Sacrificing for the betterment of the team has been a priority for Dulaney softball this season and it’s been evident in the No. 5 Lions’ 10-1 record. Junior captain Brynn Townsend set the tone before the season’s first pitch when she willingly switched to first base from catcher. In her third varsity season, she’s proven a quick study at her new spot — coach Dave Barwick touting her as the best first baseman he’s had in his 18 years coaching. In addition to playing sound defense, Townsend’s bat has heated up while she thrives in her leadership role. Maintaining a weighted 5.5 grade point average, Townsend is a National Honor Society member, the vice-president of the school’s NOOW “Not On Our Watch” club, which promotes mental health awareness and also coaches youth softball. She plans to continue playing softball in college and is interested in a major that will help her pursue a career in government law, with the FBI an ideal landing spot.

Note: Questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

How much have you enjoyed the season so far with all the success the team has enjoyed?

It’s amazing. This has been the most fun season I’ve played so far. I feel like our team chemistry is so good and it’s so evident on the field. Everything we do is fun. Our practices are fun. Our team dinners are fun. Every game we play is fun, so I couldn’t be happier with the team we have.

How has it been playing at first base?

Definitely something that’s really important to me is being a versatile player and being the kind of player that coaches want to coach. So I was a little nervous at first because I haven’t touched the infield since I was 10 years old. But it’s really similar to catching and the coaches have been very patient with me, too, so I just had to get used to it. It’s been super fun, I’m definitely enjoying it and it’s given me a different view of the game.

What’s the biggest adjustment with the position change?

I would say just confidence. I’ve been catching since I was 9 years old, so I’m very comfortable there. Playing first base, there’s learning new cutoffs and relearning how to field a ground ball. I think just building confidence in myself and my coaches have been great about that, like complimenting me when I do things right and helping me when I make a mistake. I feel confident at the position now, like ‘yeah, OK, I’m a first baseman now.’

What do you enjoy most about softball?

I like the way a team is structured and the chemistry. All the club teams I’ve played for and high school, it’s such a team game and you have to always be there for your teammates, so it creates a great bond. My best friends are from my softball teams, so that’s what I like the most about it.

What were the team goals going into the season?

We really weren’t focused on our record when the season started, it has just kind of turned out to be a pretty record. We wanted to focus on doing the little things right, so we talk about being very productive in our practices and we have girls coming before and after practice to get extra work in. We’re also really harping on no mental errors, a lot of the [things we can control] because this game is so unpredictable. So being able to control our attitudes and avoiding mental errors and stuff like that is something we harped on early in the season and I think it’s part of the reason we have the 10-1 record.

What makes a quality leader?

I think understanding all the different personalities. Being a high school team, we have girls that are 18 years old and girls that are 14, so you have to understand that people handle situations differently. So being able to bring everybody together and making sure we’re all working as a team and not focused on the individual stuff is important. I think that’s something I take pride in as a leader, keeping everybody up.

How do you productively manage your time with all the activities you’re involved in?

It can be hard, but I think the biggest thing for me is my priorities. School has always come first and the coaches harp on that, too. If you don’t have the grades you can’t play. Knowing that my school comes first and then softball and then everything else comes after that, especially during the season. There’s sacrifices I have to make, like going out with friends and doing stuff. So I miss out on things, but what’s most important to me is at school and on the field. I know it’s going to take me farther, so that’s where my focus is.

What was your favorite part of the spring break you just had?

I went to the beach. I don’t really get to go to the beach during the summer because of my club schedule. My teammates — Chloe [Renaldo], who plays shortstop, and Ava [O’Donnell], who plays centerfield, we went to the beach. We had super fun, just getting away and not focusing on softball for three days and we all got to hang out. It was really fun.

What’s coaching softball to youth been like?

Oh my gosh, it’s my favorite thing in the world. We do Free State Softball Camp, which we run here at Dulaney. That was my first time doing the summer camp [last year]. It was so much fun. When I was younger, I always had a lot of older girls as mentors, coaches and stuff, and that was the reason I decided I wanted to play in college. Being able to do that for other girls is what’s most rewarding for me.

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