By Dante Iafrate
The softball program at Springfield College was going into the 2025 season in limbo. Their head coach from the previous year unexpectedly departed for Southern Connecticut State, leaving the program without a leader. A graduate assistant, Sam Garcia, was tasked with filling the void as interim head coach. Despite the challenges, the Pride have excelled under Garcia’s leadership, sitting at 10-6 on the season.
In the transition, two veteran players—junior Carissa Pecchia and graduate student Callie Gendron—provided stability. Both of them reached the 100-hit milestone this season, a significant achievement for the program and proving themselves to be the team’s offensive workhorses.
The achievement was a product of years of hard work and perseverance for Gendron.
“It’s not something that you think about when you start your career, but when you do it, you realize how much it means,” Gendron said. “To be able to do it in a season where we’ve had to battle through a lot as a team makes it all the more special.”
Pecchia and Gendron’s bats have been a factor in Springfield’s solid start. The duo has provided the Pride with a consistent look in the lineup as they lead the team in batting average, enabling them to navigate an early, challenging schedule in front of Garcia.
Garcia, who had expected to be a supporting figure rather than a head coach this season, has risen to the challenge of coaching on the fly. Despite her interim status, she has earned respect from the team through her adaptability and player-first attitude.
With a mix of veteran standouts and up-and-comers, Springfield seems set to fight in the NEWMAC this season. While the future of the coaching staff in the long term remains uncertain, the Pride showed that stability can be an inside job.
“Coach Garcia stepped in when we needed her to,” Gendron said. “We believe in her, and we believe in each other. That’s going to carry us the rest of the way.”
As Springfield continues to build its campaign, the Pride are showing the world that no matter how unclear things get, victory is always within reach.
Photo courtesy of Springfield Athletics