Softball Team Swings Towards Strong Finish

By Maydene Yamisha

College Hill Writer

The SCCC softball team looks to end on the note of a homerun

Photo submitted by Cheryl Conway

Jamie Borger, head women’s softball coach at Sussex County Community College in Newton, is hopeful for a home run this softball season. 

The team features strong women with Emma Babcock and Giano Carreiro as team captains. 

There have been some challenges due to weather, low roster, and injuries, but Borger is still hopeful for an uplifting ending to the season. 

“I love a challenge, and I think these athletes also love a challenge,” said Borger, who is also a SCCC professor and executive director of Student Success. Borger has been coaching for a total of 12 years and was ready for the fight.

The season occurs in March through April every year, keeping a tight schedule with about 30 to 40 games in two months. While this season has been tough, it’s nothing that the SCCC softball team can’t handle. 

“We’ve had our bumps and bruises, the weather is not on our side this year but in the last few years we have moved up to Division II and we are fighting for a spot every year for the final four championship,” said Borger. 

The team has a low roster right now due to injuries and grades. The region spans across New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania which means a “bigger pond” for the team. 

So far, there have been 12 games with one win and 11 losses, but Borger is confident the season will end in success. 

“I think by the end of our season, we will bounce back once the girls figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Borger. “I can see just from the beginning of the semester that they are close friends.” Borger also mentioned that the team has undergone a lot of change in a short period, but the team has only grown stronger. “They had some major setbacks where they could’ve walked away but didn’t, and that is remarkable,” said Borger. 

When building her team, Borger looks for players who are dedicated to growing and pushing themselves.

Through the challenges, memories have been made for the team. Borger recalls traveling with her team and playing laser tag and pickleball during a spring training trip to Delaware and Maryland. 

The goal for the season is to keep spirits high and end up on a positive note.

“End on a high note and make sure that these women are giving it all when they step on the field and making sure that they are keeping their grades up and lifting each other up,” said Borger. 

If any students are interested in joining the softball team next year, they can reach out to Borger. She's hoping to incorporate more diversity into the team next year to level up the competition. Keep in mind that the roster gets set in January 2026. 

Borger leaves students with this thought: “I value sharing the sport with the community; I want to see it grow locally. It’s all about confidence, loving what you do, and loving it while you do it. If you can share that passion with someone else, it can change your life as well as theirs.”