On May 1st, the Softball team celebrated a day full of emotions, excitement, and memories. The team came together to honor their senior players for everything that they have given to the sport and to the team over the years. Together, the team enjoyed a day of celebrating theirhard work, teamwork, and friendships that have made members who they are today.
While the team went into the game with high hopes and drive, Greater Lawrence Tech was able to come out on top, and Malden unfortunately took a loss by 12-0. Regardless of the result of the game, the team did not let that stop them from celebrating and appreciating each other.
Even though senior night marks the end of their high school careers, the seniors have bright futures ahead. Kimora Ha-Trinh has committed to Suffolk University Honors College, where she will be a double major in psychology and finance on the pre-med track with a minor in Youth and Community Studies. Soon, she plans to kickstart her work as an emergency medical technician.
Averi Bell plans to take a gap year to work in the photography and film industry. Ashlyn Cullity plans to attend Elms College, where she will be majoring in psychology and playing field hockey. Zi Jefferson plans to take a gap year to build her art portfolio for a tattoo apprenticeship. After that year is up, Jefferson will be taking college classes for business.
The softball team has demonstrated their support and strong community with one another through their dependency on one another due to the trust embedded in the team’s values.
“Being a part of the softball team means community and a guaranteed shoulder to cry on, or even just to rest on,” expressed Ha-Trinh. “These girls are so welcoming and more than easy to talk to. The comfort felt is through the roof.” Similarly, Bell added, “The thing I will miss the most about being part of this team was knowing that even if we were fighting, they would still be there to support me no matter what.”
For underclassmen, the seniors have left a lasting impression, not just with their athletic skills but also their kindness and leadership. Freshman Harmonie Ortiz, new to Malden this year, said, “The seniors have helped me throughout this season by introducing me to things since I’m new to Malden.”
Every practice and game, no matter the score, is filled with passion and the joy of playing together. “I love when we have games because I feel like we are able to focus more on having fun than focusing on the score,” sophomore Abigail Alexandre said. The best part of the season is not the wins, but the love for the game and the memories they create along the way.
“They encouraged us, listened when we needed support, and made sure everyone felt seen and heard,” sophomore Zayra Garcia expressed. The supportive environment that the coaches and seniors have created has helped the team trust each other and feel comfortable.
The support the players receive extends from teammates to their families and coaches. Ha-Trinh gave a special shoutout to her mother, Gina Tembreza, for always motivating her. “She has so much pride and support for me just playing on the team, giving me motivational speeches and debrief sessions after games. It truly gives me motivation to push for improvement,” said Ha-Trinh. She also recognized coaches Rebecca Krigman and Ashley Laramie for helping her become more confident as both a player and a leader.
“Over the years, they’ve developed not just as athletes, but as people. They’ve matured into confident, disciplined, and resilient leaders who understand the value of hard work, teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship,” Coach Rebecca Krigman explained.
The seniors have made many unforgettable memories on the field. From big wins courtesy of great plays, their time with the team has been filled with moments they will never forget. “There have been a lot of great moments, but last season we lost every game, and it was one of the last games of the season. It was a pretty close game. I got up to bat, bases were loaded, I hit the ball, and we won the game. That was the only game we won that season,” Bell said.
Despite their loss, it is clear that the team will continue to ‘be a pineapple’—pineapples have crowns over their heads—as they always say,” Ha-Trinh concluded.
