Seven months of rigorous rehab on her knee led Maddie Coupal to the leadoff spot for Bishop Feehan softball - The Boston Globe (2025)

It represented a massive loss for the Shamrocks last season, as Coupal watched her teammates and friends from the sidelines. This year, the senior shortstop, committed to play for Boston University, leads off and has reinvigorated sixth-ranked Bishop Feehan (9-1).

Through her first 29 at-bats, Coupal has hammered out a .345 average, 17 runs, five home runs, and eight RBIs and serves as one of the best defensive shortstops in the state.

“She’s, if not the best, one of the best that I’ve ever coached in my near-20 years,” remarked Bishop Feehan coach Bill Milot.

Coupal, a North Attleboro resident, received surgery on Dec. 12, 2023. For the first week post-reconstruction, she was restricted to the couch.

“It’s very difficult, honestly,” she reflected. “It’s pretty hard mentally. You need to keep reminding yourself to take it day-by-day. It’s challenging, but I learned a lot . . . It made me stronger, for sure.”

The ensuing couple of months consisted going to physical therapy three times a week. At first, exercises were designed to bend the knee a couple of degrees. Eventually, she could fully bend and straighten it.

A step in the right direction, but not the final battle.

Next came running. Then cutting. Then picking back up softball activities. Many softball drills feature kneeling, which induced a great deal of pain. Coupal retrained her body and hardened her mind. Building up stamina is one thing — confidence is another.

Can I still trust my knee?

It’s not easy to be brave, exactly what’s necessary to overcome the mental hurdles associated with a debilitating injury. It took Coupal seven months to regain her previous form.

“I learned that you have to be as tough as you can,” she said. “Going through an injury like that, being away from softball for so long, it made me more grateful to be able to play. It’s a good reminder to think about that and have to come back from that, to reset from that perspective. When I fail, it helps me reset.”

Coupal’s stance features a wide base, her hands high and tight to her head. By constricting the zone with plenty of knee bend, she can explode through the ball.

In the third inning of a 10-2 victory against Archbishop Williams, Coupal laced a ground ball through the left side that reached the outfield before the infielders could take two steps.

In the bottom of the fifth, Coupal shuffled three paces to her left, collected a hot ground ball, and in one motion, fired sidearm to first base. It was textbook, exactly how a coach would teach the play.

Nine out of 10 times, that’s a base hit — or at least eats up the shortstop. For Coupal, it was routine.

“If you watch her play, it’s another level,” said Milot. “She’s playing at another level than anyone else on the field. She’s so smooth going to the ball, it’s incredible. She knows the game so well.”

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On a roster with nine seniors, Coupal’s ability and mental toughness earned her the respect of her teammates.

“They see her play and they are in awe,” said Milot.

Senior hurler Mylee Ramer, a returning All-Scholastic, dominates in the circle. The Rehoboth resident, committed to Stonehill, boasts plus velocity, pinpoint command, and a complete arsenal.

Buttressing Coupal and Ramer, senior Bella Silva hits the cover off the ball, and senior Gwen Camara, senior Caitlyn Deveney, and freshman Zoey Pereira serve as key contributors.

The sky’s the limit for the rest of a remarkable season.

“It’s really, really special to me,” said Coupal. “We have a great group of girls and it’s really fun playing with them. The team has great chemistry.”

Extra bases

In a busy vacation week, Tewksbury (7-3) rattled off four straight wins, vaulting the Redmen to the top of the Merrimack Valley Division 2 standings.

With wins over Wilmington, Methuen, Chelmsford, and Tyngsborough, as well as a close battle with Central Catholic, Tewksbury has the look of a contender.

“We just dug deep [during the week],” said first-year coach Kirsten Dickcq (Tewksbury ’16). “We were down to [Wilmington], and we were just like, ‘What are we doing? We’re not playing our game.’ And then a switch flipped for us.”

Pitcher Gabby Davis was sensational, starting and finishing every game during the win streak.

“She saw that the girls were making plays behind her, and she got more confidence to throw the ball how she can throw,” Dick added. “She knew the team behind her was going to make the plays they needed to.”

The highlight of the week, though, was an 11-inning victory over Chelmsford in which Tewksbury ralled from five runs down and walk it off on a sacrifice fly from Sophia Cappiello.

“Most teams might say, ‘Oh well, fifth inning, what are we to do?’ But we never gave up,” Dick said. “We never stopped believing, pushed through, worked through good at-bats. It was the longest game ever, but definitely well worth it.”

▪ It was a week of milestones across the circuit, headlined by Triton’s Emma Penniman collecting her 600th career strikeout.

“She’s been a godsend,” coach Alan Noyes said after Monday’s achievement.

Also picking up career marks were Dighton-Rehoboth’s Camryn Cloonan and Old Colony’s Kayleigh deSousa, who each notched their 100th career hits.

Games to watch

Wednesday, No. 14 Apponequet at No. 8 Joseph Case, 4 p.m. – Apponequet’s Reese Taylor and Case’s Lila Alvarez make for a duel of flamethrowers in the circle.

Wednesday, No. 2 King Philip at No. 1 Taunton, 6:30 p.m. – The top-ranked Tigers. The second-ranked Warriors. It doesn’t get much better to close out the April slate, in what could easily be a Division 1 state championship preview.

Saturday, No. 4 Dighton-Rehoboth at No. 15 Bridgewater-Raynham, 1 p.m. – Dighton-Rehoboth cruises into the week riding a five-game win streak, with their only loss coming to No. 1 Taunton.

Monday, Newton North at No. 10 Walpole, 4:30 p.m. – After falling out of the Globe Top 20 this week, Newton North could prove they belong with a quality win.

Correspondent Joe Eachus contributed to this story.

Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.