'The perfect storm': Mother and daughters together on the softball field for Oakmont
In past years, getting quality time with her daughters in the spring was a challenge for Oakmont Regional softball coach Katrina Bunting. Now, the equation is a bit simpler, as Bunting's daughters are both on the field with her.
Rachel Sinclair, a 2019 Oakmont grad, has joined her mother as an assistant coach and Sophie Gaidanowicz is playing for her big sister and mom as a senior on the team. It’s truly a family affair for Oakmont softball.
Bunting is in her third year as head coach after coaching the middle school team for about a decade. The past two seasons, she was coaching against Gaidanowicz's Monty Tech teams. While it was a unique dynamic to be opponents, the mother/daughter duo is glad to be on the same team for Gaidanowicz’s last season as she transferred to Oakmont.
“In the past, when we were playing against each other, I wanted to see her be successful, and she wanted us to be successful, but at the same time we had to be competitive,” Bunting said. “I think we split last year so that kind of worked out nicely.”
Along with Gaidanowicz, older sister Sinclair joined the team this season as a member of the coaching staff, making it the “perfect storm” for Bunting's family. Sinclair graduated from Worcester State last spring and, after starting as a math teacher at Oakmont, had the opportunity to also be a part of the mother-daughter softball show.
Together again
In years past, Bunting was always scrambling – coaching Oakmont, trying to catch Gaidanowicz’s games at Monty Tech when she could while also attempting to watch the live stream of Sinclair’s games at Worcester State and traveling to see her play in person when possible. Being all together for Gaidanowicz’s last high school season couldn’t have worked out more perfectly for the mother and daughters.
“I’ve been putting hard work into what I’m doing and I’m dedicated and I feel motivated with everyone around me,” Gaidanowicz said of her appreciation to have her mom and sister for her senior season.
The trio say that although there are the usual familial disputes from time to time, they all get along really well and have figured out a positive dynamic to have as coaches and player.
“There are times when her sister gives her feedback and it's very well received, and there are times,” Bunting said, “‘Go talk to Mom,’” Sinclair finished with a chuckle.
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For the most part, the trio works flawlessly together, drawing the line between mother/daughter and coaches/player while on the field. Gaidanowicz recognizes that during practices or games, her mom and sister are her coaches first.
A new viewpoint
Sinclair has an interesting perspective, especially, as a coach alongside her mother but also understanding Gaidanowicz’s position as the daughter. She has used her own experience to relate to the players while creating a coaching mindset in her new role.
“It’s cool from my standpoint because I get to see it from the coach’s standpoint but then I can also go to the girls and be like, ‘OK, what do you see?’ and I can relate to similar situations,” Sinclair said. “It's nice I have both of their brains to pick to come out with my own way to go about scenarios.”
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Bunting graduated from Oakmont in 1996 and played softball for the Spartans as well as playing at the college level for Worcester State. She had the opportunity to watch Sinclair follow in similar footsteps, and now gets to see Gaidanowicz play on the same high school field they both did.
Softball has been a part of their family for as long as they can remember, each of them starting the sport at 6 years old. Bunting had a hand in coaching the girls throughout their childhood.
“We’ve all crushed the ball to the same left field, we all crossed the same home plate. It’s a really neat thing,” Bunting said. “We’ve developed on the same field. It’s a unique experience.”
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Oakmont softball is a family, mother-daughter bond shines on field
