Young Springbrook has successful softball year

Though it had hoped to fare better in the playoffs, Springbrook can reflect on a successful season, during which it overcame several obstacles — new coach, inexperienced infield — to maintain its status as one of the county’s stronger teams.

‘‘This season was interesting,” said Springbrook coach Michael Miller, who took over for 25-year coach John Haberman. ‘‘I think the kids adjusted nicely to the change of coaches. I’m pleased with how we did this season given the inexperience in pretty much every position except pitcher. It’s tough to learn on the job at the varsity level.”

Three-year varsity starter Callan was really the Blue Devils’ only seasoned player in the field. They relied heavily on her, and she did a fine job shouldering that responsibility. Defense was usually a liability — in some games, Springbrook totaled more than seven errors. But Callan was consistent in the pitching circle, racking up nine strikeouts a game, to take some pressure off her fielders.

And, with the tendency to commit rookie errors, it would have been easy for the Blue Devils to let their frustration hinder their success. But they didn’t. They rallied from behind in many of their wins.

‘‘I was happy with the offensive production throughout the year but was never comfortable with the defensive effort from game to game,” Miller said. ‘‘Kelly Callan took a team of inexperienced players and carried them on her shoulders to 11 wins. We started getting contributions from the entire group later in the season.”