Every other week this softball season, Archbishop Molloy senior shortshop/pitcher Maria Palmeri will give us an inside look at her team’s quest for a second straight CHSAA state title. In her exclusive diary for NYPost.com, the four-year varsity player will chronicle the completion of her high school career before heading to C.W. Post to play softball next fall.
This is finally it, the end of my senior year. Four years on this team has flown by so fast.
I’ve watched so many people come and go, and now it’s my time to leave. This Friday is going to be OUR Senior Day. Myself and the other five seniors will be moving on to college after this year. That is a scary thought for us.
Senior Day will be emotional for us as well, without a doubt, but it’s also a time for us to look back on everything we have achieved during our time here at Molloy. It’s been a long journey, and it’s finally starting to sink in. I’m realizing now that my high school career, as a student and an athlete, is coming to an end. But this also marks the beginning of my college life [at C.W. Post], as well as the life I’ll lead there on after.
It seems like only yesterday I was a freshman coming into Molloy. Although the memories of my school year with all the classes and homework are now a blur to me, I remember my softball career very clearly. I remember trying out for Coach [Maureen] Rosenbaum and immediately being welcomed by the girls. I grew so close to the girls that first year, including the seniors.
I remember the first Senior Day I attended. Watching these girls I had come to know so well and played beside all year depart from the team was really sad. The following years were the same. Girls I had gotten to know so well and depended on playing beside all year were leaving the team. I’ve gotten so used to watching people go, I had almost forgotten that this was MY year and now it’s my time to move on.
This year has been a journey in itself, just like every other year has been. I’ve watched each of the girls come a long way. We’ve had our ups and downs this year. From our hard-fought victories to our upsetting losses, from our healthy players to the injured ones, including myself, we’ve always been able to bounce back from all of our “downs.” We have all managed to really mesh together as a team.
At this point in the season, I think we really are the strongest we have been as a team. We are an entire team of sixteen healthy and strong girls. Our hitting has been great, and our defense has been outstanding as well. I really think over the course of the season we’ve really come together as a team. Throughout all the trips, games, and practices, we really got to know each other and grew closer. It really has been an enjoyable year. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of my senior year.
Win or lose, I’m still happy with our team and all of our achievements. The team really has made playing my senior year worth it and I’m hoping we can complete it on the highest note possible for us. Whether that be as two-time state champions or not, I’ll still be proud to call myself a Molloy varsity softball player.
Even though my teammates will be watching me move onto college after this year, I am sure I will be keeping up with the team after this season and watching them do great things. And next year, I look forward to coming back and seeing them off to college when their Senior Day arrives.
Check back with Maria Palmeri every other Thursday during the season. Her next diary will run May 17.