Meet Caroline Atkinson

Name, Age: Caroline Atkinson, 17

Class Year: 2011

Sport, Position: Softball, First Base

Why’s Caroline Atkinson the Patch Player of the Week?

Caroline Atkinson is a senior tri-captain for the varsity softball team this season and has been a member of the team all four of her high school years. The Hawks first baseman has been a big threat to opposing pitchers this season, as she is the fourth leading hitter (batting average) in the Mid-Wach A League, batting at a .488 clip. Atkinson has four doubles, one triple and nine RBIs this season, but most importantly, has come up big with timely hits when needed for head coach Brian Macchi’s squad. This past Friday against Shrewsbury, the Hawks found themselves down 2-1 in the fifth before Atkinson singled in the tying run, helping Milford to go on to win the game 5-2. “She has come up with important hits throughout the season,” Macchi said. “Caroline [Atkinson] is one of our tri-captains and continues to lead by example on the field, especially at the plate.”

Atkinson has helped lead the Hawks to a 13-0 record in the Mid-Wach A and hopes that the team is able to continue playing well. “We are following in the footsteps of last year, and hopefully, we can keep it going,” she said. “I look forward to seeing other teams in the playoffs and hopefully ending up at Worcester State [University for the states].”

Though Atkinson leads by example on the softball field, she also leads by example off the field too, as she is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in Milford High School’s Theater Workshop, which has put on two productions this year: "The Stepford Wives" and “Jekyll and Hyde.” Atkinson has also played field hockey and been a member of the indoor track team (captaining the team her senior year) since she was a sophomore. On the field hockey field she played left half-back and on the track team she participated in the mile and threw the shot-put.

What college or professional athlete inspires you and why?

Denise Davis, she owns the Planet Fast Pitch, a softball clinic in Uxbridge. I’ve been going to her since I was 12-years-old and learning how to pitch. She’s definitely inspired me to keep going with the sport and just in general, she’s a really big part of the reason why I still play.

What is your most memorable experience as an athlete so far?

I’d definitely have to say last year, the entire season really. Our undefeated season going on until the playoffs and that whole ride up until the last game at states was really an inspirational experience and if I had to choose any favorite memory out of my athletic career, I’d have to choose last years’ season, but hopefully this season we’ll come out on top too.

What are your plans for the future athletically and academically?

Next year I plan on going to Roger Williams [University] and I’m going to try to walk onto the softball team there. While I play softball, I’m looking to study international business and French, those are the only plans I have so far, so we’ll how that goes.