Hewlett shows major improvement

Entering the 2024 season, the Hewlett softball team set out to raise its own standard. Now, sitting near the top of Conference 6 with a record of 9-5, the Bulldogs are looking to close strong.

However, after dropping their third straight game in a 17-5 loss to Uniondale on May 3, they’ve begun to stumble down the stretch.

In the past, a losing streak of this sort could have caused Hewlett to completely unravel. This year, the Bulldogs, who had just one win last spring, made measures to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“There's a different mentality this season,” said coach Haley Birnbaum. “We hold the girls accountable. We go hard at our practices and have expectations. We are a more capable team, and I think that they know that, and they feel that they can pull it through. I definitely think that [the players] have that mental strength.”

After years of building, Birnbaum challenged her players to make the extra effort to improve, emphasizing attending clinics in the offseason on their own in order to raise their game.

“There was definitely a lull of skill and also commitment,” Birnbaum said. “You need to put in the work in order to be successful at this game.”

That sentiment resonated with team captain Haiden Norman. As a result, she’s found more confidence playing her position in right field and is a key cog in Hewlett’s lineup.

Offense has powered the Bulldogs and fueled their season-long six-game winning streak that concluded with the first loss of their current skid. Along with Norman, Hewlett has several players hitting north of .400. Isabella Betancur leads the team with an astounding .658 batting average, while Kayla Owens has supplied plenty of power with nine round-trippers.

If there is one area that needs to be reassured before the postseason for Hewlett, it’s pitching. Owens has carried her share and then some at the plate, but Birnbaum wants to see her, Lilliana Simon and Hayley Henggeler work with catcher Sarah Oliveros to pound the zone more from the circle.

“We've been out hitting teams left and right, but we’ve given up a lot of unearned runs, and that's definitely an aspect of our pitching game that I've had conversations with our pitchers about,” Birnbaum said. “Limiting walks, limiting balls and trusting our team behind them. They don't have to strike out every person. That's not their job. Their job is to throw hittable pitches and to trust the team behind them can make those plays for them and have their back.”

With two matchups against Roosevelt and another against Hempstead to close out its regular season schedule, Hewlett has only a few opportunities left to reach double digits in wins and close on a positive note.

“Hopefully, a winning season sparks more interest within the program,” Birnbaum said. “We have the greatest kids in the school and for them to be having a good time and be winning definitely sets a precedent.”