SMYRNA — When Nina Marcano first looked at her schedule, she didn’t know what to think.
The early part of Smyrna High’s softball schedule was loaded with state tournament-caliber programs.
That included facing perennial state powers Sussex Central and Caravel in the first five games.
But Nicki Shirey, the coach Marcano was replacing, told her it would be OK.
“She said, ‘Listen,’” Marcano remembered. “‘Trust the schedule.’”
Sure enough, after losing five of their first eight games, the Eagles started the week with a 10-6 record. They’d won four games in a row and seven of their last eight contests.
Marcano said playing some tough competition early definitely made a difference.
“We got to compete every single game,” said Marcano. “We play one of the hardest schedules in the state. But we feel prepared heading into the (state) tournament.
“It’s not easy to lose and to lose,” Marcano added. “But one of the things we kept reminding them of was, ‘Look who you’re losing to. And look at the games where you’re hanging in there.’ .... Keep a team first attitude and everything will come together.”
Smyrna next plays at Red Lion Christian on Friday afternoon before hosting Appoquinimink on Saturday at 10 a.m. in its regular-season finale..
The DIAA softball committee meets on Saturday to determine the state tournament bracket.
With a number of versatile players on the roster, Marcano said, early on, it was just a matter of figuring out who should play where.
“It was more a puzzle,” she said. “I would sit there and scratch my head after every practice, after every game, and I’d say, ‘Hold on, this piece kind of fits but it wasn’t with the other piece.’
“I told them early in the season, when we took some really tough losses, I said, ‘Just trust what we’re doing every day at practice. Just continue to lean on each other.’”
After getting shut out three times in their first six games, the Eagles finally started to find themselves offensively in a 14-1 win over Caesar Rodney on May 2.
Smyrna has reached double figures in scoring in six of its 10 victories.
“Even through our losses, I felt like we were working well together as a team,” said sophomore co-captain Lindsey Roscoe. “We found the positives even if we weren’t doing the best.
“Once we kept working on all the things we needed to, it helped us get better and better. I feel like we learned to become teammates and not just be players on the field. I think we all have confidence in each other.”
The Eagles have only three seniors on the roster: Hailey McCutchan, Skylar Clark and Kelsey Long. McCutchan had played for Marcano on a travel-ball team.
Marcano, a former head coach at Middletown High and an assistant at Wesley College, was also a Smyrna assistant last spring.
“Last year, I think we made a great bond,” said McCutchan, a first baseman who is headed to Bucknell for college. “I think the uncertainty came from maybe that I grew up with a lot of those five seniors last year.
“That was pretty challenging — just getting out of my comfort zone and being more open to being a captain. But I had confidence in ‘Coach Nina.’”
Shirey had been a Smyrna coach for the past 17 seasons, including the last seven as head coach after replacing her late father, Donnie Shaner.
Marcano, though, has tried to keep most of the Eagles’ traditions.
Smyrna is scheduled to hold its ‘Play 4 Donnie’ and alumni events in conjunction with Appoquinimink game. This year, it’s raising money for Philadelphia’s Gift of Life House, which houses families while family members are waiting for a transplant.
“When I knew I was going to get this job, there were so many traditions I wanted to keep,” said Marcano. “And that was on the top of the list.”
Of course, another tradition under the Shaners was having Smyrna win games and be competitive in the state tournament.
Because of their early-season losses, the Eagles won’t be considered a top contender in this year’s tourney. But that won’t stop them from believing they can compete with anyone.
“It’s starting to all kind of come together,” said Marcano. “And, if you ask us, it’s happening at the perfect time.”
“I think anything can happen,” said McCutchan. :”I have full confidence in us. We’ve beat some really good teams this year. We like the challenge.”
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