By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– McNary’s Addison DuLong knows the Celtic Softball standard. The drive, the hard work, and the family support that the program has have created them into a respectable program that is always a tough out. It’s something that she’s embraced and grew into during her first two years within the program.
“Being a part of the McNary program is kind of an example of watching yourself. Everyone has the same drive as you. Everyone is working as hard as you, everyone has the same talent as you, and everyone has the same goals as you,” said DuLong. “So if you’re with a bunch of people that are trying to keep up their goals and trying to support you, it’s like you’re watching yourself. It’s a big family with a sense of never giving up. You’re always around the people who are trying to keep you up and keep it alive.”
And entering her junior season with the program, she’s been putting in the work. Preparing herself to one day crack the varsity lineup and, all the while, continue to help build and continue the strong softball tradition at McNary High School.
DuLong pitched the opening game of the Stars N’ Stripes Tournament for the MVP 16U squad at Wallace Marine Park, the squad opening Pool Play in the 16/18U field, going four innings, allowing two hits and striking out five batters while going 1-for-2 at the plate against the Comets Fastpitch 16U squad. MVP took the game 14-0 in four innings.
There’s been a lot of improvement since the start of the summer, points DuLong. The hitting, the pitching, and the mindset that she’s having have been beneficial as the early July tournament gets underway.
“I’m doing well in having a really good mindset. I’m going up to every at-bat like, ‘Oh, I’m going to hit this ball’. Every time I’m in the circle, I’m going, ‘Ok, I’m going to win this batter. I’m going to win this at-bat,” said DuLong. “I think that me as a person, it’s not so much my softball skills, it’s my mentality really helping me along.”
DuLong would collect two more hits and two runs in MVP’s final two games of the day, defeating the Wildcats 16B squad before falling to the NW Vandals-Dalke squad to close out Pool Play.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
