WESTHAMPTON — Repetition keeps the Hampshire Regional softball team focused amid a busy week of playoff softball and final exams.
Coach Brian McCan shouts, “Same thing, here we go,” as the team practices situational bunting and defense with multiple runners on base.
It’s part of a practice plan that follows warmups and catch but precedes hitting drills.
“Repetition is what causes you to create good habits. When you take practice really seriously, that’s how you play in a game,” Hampshire junior Katy O’Connor said. “The constant practicing is what helps us get to where we are now. We know that.”
The Raiders (21-2) are in a familiar place, playing for their second consecutive state title.
They grounded Auburn 8-0 in the state semifinal Tuesday to get this far.
Up next is North sectional champion Tewksbury (21-3) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Worcester State University.
The Redmen beat Abington 5-1 in the other semifinal.
Hampshire brings a host of experienced players to the matchup. The Raiders return seven starters from last year’s title team.
Second baseman Chelsea Moussette played in six Western Massachusetts finals during her career, winning three.
“It’s nice to say they’re used to this. They know what the goal is,” McGan said. “The other (games) were a ladder to get to this goal. They climbed that ladder, and this is where they want to be.”
Tewksbury (21-3) will be playing in the state final for the first time in program history.
The Redmen and Raiders are unfamiliar with each other outside of internet statistics and through-the-grapevine scouting.
“It looks like their pitcher (Adrianna Favreau) is pretty good. I didn’t get a chance to see them play. It’s going to be a blind eye,” McGan said. “We’re going to go out and prepare for a kid that, I don’t think she throws 60. I’ve heard through the grapevine she’s in the 57-mile-per-hour range. For a good hitter (the difference) shouldn’t bother them.”
Opposing pitchers haven’t bothered Hampshire’s offense lately.
The Raiders scored at least seven runs in all three postseason games and posted five-run innings in all three.
Timely hitting more than explosive power caused the eruptions.
Hampshire only has four extra-base hits in three games but has scored 27 runs.
“The hits are at the right time, that’s the difference. We get runners on base, then we get a hit,” McGan said. “We’re getting hits when we need them.”
That’s why the Raiders are in the cages and the batter’s box with the pitching machine turned slightly down.
McGan wants to prepare them for the routine and teach them to adjust for irregularities and, as he puts it, “expect the unexpected.”
“We see it happen, especially on throws. Some kid will pick it up and throw it bad, and you’re waiting on a good throw,” McGan said. “Expect the bad throw and catch the good one, that’s how we do it.”
The repetition doesn’t breed monotony.
“We love each other, so through personalities we keep each other entertained,” O’Connor said.
Fun does come second, though.
The Raiders are focused on a repeat so much so that their celebration following both the Western Massachusetts sectional final and state semifinal appeared subdued.
“I think we all realize the job’s not done yet,” Hampshire senior Nicole Buzzee said. “We can’t be too happy about where we’re at. We have to keep trying to get to the next goal.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.