While the weather outside might be keeping them from taking the field, the Boothbay Region High School Lady Seahawk softball team is busy in Porter Memorial Gym at BRHS. The air is filled with the smell of leather gloves, sounds of the crack of the bat and fast pitch softballs are whipping through the air. The 2014 Lady Seahawks softball team is in full swing with 16 girls on the roster this season all excited about the upcoming season.

Returning Head Coach Heather O’Brien is very optimistic about the season, which is already off to a positive start. With an increase in the roster of four from the 2013 season, new goals and missions in place for the team, and fundraising and teamwork events in play, it looks to be a winning season already for the program.

Right away the team has been working together to brainstorm various fundraising efforts as the team is desperate need of new uniform pants, four to five new NFHS regulated batting helmets, correctly fitted catcher's equipment, and one or two new legal NFHS bats and team jackets. With a school budget of a greatly appreciated $800, these funds, however, only cover new game balls, undershirts and socks for the program.

Much to O’Brien’s surprise, the team announced that with their fundraising efforts, they would like to donate a percentage of the funds to a local nonprofit. Since the team participated in Rebuilding Together’s Volunteer Day in 2013 and the agreed to volunteer again this season, Rebuilding Together became the logical choice to support.

The Lady Seahawks have come up with a Grand Slam raffle fundraising event. Tickets will be sold from now until April 20 at the cost of $10 each. The funds will be split up four ways (hence the grand slam). There will be two first place winners, each receiving 25 percent of the total funds raised. From there, 25 percent will go to the softball team, and 25 percent to Rebuilding Together. The team has set a goal to sell 500 tickets.

But, team members know that whatever they do, two lucky winners will have some extra cash in their hands, and they will be helping a worthy cause. If all 500 tickets are sold, that would be $1,250 in everyone’s pocket. Tickets can be purchased from any of the players on the team or O’Brien. Feel free to email us at coachheatherobrien@gmail.com and someone from the team will be happy to get the Grand Slam tickets in your hand.

Aside from fundraising, the team is working to have each player become CPR certified, a new training nutrition plan to learn the importance of eating healthy, and they are excited to attend (weather permitting) a Bowdoin softball game. Right now, aside from working hard at each practice, the team is looking forward to the team breakfast that they will be attending at the American Legion hall with the BRHS baseball team and Coach Brewer.

“This year, after only one week of practice, the excitement, the positive attitudes and the teamwork among these players has been overwhelming," O'Brien said. "We have a lot of new and familiar faces on the team, some seasoned players and some that have never played before. With a new conditioning and training program this season, these girls have been working hard physically and mentally, as they want positive results for themselves and for the team.

“While some may think that softball is a dying sport around here, what makes a sport die, is the lack of enthusiasm and passion for the sport. The wins will come through hard work, dedication, training and the continuation of the passion that these girls have for the game and their teammates. I am so looking forward to the 2014 season.”