Bearing Down in the Outfield

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- They have been together in the outfield for the Bridgewater State University softball team on a regular basis the past two seasons.

Junior Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.) has been the left fielder, senior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) has played center field and senior Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) has been in right field.

After a two-game stint during the 2024 season, Ansell, Lynch and Becker started 19 games together last spring and have been in the outfield for 10 games this season.

Each one of the trio has made the All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference team along the way and the three of them have formed a chemistry that has made the Bears' outfield a strong point.

Ansell, Lynch and Becker have started 31 games together, and at least two of them have been in the lineup simultaneously since the beginning of the '24 season.

"It is something we do not take for granted," said coach Angela Vecchione. "They've been consistent. It's been amazing to see their growth together. That's huge, to be able to play the same people beside you in the outfield.

"It has been a joy to watch them grow as individuals but also as a trio out there. They pick each other up, they elevate each other, they feed off each other and they're setting the standard for the next level of outfielders that will come in after they all depart this spring."

The first time they were in the outfield at the same time was March 10, 2024 in the second game of a doubleheader against the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

The only other time that happened in the '24 season was April 15 against the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Ansell was the designated player for a good part of the season before moving to left field and Lynch sat out the final 12 games of the season.

Lynch, a transfer from Framingham State University, was at shortstop for a portion of the 2025 season before going back to center field and the three were able to make 19 starts together in the outfield.

The more they were able to play together, the better the chemistry became.

"We started to get to know each other more and more because we were playing together," said Lynch. "It's great having them next to me. I'm able to trust them a lot, and even if we're not producing the way we would like, we know how to lift each other up and what's best for us to move past that and move forward.

"I really enjoy having them next to me because we really understand each other."

Said Ansell, "We have a lot of fun out there. It's so nice having them out there with me."

Becker, who was a second-team All-MASCAC selection in '24 as a sophomore, has seen the chemistry of the three consistently grow.

"I think it's great,'' said Becker. "Over the past couple of years, being able to work with each other, getting to know each other's strengths and weaknesses, because of that, we're able to build off each other.

"You are comfortable going all out with the person next to you because you know them so well. We've built such a great bond and we're able to pick each other up quickly when a mistake is made."

Lynch, a state champion at Taunton High School, began her collegiate career at Framingham State where she hit .322 and made the All-MASCAC second team.

She batted .319 in 2024 at BSU and .376 with 26 stolen bases in 27 tries last season. Lynch is hitting .413, going 11-for-11 in stolen bases this spring.

"She just has an insatiable desire to be the best," said Vecchione. "No matter what position she plays, she's going to take it in, process it and want to be the best. She is an ultimate competitor."

Ansell is a .360 career hitter, batting .369 as a freshman, .366 as a sophomore and .333 so far this season with 102 hits in two-plus season. She was named to the all-conference first team as the DP in '24.

Ansell is graduating early and will finish her career this season after three years playing for the Bears.

"With Makayla, it's her consistency, the want to get better, her work ethic," said Vecchione. "She always wants to improve."

Becker is a career .306 hitter with her best season coming when she was a sophomore (.343).

"Watching her grow, she has brought herself to the next level," said Vecchione. "She wants to get better every single game, every single rep.''

In the outfield, the three of them work well together, knowing what to expect from one another.

"I think we just have clicked ever since a couple of years ago," said Ansell. "I know Angie in center field has my back. She runs on water. She is super fast. She has an arm like a cannon. She has a huge range and gets anything. And Victoria is so fast and can get everything out there.

"We've been working so well and so hard together that we know the capabilities of everybody. We've been there for so long."

Said Lynch of her fellow outfielders, "(Ansell) is very versatile. She is able to get (shallow) balls, balls that are behind her. She's really talkative. If she does something wrong, she points it out on herself and owns up to it. She's really great to have in left field. We have such great communication.

"Victoria tries her hardest to go after balls. She knows how to communicate well in the outfield. We just trust ech other and are able to get stuff done. We know who's ball it is."

Lynch and Becker are two of the fastest players on the team with 11 and eight stolen bases, respectively.

Their speed helps tracks down balls hit into right-center field, and the two know how to handle those situations.

"We're very comfortable with each other's speed since we're both fast," said Becker. "We know we can get to a gap ball and we're able to communicate who has the ball and who has the cut."

The chemistry now firmly in place with Ansell, Lynch and Becker is something that is recognized by the rest of the team.

The veteran outfielders are viewed as leaders, given the way they work so well together.

"Honestly, it's very important," said Lynch. "When I was playing Taunton High softball, we had such great chemistry and that's what kept us winning games and championships.

"Being on a new team the past three years, being able to keep that chemistry going and building it every year, we are able to to trust each other and perform our best in the outfield.

"We take a lot of pride in it. It's been us the past few years. I assume a lot of the incoming outfielders definitely look up to us. They are trying to understand how the outfield works and how to keep it going when we leave this year."

That final day is coming for the outfield trio of Ansell, Lynch and Becker.

They will leave the program at the same time after building something special side-by-side-by-side.

"It's not just talent-wise, it's personality-wise," said Vecchione. "For them, they keep it loose, they keep it fun. They still have that desire to win and it spreads to theteam. That's a huge aspect of it. They just love the game."

The trio is hoping to go out in style, and the Bears are off to a 12-8 start.

"I am not ready for it,'' said Ansell of the end of her career. "I'm trying to live in the moment with them. Being with them is good this last year. I'm glad we're all going together."

Said Lynch, "For sure, it's tough to see it end. Having them next to me, I wouldn't ask for anyone else to be by my side ending my softball career. I've been playing softball for years and years and it's great to finish it with them."

Added Becker, "It definitely would not be the same if we were playing without one of us."