline Honorable Mention selection.

“[Katie] always has a positive attitude, whether at practice or during games. She understands the balance between being a teammate, captain, and friend on and off the field,” said Wilson. “She is always encouraging her fellow teammates in all situations, but can be vocal when necessary. This player has been an exemplary teammate her four years in the softball program and has a high regard for sportsmanship.”

As the season wore on, the Warriors benefited from significant contributions from their younger players. One of those athletes is sophomore backstop DaRe, who had a great year at the plate by posting a .345 average and scoring 13 runs to go along with 19 hits, nine RBI, and four doubles.

“She laces up her spikes, goes out, and does her job,” Wilson said of DaRe. “She is all business on the field. Although she has and still is nursing a shoulder injury, she never gives up or gives in to it and perseveres. If you ask her if she is okay...she says, ‘I’m fine!’”

Junior shortstop Julia Jenkins stepped up her game to hit .278, score 12 runs, and knock in nine with 15 hits, including two doubles, two triples, and a home run. Sophomore center fielder Alex Figuenick hit .281, had 11 RBI, and a team-leading six doubles. Right fielder Bonnie Caulfield, also a sophomore, had six RBI and three doubles. Junior pitcher and third baseman Morgan Bakoledis had eight RBI.

Valley also made huge strides in the field this season as the Warriors had four players with a fielding percentage of more than .900. Caulfield led the squad with a .967 percentage, Amara and DaRe tied in second at .957, and first baseman Kollmer finished at .934. Coach Wilson had glowing remarks regarding Kollmer’s performance.

“When [Olivia] joined the team this year as a freshman, she probably had no idea that she would be thrown into a starting position. She used a borrowed glove and made the most of it,” he said. “She was a sponge. She listened, learned, and implemented the instruction she was given from coaches, as well as her teammates.”

Wilson also shared his thoughts about Coaches’ Award winner Martorelli.

“This player has an extremely positive attitude. She will play any position on the field to help her team and would probably rake the field if she was asked to,” said Wilson. “Her sportsmanship and encouragement to all players and coaches was appreciated by all.”

The Warriors are graduating just three seniors off this season’s squad in Caulfield, Amara, and Leslie Clapp. Coach Wilson said that he and the Valley softball community will miss each member of the trio.

“Coaches, players, and teammates say good-bye to three exceptional seniors. They will be missed on and off the field by all of us,” Wilson. “They are an extremely smart group that will represent their school and community well in their lives and pursuits ahead. It’s hard to believe they are seniors and they are about to enter the next phase of their lives. I am always sad to see seniors leave. They are special in all our hearts.”

Although they are losing three great leaders, the Warriors are returning 18 kids for the 2017 campaign and will also welcome a class of incoming freshmen.

“The future of the program looks bright,” Wilson said. “There were nine new players who joined the program this year. There are approximately six incoming freshmen who play softball. Next year’s program will have 15 sophomores and freshmen combined. We will be a young team. There are a combination of pitching and position players that will compete for starting positions and playing time at all levels.”