By John Johnson, The Boston Globe
WALPOLE, Mass. -- As a four-year starting shortstop for the women's softball team at Bridgewater State University, Rachael Sprague paid close attention to the daily drills run by the coaches in practice. The Bears advanced to the NCAA Division 3 tourney in three of her four seasons.
She now teaches many of those same drills as the varsity girls' softball coach at Walpole High. The 28-year-old Sprague recently completed her third season at the helm, leading the Rebels (11-9) to an 8-5 win over Marshfield in the first round of the Division 1 South tournament. Walpole, the 19th seed in the sectional, was then eliminated by Hopkinton, 4-2.
"We entered the Marshfield game saying we had as much of a chance to win as they did," said Sprague, a 2005 graduate of Duxbury High who still lives in her hometown. "We were on a roll. But looking back, it was a huge win. Probably my biggest win here."
A math teacher at Walpole High, she plays in slow pitch softball leagues and sees many of her former teammates and competitors in the league.
At Bridgewater State, Sprague was a first-team All-MASCAC selection as a senior in 2009, when she hit .342 with eight doubles, three home runs and 28 RBIs. She was a career .291 hitter, making 145 starts. The Bears were 50-4 in the MASCAC in her four seasons.
"Those were the best years of my life at Bridgewater," said Sprague. "We were always at the top of our conference. I certainly miss it, especially when I see my students and players thinking about becoming college athletes themselves. I love to share my experiences with them to help them with the process."
Sprague spent three years as the junior varsity coach at Walpole. She stresses the basics and details like mechanics.
"When I was at Bridgewater our coaches instilled in us that you're never too good for the basics and you are never above that," she said.
"Every day we did the same warmups and the same breakdown of our throwing and ground balls. We did them every day and that's something that I've carried with me and something I've instilled in my players is that you are never above that. If you lose sight of the basics in softball you'll have trouble. Focusing on muscle memory and teaching your body how to have the right mechanics is huge.
"The other important part is team chemistry and team bonding. Having played with a group of teammates for four years at Bridgewater, you may not always agree but you learn life skills as part of a team. I try to teach the girls that, and how to treat each other and carry yourself."
Sprague acknowledges that the Rebels were overachievers this season.
"Our team chemistry took us as far as we went this year. We weren't the best team. We didn't have the biggest bats. We made it so far because of hard work and team chemistry."