The Buckfield pitcher is ready to take command.

BUCKFIELD – Now it’s her turn.

Desiree Brackett watched and learned last season. Now she steps into the full-time role as pitcher for the two-time defending Class D state champs from Buckfield.

“It’s a littler nerve-wracking at times, but I think we’re going to have a fairly strong team,” she said.

Brackett is one of the few experienced players back for Buckfield, whose four returnees include three sophomores. First baseman Shayna Shackford saw the most time while Brackett saw some spot duty pitching when Danielle Buswell was given a rest. Tiffany Dunn and Leslie Workman, the team’s only returning senior, each saw time off the bench last year. It makes for a new look, but Brackett was fully aware of the role she’d be stepping into this season.

“I did a lot of winter ball,” she said. “I went into the gym and pitched during the winter. So I knew I was ready.”

Last year, she tried to learn what she could by watching Buswell, who had bided her time in similar fashion before stepping into the job of the Bucks top hurler.

“She was confident, and I think that has a lot to do with it,” said Brackett. “You have to be confident out there and know you have the team to back you up.”

Stepping into such a high-profile spot on a young team can be a daunting task, but Brackett feels she’s up for the job.

She says she feels more confident and has improvead her accuracy over the last year. Now she just has to adjust to shouldering the responsibilities heaped upon her. If it were a veteran team with high expectations, it might make for a greater challenge, but with a young team around her, Brackett just needs to do her part.

“She didn’t get a lot of pitching time last year, but she’s doing pretty well so far” said Buckfield coach Ken Farrington. “I think she’s ready to take responsibility. She’ll do well.” The Bucks will have to shore up the defense behind her but in time, the Bucks should rebuild a competitive group that could challenge in Western D. Having someone with Brackett’s experience and ability should help. She’s still learning on the job, but she throws strikes and doesn’t put a lot runners on. That should give the Bucks a chance in every outing.

“She’s doing real well,” Farrington said of her performance during the exhibition season. “We went up to Mountain Valley (for a scrimmage), and she only walked two. She’s doing her job so far. We, defensively, are breaking down, but she’s doing her job. So we just have to catch up to her.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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