By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

John Stark junior catcher Rachel Hart forces Concord's Rachel Landry at the plate during fourth-inning action of a scrimmage on Sunday, April 10, at Pembroke Academy. The key to Stark success in .05, according to co-captains Shauna Signer and Sarah Lawton, is for the Generals to maintain composure and keep their heads in the game. (Marc Thaler Photo)

PEMBROKE - The moment a team resigns itself to giving in, the odds against pulling off a win are thin.

John Stark's varsity softball team learned that lesson last year during a tough Class I campaign. In 2004, the Generals were victorious in just three of their 19 contests.

But according to Sarah Lawton and Shauna Signer, the senior co-captains of Stark's '05 edition, the losses a year ago had everything to do with the team's lack of mental toughness amidst adversity and nothing to do with a lack of talent.

"Last year, it seemed like our only downfall had to do with our composure," Signer said before JS took the field in a scrimmage against Concord at Pembroke Academy on Sunday, April 10. "We would make a mistake, hang our heads and crumble to pieces. This year, nobody's giving up. Our attitude is much better and it's reflecting in how we're playing."

"It only takes one person (to lose her composure) and it can bring the whole team down," added Lawton.

With seven players new to the varsity softball experience, JS head coach Zachary Medlock said it'll largely be the responsibility of his six returning starters to make sure the team's attitude remains upbeat.

In addition to the co-captains, Stark's returning players include juniors Nicole Dyer, Rachael Hart and Steph Simon, plus sophomore Katie Begin.

"They're superior leaders already and the season is just beginning," Medlock said of his six varsity veterans. "They.ve been there. They can discuss how the games are going to go. Having a core group like that really eases the transition (to varsity) for the newcomers."

Medlock said although several challenges exist for athletes new to the Class I varsity softball scene, the central theme remains the same.

"The speed of the game," Medlock said. "The complexity of the attacks from other teams, the speed of the pitching. You can't simulate that, no matter how you do it. You can simulate almost everything else, but not what they're going to do to you."

Still, if the Generals' scrimmage against Concord's Crimson Tide of Class L served as any indication, JS has a pretty confident cast of characters.

"The fact that we have people at every position who are talented and have positive attitudes is exciting," Signer said. "The energy on this team is a lot higher than other years I've played."

"We have quite a few new players and they're helping out a lot," Lawton said. "They're filling some big spots and they're just playing instead of thinking about things when they're out there."

Along with Stark's six returning starters and assistant coach Ashley Poor, the Generals welcome senior Jessica Wolfkill, junior Lori Turcotte, sophomores Heather Carr and Sarah Lloyd and freshmen Madison Belanger, Monique Giroux and Jessica Wood.

"This group is a lot of fun," Medlock said. "They come with a willingness to improve and they're really doing an excellent job coming together. As a team, they're playing with purpose."

John Stark began its Class I campaign with a 7-2 win at Hollis/Brookline on Monday, April 11, before hosting Pembroke Academy on Friday, April 15.