RallyNorth.net

Sorter, Marchand fuel Owls' emotions

Sunday, June, 15 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

Emotions were high, for a change, on the Timberlane side in yesterday afternoon's Class L championship game at Memorial Field.

Other than high-charged coach Mike Sorter, the Owls have been considered a low-key and business-like team this year. But they were far more vocal when the state title was on the line yesterday. More cheers, louder voices and fists pumping were more the norm than the exception in the 1-0 victory over Salem.

"We're usually a calm and relaxed team, but we were into it today," said senior shortstop Amy Green. "We didn't hold back today."

Much of the enhanced enthusiasm was a reflection of Sorter, who was even more of a cheerleader than usual. After nearly every inning, he would exclaim something like, "That's the kind of plays you have to make in a championship game!" or "This is terrific, keep it up!"

The game itself, and the eventual championship, was even more meaningful than expected for Sorter, who couldn't help thinking | as he often does | of his beloved wife, Sandy, who died in October of 2006.

"Since Sandy passed away, it hasn't been the same for me | it's different, and it's been tough," said the 65-year-old Sorter, who is 99.5 percent sure he's retiring. "I think about her a lot, and sometimes it makes me more emotional. But maybe that has helped me coach, I don't know."

His wife's death has certainly given Sorter a different perspective, and it may have helped him communicate with his team, and in particular junior center fielder Courtney Marchand. She was 1 for 3 against the Blue Devils and more emotional than usual. Her mother, Dianne, passed away from lung cancer when she was 11-years-old.

"I played my heart out for my mom today," said Marchand, who has her mother's initials carved into her hat. "I play every game for her, but even more in the playoffs. She was a huge sports fan, and I know she was watching me today.

"Losing my mom was pretty hard, but coach Sorter has been there for me. He's the one who gave me a varsity position as a freshman and has always helped me out. I think, because of what he went through with his wife, he can relate to me. We share a lot of the same emotions and he's the person I can go to for softball or anything.

"It's going to be very different next year without him (Sorter) and the (six starting) seniors. I look up to them both academically and athletically."

The realization of the seniors that this was their final game together also had the Owls far from calm, cool and collected.

"It's going to be hard not playing softball next year after we've been together so long," said second baseman Annie Hansbury, who will attend UMass Lowell and focus on field hockey "We became close friends and I think that made us better players. We knew today would be the end."

Whatever the reasons, the Owls were fired up from the get-go and, if you believe Sorter, that surely helped them (and him) go out a winner.