TOWNSEND — Long-time North Middlesex girls softball coach Pat Murphy has retired, and Kate Pomerleau will lead the Lady Pats into action this season. Pomerleau has been a guidance counselor at North Middlesex for three years and is excited about her new opportunity.
“I am ecstatic to be doing this and I have loved every second of the practices so far,” said Pomerleau. “With a new coach everyone starts fresh. That can be a two-edged sword but all nine starting positions are open.”
This will be Pomerleau’s first head coaching job, but she was an outstanding player at both the high school and collegiate level. She played at Chelmsford High School and was a first baseman on the State Championship team in 1999, and was also a senior captain.
She played collegiately at Westfield State College, and was again a senior captain. As a junior she was a MASCAC first-team all-star.
“When I was at Westfield State we ran clinics for middle school and high school students,” said Pomerleau.
As she tries to learn the players on her new team, Pomerleau has been doing evaluations off indoor practices, which can be tricky at best.
“I think when you are practicing in the gym you can still learn about the fundamentals and the work ethic of the kids,” said Pomerleau. “I have been getting information from both junior varsity coach Pete Carlson and athletic director Tim McCormick. They have both been very helpful. I will be learning about the girls and they will be learning about me as we go.”
What is Pomerleau looking for from her players?
“I am very competitive and I expect the players to come an compete,” she said. “I expect them to play as hard as they can, to show 100 percent dedication and to love the sport.”
Pomerleau would also like the Lady Pats to be balanced and to be strong in all departments.
“It is important to have pitching, but no less important to hit well and play strong defense,” she said. “The team as a whole needs to be responsible for how we play and it is up to each girl on the field to do her job. I would like to be balanced and to be able to win games in a variety of manners. Softball is a team sport and it is important that we play as a team.”
Pomerleau is impressed with the attitude in place.
“We had a very good turnout for tryouts,” she said. “The girls have been receptive and they have hustled and been excited. It will be easier to evaluate the hitting and defense when we get outside.
“We are in a rebuilding mode and we have a lot of young players on hand,” she said. “Coming in as a new coach I would rather have many younger players in the situation we are in. That creates a lot of enthusiasm and we have a number of girls who will be around for a few years.”
