Doulos on Hampton Bays Softball Team: ‘Our Goal Isn’t Just To Compete’

While Richard Doulos’s returning core is young, he said that’s no excuse for why the Hampton Bays softball team can’t compete for a League VI or even a Suffolk County championship.

“Our goal isn’t just to compete, our goal is playoffs, and how far,” the head coach said. “When I first took over, we were making the playoffs every year, and going far, and we need to get back into contention. That’s always the mission statement, and we won’t dull that down.”

And he’ll be leaning on his returners to do just that. Included in that group is junior starting pitcher Chase Dunkirk, who takes over on the mound for Bella Pettas. Sophomore Julia Brandeis will also return to third base, sophomore Maddie Warn remains behind the plate and freshman Shea Egan is back at shortstop, and could also see time in center field.

“We’ll rely on them to be leaders — to step up and to carry us,” Doulos said. “And with Chase working hard in the offseason, I’m hoping it’ll translate into some more wins.”

Up from junior varsity is sophomore Kaya Raynor to replace All-League first baseman Kati Mounts, and returning to the team after a couple-years break is senior utility player Haley Weissbard, whom the coach said is “very athletic.”

New to the team are junior second baseman Jordyn Heaney, who also competes for the Baymen’s basketball team, and junior Sam Kraycar.

“A few of the girls who graduated who were really dedicated taught these girls the right work ethic and what this program is all about,” Doulos said. “They understand that you need to show up every day and show up with the right attitude, so I’m excited to see what we’ve got.”

The coach believes the team’s 2-15 record last season wasn’t indicative of that.

“These girls did come with the right attitude,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’re in a tough, competitive league, and on defense we’d make one or two errors and prolong innings, then get to bat and have a one-two-three inning, not giving our pitcher and defense enough rest. It spiraled out of control sometimes in the second, third inning, and before you know, we’d be down 8-0.”

So, the team is looking to not only clean up its defense, but get back to small ball on offense. Doulos said he thinks his athletes continuing to face some stiff competition bodes well for them this year.

“Going up against the caliber of pitching that we have the last few years — some of these girls can throw some real smoke, hitting high 50s, some reaching 60 — that exposure will help them understand they need to have quicker bats and don’t need to overswing,” the coach said. “That experience will help. I think we’ll be a better contact team than in years past because of it.”

He’s also been working on limiting strikeouts.

“We have to challenge these better pitchers at the plate some more,” Doulos said. “We have to put the ball in play more and make better contact. We have to find our identity. Everyone should be able to bunt for a base hit and bunt runners over.”

And on defense, he’s stressing that the girls don’t need to make great plays, just the routine ones.

“If we do that, we’ll been in games in the fourth and fifth inning,” the coach said.

To give the program a boost, he’s been spending more time with the Little League teams, and formed an under-14 Brookhaven Town team the last two summers to get the athletes some more exposure.

“They’re out there playing and becoming a team. We’re getting back to that,” Doulos said. “The camaraderie has been a lot better because of it. I think we’ll be a better and improved team, and I think as the season progresses, we will get better — and we might surprise a team or two down the road.”