By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

After struggling last year, Goffstown’s softball team will use what it learned in spring training to drive itself into 2006.

The Grizzlies spent four days, from Wednesday, March 29, to Sunday, April 2, in Orlando, Fla., where they learned more about themselves off the field than on it.

Facing teams from Minnesota and Tennessee, as well as former Class I rival ConVal, Goffstown went undefeated in four games.

“The four games were great,” said Goffstown player Amanda St. Onge. “But we learned so much more from the two days of team bonding we had. This year the team’s more into it and we’re going to be a lot more competitive.”

The Grizzlies spent two of their four days away from the diamond doing team activities.

St. Onge said getting to know her teammates was far more valuable than practicing drills they would do once back in New Hampshire.

On March 29, the team had its first practice before playing two games against teams from Minnesota on March 30.

In the first game, Goffstown’s offense was alive from the start, while the girls mounted a fourrun comeback to erase a 3-0 deficit in the final inning of the second contest.

Game three, a well pitched match by both sides, saw the Grizzlies plate just two runs. But Goffstown’s pitching shut out Tennessee.

In their final game at the Wide World of Sports Complex, the Grizzlies won an extra-inning affair with ConVal.

Despite the team’s 4-0 record leaving Orlando, St. Onge said the relationships formed during the last two days will help the 2006 team more than the wins.

“We spent Saturday at the beach learning how to surf,” said St. Onge. “Sunday we went to Disney World with access to four parks. Just spending time together in a non-softball setting teaches you so much about your teammates.”

Indeed, Grizzlies head coach Wake Stillman said building a foundation among teammates is more important than a won-loss record.

According to St. Onge, Stillman, who seeks his 300th career win this season, said players who like each other off the field will always give their teammates their best effort on the field.

“I was so shy last season,” said the sophomore. “Now I don’t feel as nervous going up to the seniors or juniors and just talking to them. Those two days made us feel more like a team, which will show during games.”