In their 2024 season, the HSMSE Dragons showed incredible determination and talent as they made it to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, their loss against The Baccalaureate School for Global Education cost them the shot at becoming the Division 2A champions.
In the off season, the captains were faced with a difficult question: did they want to move up a division? While Ms. Downey’s proposal may have seemed peculiar after losing in the quarterfinals, it was one that made a lot of sense to the captains and players. One of the biggest struggles of being in the 2A division was the lack of playing time and practice. Due to teams being unprepared, lots of games ended in mercies—the Dragons would out-score the other team long before.
a typical game would end, or the other team would simply forfeit beforehand. Moving from 2A to 3A would create better chances for growth as the Dragons would have the chance to play stronger teams like Bronx Science and Stuyvesant. However, it would require an increase in dedication and practice for the Dragons to find themselves in the 2025 3A season playoffs.
The team came together and decided the extra work was worth it: they were ready to accept the challenge. Their season begins on March 24 in Division 3A, Manhattan 1. The countless hours of off season training don’t stop when the season begins; rather, practice intensifies as it increases from once a week to five times.
The time, dedication, and strength of the girl’s softball team is not just the dedication and strength of the players but also that of their coach. For her athletes, Ms. Downey is a role model on and off the field. I decided to speak with Ms. Downey for a few moments to discuss the future and take a look at the past.
Coach Feature!
Annalie: How has softball impacted your life?
Ms.Downey: Softball at HSMSE has impacted my life in so many wonderful ways. It has helped me push through tough life events. I have gotten the opportunity to know some of my favorite students of all time. It has provided a community for my daughters and the best role models for them that I can ever ask for. I love the relationships that are created through this mutual love and hard work that we put out. Every year at the alumni game, I feel this overwhelming sense of gratitude. So many amazing strong women that I had the opportunity to coach and that have impacted my life still coming back—some of them 12 years after they graduate—what better honor can you receive as a coach?
Annalie: What made you decide to become the softball coach, especially at such an academically smart school?
Ms.Downey: When I first started teaching at this school, I was fully committed to an All Star cheer program that I started on Long Island. Once I knew I was staying at this school for the long haul, I made the toughest decision: hand [the cheer program] over to my college cheer coach so that they can have a coach with more time for them. A few months later, a student that had started the softball team asked me to take over because they were struggling. It was, maybe, only the 2nd year they existed. The [timing] was impeccable because there was a coaching void in my heart—the rest is history.
Annalie: What is the most difficult part of your job as coach?
Ms.Downey: Coaching comes with many challenges: field space, budget, time management with a family at home, injuries, working with a variety of skill levels, etc. I find [that my biggest challenge] is motivating all my athletes, who all have their different reasons for playing, to fall in love with sport and develop the same passion as the athlete next to them so that they invest and give 100%.
Annalie: How do you feel looking towards this season?
Ms.Downey: I am so excited for this season! I love to take on new challenges, and I feel so confident that this year’s team is prepared to compete at the 3A level with some of the city’s most talented athletes. I can’t explain how proud it makes me that we have achieved this success.
Annalie: What was your biggest regret about last season?
Ms.Downey: Not delaying the [quarterfinal] game, not making the umps add [visible] foul lines to the [quarterfinal] field, and not protesting the call they made on Jane getting out at first.
Annalie: What is your favorite position?
Ms.Downey: This is a tough question. In our league, I love the pitcher and the catcher because they have so much control of the game. From personal experience, I like short stop because it was my position (I also see some of the most incredible plays made there). I also love shortstop because they are usually the team communicator. Every position in softball is so unique though, I really mean that.
Annalie: Do you find it difficult to encourage girls to join softball?
Ms.Downey: The team sells itself and students feel honored to be a part of this group. I never had a hard time getting girls to join and commit.
Annalie: What is your fondest memory from coaching?
Ms.Downey: Another tough question. I believe it was in 2016 when we won the first championship: it was the semifinal game… we trekked all the way to Staten Island and played Scholars Academy (who won the championship in the 3A last year). We were down and won the game by 1 run in the last inning. I had 7 seniors on the team that year who all played in that championship game. [They all] started their high school career at the lowest level (it used to be called developmental), where we didn’t win one game.
As the girls take on this new chapter of their team, be sure to cheer them on at Jacob Schiff playground on March 24th! More updates and information can be found at @hsmse.softball on Instagram.