Suffolk softball had one of the largest rosters in recent history with 22 players set to don the blue-and-gold in 2020. Among them were 16 underclassmen including 10 true freshmen with fresh faces making up the lineup on the left side of the infield.
The Rams main goal was to leave the GNAC, with the transition to the Commonwealth Coast Conference on the 2021 calendar, the same way they went in, as conference champions.
A 40-game slate awaited Jaclyn Davis’ squad with a Spring Break trip to the Sunshine State set to kick things off.
After three setbacks to start the season, the twirling of rookie Alexa White anchored Suffolk to its first win of the year, a 1-0 decision over Alfred.
Suffolk split the next two days on the diamond to hold a 3-5 record with one play day left at the Spring Games.
During the Rams second off day the world of sports was turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the thrilling 9-6 win over North Park, the NBA suspended its season, which turned into a ripple effect. The NCAA followed suit the next day and the GNAC announced its cancellation during one of Suffolk’s last two games in Florida.
Davis notified her squad of the devastating news after the Westminster contest, which was called after 4.5 frames due to the Titan’s administration not allowing them to finish the game.
Suffolk, meanwhile, had permission to take the field one last time. What would have been its Florida finale, turned into the last contest of 2020.
The battle was deadlocked through four complete innings until Clarkson opened things up in the top of the fifth with three runs.
That three-run edge stood as the game transitioned into the home half of the seventh. With no outs and a runner on first Suffolk’s three seniors – Grace Boehler, Samantha Jacques and Ashley Zulla – made up the Rams’ lineup.
It looked to be a storybook finish, but Boehler flew out before Jacques singled to to deep center. Zulla's last collegiate at bat could have been heroic as she brought the tying run to the plate. The ball connected on the metal and bounced into a ground out to third for the final out of the day and campaign.
THROUGH THE LENS
GNAC Marketing and Multimedia Specialist
Samantha Jacques was named the GNAC's Marketing and Multimedia Specialist Intern. The Manchester, New Hampshire, native and Public Relations major assisted the conference's staff for the spring semester.
The position was made possible through the NCAA Division III Diversity Funding for conference offices, as approved by the DIII Strategic Planning and Finance Committee (SPFC). This marks the fourth consecutive year the GNAC has hired an intern through the funding initiative, following Emmanuel's Anna Stanley last year, Lasell's Kelsey Hagan in 2018, and Saint Joseph's College of Maine's Sarah Comtois in 2017.
Sam has grown into a great leader on and off of the field. The time, effort and support that she provides within the Athletic Department is invaluable and we could not be more proud to have her represent Suffolk in the conference office. I know that Sam is fully prepared to make the transition after graduation and I know that she will work extremely hard for the GNAC -- Jaclyn Davis, head coach
ZULLA SALUTED ON ESPN'S SENIOR NIGHT
It was Friday, March 13 when the world of sports was changed. Cancelations due to the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation. The NCAA canceled March Madness that evitability led to the entire winter and spring seasons halting for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.
Scott Van Pelt, ESPN anchor, acknowledge that "so many college and high school athletes saw their seasons, maybe playing careers, just … end. No send off, no nothing," in a Twitter thread March 13.
Many athletes may have played their last games without even realizing it. They won't have a chance to save their final moments on the court, on the mat, or on the field.
To celebrate the athlete's stories, he asked the community to share stories, photos and videos to celebrate them in a Senior Night segment.
Softball's own senior leader Ashley Zulla made the Sports Center broadcast on Day 5 of #SeniorNight.
A SEASON CUT SHORT
As COVID-19 made it's way to the U.S., the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) announced the cancellation of all Spring sports on March 13. For many Suffolk seniors this brought an unexpected finish to the sports they consider a passion. Here is Suffolk softball's senior captain's Samantha Jacques' story.
carol maggio departmental award
Suffolk softball's Samantha Jacques was tabbed the 2019-20 recipient of the Carol Maggio Departmental Recognition Award.
The award, which has been handed out for over 20 years, was named in honor of Carol Maggio in 2011-12, the department's longtime Administrative Assistant who served the Rams for over 18 years and is given to a person who has been a valuable asset in the day-to-day operations of the Suffolk Athletic Department.
Jacques is the fifth softball student-athlete to take home the recognition since 2008-09 joining Delaney Sylvester '18, Lindsay Pagano '17, Meredith Ball '16 and Karina Bolster '12.
"Whenever there was a project that needed to be done in the athletics department Samantha was anyone's go-to ask. Her work ethic is second to none, but it's her desire to take the skills she has learned at Suffolk, whether on the field, in the classroom, or around Ridgeway that makes her standout from the rest. -- Amy Barry, Sports Information Director
SENIOR DAY
Following the final out of the 2020 campaign, Suffolk softball honored the playing careers of its three graduating players; Grace Boehler, Samantha Jacques and Ashley Zulla.
SENIORS SAY GOOD-BYE
With the cancellation of college sports on March 13, Suffolk's seniors saw not only the year end, but their collegiate careers. Once arriving back in Beantown from their Spring Break trip, they took to social media to share what Suffolk baseball meant to them and some even announced their plans to return to Ram Nation.
Hearbroken. My passion for the past 15 years. Thank you for making me a better version of myself everyday. Softball and the Rams are in my heart forever.
GRACE BOEHLER
This team had it, the will, drive, and the talent to win a championship. I am so thankful for the short time that I got to play with every single one of these girls and this ending is heart breaking, but I have so much hope for the future of this program and for every single girl that gets to wear a Suffolk jersey.
SAMANTHA JACQUES
Goodbye to the sport that has taught me so much about myself and what I am capable of. Softball has made me strong, confident, and drive, but it has also given me teammates that I will cherish forever. It's a part of my life I am not ready to let go of, so hopefully this ends up just being a see you later.
ASHLEY ZULLA
rams reflects
In first person narratives, Suffolk's seniors had a chance to look back on their time as Suffolk student-athletes in Rams Reflections.
If there is one piece of advice I can give anyone who comes to play for this program, it would be to never take a single second of it for granted. We've all heard this many times before, I'm sure, but you never know the weight that saying holds until you have that one thing taken from you.