DeWitt Clinton isn’t hung up on its past success or worried about an unclear future. All fifth-year head coach Rich Eaton preaches is worrying about is the present.
Despite winning six PSAL Bronx A titles in the past seven seasons, Eaton knows that this team is in a rebuilding phase and the Governors aren’t carrying a single senior this year.
“This team is different because it’s new,” Eaton said. “I’m stressing to these girls that the past is the past. We’re not gonna take it one game at a time, but instead we’re gonna take it one play at a time.”
Clinton has only one of four returning players maintaining the same position in junior second baseman Alondra Soroa, who will be penciled in for the leadoff spot. Junior Maguette Fofana is also returning, but rather than playing leftfield this year, Eaton has converted her to be the team’s main starting pitcher.
“We are very lucky to have a new pitcher in Maguette,” Eaton said. “She worked so hard over the summer that this isn’t going to be as much of a rebuilding year as I had thought.”
Fofana pitched for the City Divas in the summer and also plays on the basketball team, but squeezed in pitching sessions with Eaton twice a week before practice.
“It’s been hard work,” Fofana said about switching to pitcher. “All I had to do was keep working hard and it worked out. I think our team has what it takes to go far.”
With Maguette moving to pitcher, a void has opened up in the outfield for the Governors and they have six people competing for three outfield jobs including Mariangeli Cruz, Karina Melo, Brittany Ruff, Luisanny Perez, Edekira Liberato, and Shannon Galindez.
The lineup and defensive alignment is far from set for Clinton, but Fofana will bat third and Savannah Lopez will be a second starter behind her and play third base when she isn’t in the circle. When Lopez pitches, Fofana will move to third base.
Lopez and Fofana will be trying to ease the transition from a veteran group. The Governors will be playing their first season in years without star third baseman Marigold Yin and ace pitcher Tayna Pena, who both graduated after a year that saw both of them appear in the NYC Mayor’s Cup all-star game.
“It’s not as tough as I thought,” Eaton said. “These girls work so hard and they ask a lot of questions which is great because that means they care.”
Clinton is hoping to build on its success of making it to the quarterfinals last season before being ousted by Construction. This year, the team’s goals are up in the air.
“This year I want to be competitive,” Eaton said. “Our division is very tough and I preach to my girls that we can’t look too far ahead.”
While Eaton won’t allow himself or his players to do that, his excitement for the season is building with each passing day.
“I’m much more optimistic now than I was three weeks ago,” Eaton said. “It’s exciting.”