Doulos Doesn't Want The Strong Tradition Of Hampton Bays Softball To Be Lost In Down Years

It wasn’t too long ago when the Hampton Bays softball team was a perennial playoff contender — in fact, it had been so commonplace for the Baymen that the typical question wasn’t if they were going to make the postseason, it was how deep of a run they would go on.

Hampton Bays last made the playoffs in 2019, and that was a quick exit, as they lost both games. But the year before, the Baymen went on a torrid run in one of its first seasons as a Class A team after playing in Class B for years prior.

That’s not that long ago, but throw out a 2020 spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a down year last spring in a condensed season, and all of those positive years can feel further away than they really are.

Hampton Bays head coach Rich Doulos tries to remind his team every day, whether things are looking good or bad, that there is a history and tradition within the program that he doesn’t want lost.

“I do bring up the history, because it is important for them to understand that this is a commitment,” he explained. “There is a rich history here, and they should all be wanting to add to it. Last year was very difficult. COVID affected a lot of teams very differently, and now a lot of these girls are new to varsity.”

Participation numbers in spring sports seem to be low across the board at Hampton Bays, and softball is not immune to that. Doulos said he will carry just 11 players on varsity and nine on junior varsity, making for one of the smallest teams he’s had in recent memory.

Losing to graduation a six-year varsity and All-State player in Tara Brochu, now at SUNY Geneseo, along with Shaina Pearce and Holly Hansen, didn’t help things.

The good news is that there are six returning seniors to help lead the team this season, starting with Elle Dunkirk, who is entering her fourth year on varsity. She will play center field and will lead the outfield, and Doulos said he’s depending on her bat this season. Isabella Pettas will continue to be the team’s starting pitcher. Kati Mounts (first base), Katie Peterson (outfield), Erin Brosnan (utility) and Angie Chincilima (second base/outfield) are all returning as well.

New to the team are junior Sofia Solano Cruz (outfield), sophomore Chase Dunkirk (middle infield/pitcher), freshmen Julia Brandis (third base) and Maddie Warn (catcher), and eighth-grader Shea Egan (shortstop/catcher). Doulos said Dunkirk, the younger sister of Elle, might see more time in the circle this season to get her acclimated to varsity and give Pettas some rest.

Hampton Bays will continue to play in a competitive League VI this season that includes Amityville, Bayport-Blue Point, Elwood-John Glenn, Miller Place, Mount Sinai and Shoreham-Wading River. The team will also play in seven nonleague games, which will give Doulos enough games to get all of the players ample playing time.

“Realistically we need to play better defense. Make the routine plays, stop giving the other team four, five outs,” he explained. “If we can be in games late, in the fourth, fifth, sixth inning, as long as we’re still in it, anything can happen. But we need to focus on defense and be better students of the game. That’s primarily what's been missing — knowing the game, knowing the situations, knowing when or when not to go.

“We’re a week shorter than normal … it’s going to be a very challenging first week or two, but we have some leadership. Those seniors who make up half the team, they’re going to have to help lead this team.”

The Baymen started their season on Tuesday against Shoreham and will host Miller Place this Thursday, March 31, at 5:15 p.m. before playing at Glenn on Saturday at 10 a.m.