Wrapping it up in Florida

Friday, March 19
Today was our last day of games. We went out with a bang, losing in an intense extra innings game to SUNY New Paltz. The team was definitely one of the stronger teams we faced, but we played our best game all around. The final score, 13-12, is quite a high score for a softball game. Both teams hit the ball very well and capitalized on the others' mistakes.

Despite the loss, I think the team saw it as an overall positive game. We saw our potential to overcome adversity as a team. We won our first game of the day against Fitchburg State. After the games we ate dinner at Mel's Diner and returned to the hotel to relax. Tonight has been quiet and everyone is looking forward to our beach day tomorrow at Ft Myers Beach.

- Lauren Tierney

The Last Days of Break

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Today we awoke to some dark clouds and rain. We piled into the vans and began the long drive to the waterfront. We did some drills inside the cove where we felt even more trapped by the drizzle and cold. After lunch, we went outside the cove and surprisingly did some more drills. The wind was about 10-15 knots, but we all quickly became fatigued and the weather was not helping.

Suddenly the heavens opened and a ray of sunshine came down to us like a message of hope telling us to stay strong. The sun was the first we had seen in a couple of days and really gave us a nice boost of energy to continue practice.

The juniors made a delightful dinner of pasta and pork, and it was delicious! Colin provided the entertainment in his fleece onesie, and showed of his quite professional and dangerous dance moves. Ill leave tonight with this message, "when it rains it pours, but when there is sun there is light." Thank you and goodnight…

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
This morning we awoke to bright sunlight and the promise of over fifty-degree temperatures. We were a little late arriving to the waterfront which ended up not being a sin, because there was no wind. As one van went to get sporting goods (soccer balls, wiffle bat, frisbee, etc.), the other van went to rig up the boats just in case the wind picked up, and then went to go and wait for the other group at the local park. The sun was bright and the team was ready to play a competitive game of soccer to get the blood flowing.

After soccer we had a quaint lunch and then went back to the waterfront for an afternoon session. After running some drills tempers may have run a little short (especially after Coach Merrick was seen pushing a young team member into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean). After another rewarding two-hour drive home, the sophomores served up a sizzling "breakfast for dinner" meal, complete with French toast, bacon and fruit salad. After a long and tiring day we were all ready for our warm and comfy beds. It was a day well spent. Auf wiedersehen, goodnight, I hate to go and leave this pretty sight…

Thursday, March 18, 2010
This morning there was no wind but plenty of sun and fun in the air. We began our day with a competitive game of ultimate frisbee. Mr. Merrick must have been upset about his team losing the first game because he was spotted harassing a young team member (the same one from before I might add), which resulted in a short van ride out of the park, and an even quicker return with a pair of crutches.

After lunch the team went outside the cove to run some team races (A team vs. B team). Amanda and Colin both hopped into boats to try their hand at the competition. After many A team losses, everyone, including the victors, were ready to call it a day. We left a little later than usual and found ourselves in rush-hour traffic (we blamed Colin). The freshman put on a spectacular dinner of chicken parmesan which was a perfect way to end our last night in VA. As I leave tonight, always remember, "never underestimate the power of one stupid person in a large group." Goodnight friends…

- Sophie Bellacosa

Winding down in Florida

With two games left to play, the team is 5-3. So far I think everyone is pretty satisfied with the way we are playing and are ready to take on the competition in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. I have had an arm injury that has kept me on the sidelines but I have enjoyed watching the team play and cheering them on and I am really proud of the way that everyone has been playing. Tomorrow is our last day and it is a bittersweet feeling being a senior, as this is the start of many lasts for the five of us.

- Alex Sera

Thursday, our fourth day of games, got off to a rough start. Losing to Salem State was a game I'm sure we'd all like to forget. However, the team overcame the difficult loss and returned to beat Stevens. Today's games were filled with ups and downs, but I think it really allowed the team to see our strengths and weaknesses. After the games, we had some time to eat lunch and relax by the pool. Erica Castro's mom provided the team with pizza and other parents provided drinks and snacks. I'm enjoying my time with the team and can't wait to see what we do back home.

- Lauren Tierney

Today was Day Four of games in sunny Florida. We were up against Salem State, a team that we knew was good. We tried our best, but unfortunately the game ended in a loss. We moved on, it was over and done with, in the bag. Next was Stevens Institute of Technology. We came out scoring early and took the advantage of back to back hits to take the lead and never looked back. We had a rough ending with Stevens threatening, but we stayed strong enough to pull out the W. After the games, we had lunch as usual and then had a team sun tanning session...that's always fun. We then got pizza to the hotel and ate in the lobby as a team; it was a good time. Tomorrow we are off to our last doubleheader in Florida against Fitchburg State and SUNY New Paltz. Hopefully we can come out strong with two wins and go into beach day and back to RWU with a solid record! GO HAWKS!

- Erica Castro

Early Mornings, Cold Days

Not going to lie, but today was a little too early to be waking up. 7:30 wake up call and out the door by 8. Haven’t seen that time of day in a long time! Weather conditions were absolutely terrible. It was cold, and the wind was honking. All I could think of was sailing in big waves and getting sprayed all day. It was the type of cold where no matter what you were wearing it was cold right to the bone.

This morning’s drive was the same as any other, another hour and a half to the sailing site. Arriving there, it was blowing and the skies were dark and overcast. Luckily, our coaches allowed us tot stay inside the harbor and work on our boat handling instead of going out into the really nasty conditions.

After lunch the conditions were looking a little better, and we ventured out into the bay. The wind had gone down, and the sun was trying its hardest to poke through the thick overcast skies. The afternoon session was very productive! We set up in different team racing combinations and did mock races. We switched up the regular A and B teams so that they would be a little fairer. The best part of the situation is that the B team is not what we thought they were. They have gotten a lot better going to some of the big regattas that they attend, and really give us a good run for our money.

This is so great because it only allows us to get really good practices. Last year, they weren’t really able to keep up with us, but with the hard work between the coaches Amanda and Colin they have been able to drill them with the team racing knowledge making them all around better sailors and team racers. It was a very long day, but the afternoon conditions were perfect to practice our plays and we made some great progress.

As far as dinner goes, we decided over the past few years that the best way to save some money is to have the different grades cook each night. Last night the seniors cooked a great dinner. Tonight it was the juniors’ turn to cook, and although we were a little short in the kitchen, we made some really good food. Josh Saltmarsh and I are the only two juniors on the trip, and we stuffed some pork tenderloin with celery, mushrooms, onion and garlic. Placed two strips of bacon on top, and used Montreal steak seasoning. And then in the other dish it was diced chicken marinated in Italian dressing mixed with pasta and cherry tomatoes. Grated cheese optional. Getting to bed, and gearing up for another long day at the office.

- Cy Thompson

Bonding With The Team

We had our first games of the season the past two days and our record so far is 2-2. Though we have been playing pretty well so far, there is always room for improvement. But that is what Florida is for so we can be ready to win games in our conference when we get back to the Northeast.

Our games have been in the morning which allows us to spend some time in the sun and do some fun things at night. Last night some of the team went go-carting and we had a blast.

One of my favorite things about play softball is spending time with my teammates and I will miss the time spent with the girls the most when I graduate.

- Alex Sera

On The Road To Virginia Beach

We arrived in Virginia Beach around 3:30 am, where we were greeted by the friendly face of our friend and yours, Colin Merrick. Out of the kindness of their hearts, our coaches allowed us to sleep in, so that we could get more than 4 hours of sleep.

We drove about an hour and a half to the pavilion we will be sailing out of for the next week (just a casual drive to get us hyped up). It was about 50 degrees and raining when we arrived. Dan (the friendly cat man who manages the Christopher Newport sailing program), showed us around the sailing house and introduced us to his furry friends (one formed a loving relationship with Alyssa).

After learning about the amusing tricks the cat was capable of, we suited up in our gear and hit the water. The wind was 10-15 knots from the north. We did some great drills, yet sadly fatigue set in and practice ended around five.

After another two hour ride back to home base, we were all excited to shower, play shuffle board, and do many other activities not involving boats or cats. The seniors kindly provided a delightful dinner for the team, which pleased us all. After dinner, a few members of the team watched the Celtics and enjoy each others’ company.

As I end my blog tonight I would like to close with a quote I learned from my dear friend Dan today, "the team is brother, the team is sister."

Goodnight and sweet dreams,
Sophie

GAME DAY!

Today was our first day of games. The team has so many little rituals that we do before the game. You learn them as you go, so freshmen were completely lost. I thought I was going to be nervous, but being surrounded by teammates that are so into the game and supportive really eased the anxiety.

We won the first game against Macalester. The team played really well together, making key plays and cheering each other on the entire game. We lost the second game, and it was a bit more of a challenge for us.

We hope to learn from today's mistakes for tomorrow's two games against Wooster and Smith. Today was an overall positive experience and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.

- Lauren Tierney


GAME DAY is finally here, what a relief! Among all the butterflies in our stomach we took the field, freshly lined and ready to go. Waiting to hear the sound of the bat on the ball, the anxious feelings soon calmed down after the first hit, better yet the first run.

In the first game, we took the lead and never looked back. The game ended with a tally in the win column for us; it was a great start to our long season. Our second game was a little more intense. Having battled the whole game, we couldn't pull it out in the end. It was a tough loss, but we never gave up; the ball just didn't go where we wanted and the runs were in the favor of NYU-Polytechnic.

Tomorrow we will hit the field once again bright and early, even if we did arrive today in the dark. But yes, bright and early to play yet another game. Another day at the ballpark is another day to pick up some wins. It feels great to be playing again, not to mention the beautiful weather. Until tomorrow...

- Erica Castro

Softball gearing up first game

This morning the team enjoyed some time by the pool in the morning before heading to our practice time in Cape Coral. We watched the end of an intense extra inning game before our three hour practice.

Sun-burnt and tired, we headed to Uno's for dinner. We returned to the hotel for some downtime before our pool side meeting. The upperclassmen went over each detail of tomorrow's game experiences to ease some of the freshmen's fears.

We returned to our rooms and some met with other teammates while others visited parents in the hotel. Tired and ready for bed, I am a mix of emotions; excited, nervous, anxious.

- Alex Sera

Perseverance for Sailing at MIT

Gossip Girl here,

We began our journey to MIT Sunday morning around 8 am. Even as we left RWU, Meaghan had a rough time controlling the van over the blustery bridge with her tiny arms. The drive up in the rain was pretty standard except for our small detour to Logan Airport (courtesy of the driver, and navigator Alyssa).

The wind was a casual 15 to 20 knots from the north/northeast. We began the day with one last round robin (which we again went undefeated in). Our sail off was against Tufts. We switched from storm jibs to full jibs because the wind supposedly died a little.

Even with their big ears on, the Jumbos were unable to soar past the Hawks at the end of the sail off. The Hawks crushed the event, and proved once and for all, for all of the downtrodden people of our land, that with hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude even the mightiest of tasks can be swiftly and easily executed.

On Sunday morning, we woke up and left for MIT at around 8:30. It was rainy and cold, and as we drove on Storrow Drive, Alyssa had some colorful words to convey her feelings about sailing on the Charles. When we first arrived the wind was blowing a meager 20 knots with gusts at 25 from the northeast.

We were told to rig up with storm jibs because the wind was expected to pick up. Unfortunately we had limited time to rig because we were told the report time was 10 a.m. when it was really 9:30 (I was told to thank Amanda). Due to the wind conditions, certain safety rules were put to effect (which were later severely needed by McGill and their somewhat inappropriate westsuit/spray gear combination).

We went undefeated in the first round robin (where we were greeted by Dr. Spiller giving us a SOAR arm movement) and then took a quick lunch break. Captain McHorney saved the day with his heavy stature as Sophie was switched out to go on a much needed Dunkin’s hot chocolate run.

Alec and Ryan were quite swift and unstoppable in their 325 lbs. boat. We went undefeated again in the second round robin. Shua was protested by Tufts for a leeward mark rounding (using a rule which does not apply in team racing. As the Hawks SOARED home high and mighty, the Tufts’ elephants marched their gaggle of elephants back home as the day wrapped up.

Love,
Sophie

Softball "finally" gets to Florida

My name is Erica Castro, I am a sophomore on Softball team and I'm here to journal our
experiences so you all can get an idea of how things are down here in sunny
Florida. Today at 5:30 a.m. (yes that is correct), we loaded our coach bus and
left from RWU heading for TF Green Airport in Providence.

With everybody tired, our team practically slept on the airport carpet until our
plane boarded at 8:30 for our 8:50 flight. We flew to Chicago Midway for the
first half of our long day, and after flying back in time, we then boarded
another plane bound for Fort Myers Florida! "Finally!" which I am almost
positive was everyone’s reaction.

After landing in Florida at 4 p.m., completing our long 11-hour travel day we then
headed to our hotel in Cape Coral and settled in with the team. Following our
relaxation period we went to dinner as a team, our first of many meals together
this week.

Sunday is our first day of practice in nice Florida weather and the start to our spring
training. I will continue to blog about our experiences here as the week goes
on. Enjoy the rain back up north. Until tomorrow...

On the water at St. Mary's

This weekend the Roger Williams University Sailing team is competing in the St. Mary’s Team Race held down at St. Mary’s College in Maryland. Forecast today was supposed to be windy and non stop rain. So much for that! There was a consistent light drizzle, overcast skies and the wind decided to come and go as it pleased.

There are 10 teams represent at the team race, and all are very competitive. Today we started off the regatta against, our good friends, but long time rivals the Boston College Eagles. We all had great starts, and quickly worked our way into a winning combination. This winning combination was held all the way around the course until the last beat, where there was some miscommunication, costing us the victory. It was a very frustrating time for the team, but we shook it off in order to concentrate on the next race.

In the next race, we were matched up against the Naval Academy. Once again we were in a winning combination until the downwind leg. The wind was very shifty (meaning that it was oscillating back and forth from one general direction) and the puffs on the water were in patches. Rounding the leeward mark, we felt as though we were still in control, with just an easy pass-back to complete. The wind unfortunately shifted for the worse, making it almost impossible to position ourselves into a winning combination.

Now with a 0-2 record for the day, the wind completely died, and we had a lunch break, not expecting to go back out on the water. Luckily the wind filled back in after half an hour, and we went out with an renewed confidence.

Matching up against Connecticut College Camels, we had a great start, and basically held it all the way around the course. This was a nice moral booster.

Up next was the home town locals, the St. Mary’s Seahawks. Right off the start, Jon Enright and Addy White jumped the gun, and had to return to the starting line to restart. It wasn’t a good start for the Rog, but with no intention to just give up, Sean Bouchard, and Bianca Rom team up with Cy Thompson and Kelly Stannard to make an impressive comeback. With precise boathandling, the 3 were able to sail right around the Seahawks, and move into a winning combination. This was a very good note to end on because it allowed us to finish with a 2-2 record, keeping us in contention to qualify for the finals.

All in all the day had its ups and downs, and we learned from our mistakes. We as a team are just as good as any other team out there, but we need to not think as much, and do what we do best. We sometimes make it harder than it really is, and as the days go along things are only going to get better.

- Cy Thompson