It was a spring season that never happened.
While folks throughout Franklin County have been impacted over the past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, we here at the Recorder sports department have decided to honor all the senior student-athletes who were unable to participate in spring sports. Practices and games were canceled, championship trophies weren’t able to be chased, but the graduating seniors throughout our coverage area still deserve to have their stories told and be honored.
We will recognize all eight of our MIAA schools over the course of two weeks, with senior rosters, photos and information about them all.
We continue today with Turners Falls High School’s seniors. Here are their stories, as told by their coaches:
Seniors: Aly Murphy, Hailey Bogusz, Eliza Johnson
Perhaps the highest expectations throughout Western Massachusetts each spring fall on the shoulders of the Turners Falls softball team.
The winning culture surrounding the program certainly brings about those expectations, but despite the pressure associated with trying to win more sectional and state titles, head coach Gary Mullins continues to marvel at his players’ unwavering stability and work ethic.
“It goes without saying that the girls that play softball at Turners enter the program with high expectations placed upon them,” the veteran coach explained. “Although some believe the girls are under more pressure because of that fact, I have told them in preseason letters that we enjoy this fact and, according to Jennie Finch, we should embrace the ‘privilege of pressure.’”
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to play in a program where expectations are extremely high,” he continued. “For the past 40 years, the girls at Turners have amassed 40 seasons without experiencing a losing season. These three girls were certainly expecting another successful year in the 2020 season.”
Murphy’s resume speaks for itself. The team’s starting catcher and arguably its most potent bat, she won a pair of state titles and played in two more state finals, racking up 100 career hits in the process. Her 100th career hit was a home run, fitting for a player who has come through in the clutch throughout her decorated career. She will play softball at Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y.
“Aly Murphy showed up on the softball scene as an eighth-grader and jumped on All-Star teams almost immediately,” began Mullins. “Aly placed high demands on herself and she attained many of her personal and team goals. She was given the role of leadership in the form of captain last year and would have served that role again this year.
“Aly may have totaled the most miles any Turners Falls softball player has ever traveled in her softball career playing for several travel teams in the past years. She traveled to New York many times to play in a tournament during the winter months. Her mom, Carrie Task, was often her transportation, and Carrie certainly paid her dues to give Aly every chance to improve her game. As a catcher, Aly and I formed a special relationship as time went on so she could be the ultimate leader a catcher needs to be. I have little doubt that Aly would have had another All-Star season and led us to a championship season.”
Like Murphy, Bogusz has also been part of the varsity club since eighth grade, and she has carved out a niche for herself in the outfield and at first base.
“Hailey Bogusz was a young lady who was quiet on the bench but very loud when it came to performance,” began Mullins. “She caught the eye of the coaching staff at a very young age because of her ability to perform in clutch situations. Hailey had numerous hits when it was crunch time. Swinging from the left side of the plate, she often would shoot balls through the five-six hole or up the middle when we needed some offense.
“She also had the arm very capable of making that big throw to the plate from right field,” he continued. “Many, many times, I was treated to a sizzling strike to home plate from my right fielder during infield/outfield practice which was followed by Hailey’s wonderful little smile of satisfaction. Hailey has also been recognized as a player worthy of most All-Star teams. I believed that Hailey was going to show us another terrific year at the plate including a few more home runs while probably showing off her skill at first base this year.”
Johnson’s graduation culminates the end of an era for now, as her mom, Amy, roamed center field during her tenure at TFHS and she was followed by three daughters — all who saw time in the outfield. Johnson began her tenure at second base before the switch to the outfield.
“Eliza played the very important role of patching holes created by injuries,” Mullins said. “The little lady was a very solid infielder who truly understood the game. When she wasn’t in the lineup, Eliza was always ‘in the game.’ As a junior, Eliza was given the opportunity to play some left field and she accepted this new challenge well enough to capture the starting position.
“Like all of the Johnson girls, Eliza was always doing what she supposed to be doing, whether it was making the play, helping a teammate or backing up infield players. Her off the field stuff was just as good if not better and many of her teammates loved their Liza.”
While Turners certainly would have been in the mix for another state tournament run, Mullins said the trio still more than made their mark on a program that has thrived during their tenure.
“These three girls were very special young ladies and they will be sorely missed by all that had the chance to play with work with them in player/coaches relationships,” the coach said. “The old, fat, bald guy is well aware of the impact these three girls have had on the softball program and he wants to extend his sincere gratitude to all three. We were very lucky to call these three girls Turners softball players.”
Seniors: Jon Fritz, Jaden Whiting, Brian Murphy, Jakob Burnett, Jake Shearer
As numbers have been low for the Turners Falls baseball program in recent years, this year’s senior class would have brought plenty of varsity experience to the table, had the season not been canceled.
“This senior class was very special to me,” explained skipper Scott Minckler. “With the lack of a JV team these young men have spent most of their high school baseball career with the varsity coaches. They worked hard and I was expecting big things from them this season.”
Fritz split time catching his first two seasons before being moved to the outfield out of necessity last season. The left-handed backstop was set to return there for his senior year.
“Jon had a great left-handed bat that will be missed,” Minckler said.
Whiting was the team’s lead-off hitter last year before a fractured leg ended his season. He was leading the Thunder in batting average before his spring was cut short.
“Jaden was a kid that you could not help but like,” Minckler offered. “He was always upbeat and smiling.”
Murphy saw time at third base and first base, in addition to the mound.
“Brian Murphy was a kid that always worked hard at getting better,” said Minckler.
A rock at first base, Burnett was a dependable figure for Turners at a key position.
“He was the lengthy first baseman that always put a smile on the coaches faces,” Minckler explained. “He was always methodical around the bag at first and was always one of our best fundraisers over the past few seasons.”
Shearer was set to return to the team after only playing as a sophomore in 2018.
“As a sophomore, Jake worked hard and his teammates always pulled for him to do well,” Minckler offered. “Jake made huge strides getting better throughout his sophomore year.”
Seniors: Brian Poirier, Joe Kochan, Josh Gaulin, Brody Trott
The 2019 season was a breakthrough for the Turners Falls boys’ tennis team, as the Thunder earned the No. 1 overall seed in the Division 2 tournament and reached the semifinal round. While numbers were expected to be tight this spring, head coach Steve Touloumtzis had a four-member senior class looking to have another strong year on the courts.
Poirier was the team’s No. 1 player, and he posted a 46-17 career varsity record during his extended career.
“Brian Poirier was the player about whom other coaches would often comment,” began Touloumtzis. “Possessing whippy, heavily top-spinned ground strokes from both sides, he was as steady as a rock — a human backboard. He had also been developing an American-twist style first serve, heavily spun as well. His second serve, a work in progress, was going to be ready as another tool. It is so unfortunate he didn’t get his senior year shot. Though predictions are hard to get exact, one thing is sure about the season that wasn’t: he would’ve been something to see.”
Gaulin constantly worked on his game, according to Touloumtzis, and he posted a 28-9 varsity mark during his time in the Powertown.
“He could be self-critical, self-berating at times, but always toward the purpose of improvement,” Touloumtzis said. “He developed a long, flowing, top-spinned lefty forehand — a singularly beautiful stroke. In matches, each point, each stroke, he gave it all — 100 percent for every moment of a four-year career. He played with a hero’s spirit.”
Kochan was a textbook doubles player with an improving punch volley that was always angled away from opponents. He went 26-8 as a varsity tennis player.
“If tennis were a matter of pure thought, Joe Kochan would be a champion for the ages,” began Touloumtzis. “Joe played with the quiet confidence of someone who knew something the rest of us didn’t. With a solid winning record in varsity play, he never, not once, beat himself. He played true to his character, with depth and dignity.”
Trott went 25-8 at Turners, and Touloumtzis praised not only his technical and tactical approach to the sport, but also his willingness to learn and adapt.
“On the Harry Hopman (the legendary Aussie coach during their days of Davis Cup dominance) coachability scale, Brody Trott was an 11 out of 10,” Touloumtzis said. “He could hold the ball on the strings with an orthodox forehand stroke, and every stroke, backhand, volleys, serve, was improving. His senior year was set to be very strong. As for his sportsmanship, this coach has never seen finer. When stewing internally over probable on-court injustices (sketchy calls, petty gamesmanship), he’d voice his complaints privately during changeovers, but would return to the court tough — and with 100 percent integrity, a gentleman among gentlemen.”
Seniors: Dabney Rollins, Abbi Waite, Karissa Fleming, Josy Hunter
The track & field program at Turners Falls is not always big on numbers, but it is certainly big on hard work and tenacity. Such was the case with the Class of 2020, as all four members were set to make their mark and improve upon times and distances in their final seasons.
“These four girls have been not only an integral part of the track team over the years, but the school as well,” lauded Turners AD Adam Graves. “They participate in many school activities and are true leaders in athletics, the classroom and school community. We wish them the best of luck in all of their future plans.”