By Jenny Park

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The JV softball team is different from the teams of past years. Not only is the team made up of a diverse group of players with different levels of experience, but they have a new coach this season as well. Coach Stanley Cabanas, who had coached football in past seasons, is now faced with a challenge to meet his goal of teaching the game of softball to all members of the team.

“(Practices) started off a little slow, our numbers (were) down,” said Cabanas, “We had two extremes, some experienced players, some very season players and then (a player) who has never played before so … the first day of practice was interesting and it continues to get interesting as we go on.”

Cabanas is an alumnus of MHS and says that he has always wanted to give back. Coaching softball has offered him both the chance to give what he had received as well as a goal that he strives to meet. “I’ve always been wanting to give back to the (sports) program that basically gave to me,” Cabanas stated.

“The upmost goal, the most number (one) goal is teach the game. Make sure they all understand the game and teach them about not only the game of softball, but how it applies to everything in life.”

Sophomore Nicole Cox who had 10 years of softball experience had positive things to say about Cabanas. “(Coach) taught me to be a better person and to take other people’s opinions and thoughts about other things (into consideration),” says Cox.

Freshman Kelsey Saito, who just started playing softball this season, feels that she has much to learn from Cabanas. “(I learned) that determination will get you anywhere and if you keep working at it, you’ll get better,” added Saito.

As the team gets closer to each other and their coach, they learn to work together as one family. Cabanas is leading them in overcoming the challenges of having a diverse group of players as they all become one in the team. With his goal set in mind, Cabanas continues to work with the team in teaching the game.