Lanie Roy is Mt. Abram's newest varsity softball coach and is glad to be back as a Roadrunner. (David Hart photo) SALEM -- A familiar face is back on the softball field as Lanie Roy returns to the area, the Lady Roadrunners' newest varsity softball coach. Roy is the daughter of Phil and Paula Roy of Avon.

Roy played all four years on the varsity team and was a Mt. Abram graduate in 2003.

As a freshman, she played outfield and from there she spent the balance of her MTA career behind the plate as catcher.

Outside of her back-stopping duties, she received MVP awards for offence, making noise with her bat in her 10th, 11th and 12th grade years.

From there she went on to play for the University of Maine, Presque Isle where she also played catcher for three years. In her freshman year her team became conference champs.

One year she became the assistant coach due to a broken leg and was sidelined for the season. Her passion for the game kept her as part of the team the entire season.

Roy graduated college with a physical education degree.

In her senior year at UMPI, she was awarded the prestigious team MVP award. She spoke of great times playing college ball. Each year her team would travel to VA Beach on spring break and play a bunch of teams on the way down and back.

"I love being back," Roy said. She said she likes to see that the program has grown since she was a high school athlete and continuing to help build the program is very important to her.

Roy discussed some of the elements in the game of softball that are important to her and some of the top priorities she has as coach.

"As a coach I believe that every element is important. At bat, I love it when the girls hit the long ball, but I make sure that everyone on my team knows how to laydown a bunt when needed. On defense you just have to make the plays, always talking and knowing where every play is going."

Roy has played the game most all of her life and plans on putting her own softball experiences into her coaching.

"I believe winning and having fun go hand in hand, if you are getting your butts kicked game after game you aren't going to be having much fun. I like to run practices with a fun but structured setting. I try to end most practices with a fun game, where the winning team gets to pick a cardio drill for the losing team."

Roy said she doesn't mind losing as long as she knows that they played their hardest, and gave their all on every play.

"Sports have always been a huge part of my life and I have always been blessed with great coaches from middle school through high school. And now I feel like I can give what my coaches have taught me about the game back to the players."

"I would like to thank Jeff Pillsbury for teaching me the game inside and out." She says she feels that most everything she knows about the game today was covered as a student to Pillsbury's coaching.

"We have a great bunch of girls this year," Roy spoke of her team. "We have solid pitching with Molly, strength on the corner with Kenni, the Fullerton twins run the outfield and solid catching with Dani, who can also play anywhere."

"We have strength up the middle with Jillian and I have Katie, Becca London and Kylie who are interchangeable in right field or at second and either way we won't miss a beat," Roy said of some.

"We have both power and speed in our line-up, which is a deadly combination… looking forward to a great season."

The Lady Roadrunners kicked off their season with a game last week against the Jay Tigers.