The Fairfield Lady Eagles Softball Team enjoyed a win for their first home game last week, 8-3 over Buffalo.
The 2020 season marks some big changes for this team, including a new coaching staff.
Coach Kerry Hand retired last spring, after leading this team for 22 years.
Stepping up to the plate now is Coach Josh Stephenson. He served as the Assistant Baseball Coach for the past 2 years, was the Assistant Softball Coach for 2 years prior to that, and has also coached the following sports at both the high school and junior high: football, track, and basketball.
This marks Stevenson’s seventh year of teaching and coaching at FISD, with a resume that includes head softball positions in Hubbard and Clifton, as well as an Assistant Coaching position and advancement to the regional final with Robinson.
Coach Stephenson works closely with assistant coaches Dennis Johnson and Jermaca Brown. They are primarily focused on team concept and of course hope to have a successful year.
The three have implemented a new incentive for all players, in accordance with their motto, “Expect to Win, Make It Happen.”
After each game or tournament, the coaches will select the player that worked the hardest on being a teammate.
It may not be the strongest player, the best hitter, or the MVP. It will be whomever had the hard-working mentality, the one that supported their team the most instead of trying to be the best athlete.
This coveted “trophy”, a hard hat, is presented by the previous winner.
The idea came to Coach Stephenson after he read, “The Hard Hat”, by John Gordon.
The 2020 Lady Eagles are working with each other and working hard for each other.
Reporting and Photography by Shae Garcia.
