Kevin Costner starred in the 1999 movie For Love of the Game. That title has become synonymous with describing an exuberance for baseball. Softball has its own Love of the Game example to watch, and it is the Lady Falcons of Salisbury.

At 1-11 overall, this team could have folded. Finger pointing and a lack of effort could be going on all over the field. Some teams in this position even see players give up and leave the team. Instead, the Falcons go out and play because they want to be on the field.

Salisbury’s top pitcher and only pitcher, junior Beth Carney, suffered an ankle injury and was unable to pitch for the Falcons.

Last week at Patriot’s Park, Salisbury played the Allen Canaries, a team with struggles of its own, with no wins through their first eight games.

Salisbury pitching coach Mike Silberman asked his players if any of them had pitched and none had been in the circle since youth softball. He did find two willing participants in Jaylene Vasquez and Bailee Neitz, so he worked to get them ready.

“They both pitched in rec ball years ago, but it’s been that many years since anyone had pitched,” said Silberman. “They have been working at practice and were willing to give it a shot and they both worked hard. Bailey did phenomenal. She made them swing the bat and didn’t have many walks. They both did what we asked of them and gave it their best shot.”

Vasquez started before Silberman went to Neitz, who threw 3 2/3 innings against the Canaries. When the game ended, Allen slugged its way to its first win of the season by beating Salisbury 19-1. Along the way though, Salisbury players never hung their heads and battled until the final out was recorded.

The Falcons loaded the bases in the bottom of the final inning before Allen pitcher Nara Zekkario was able to get the final two outs to end the game.

Salisbury’s run came in the first when Gabby DeJesus singled with two outs and scored on a double by Zaira Stokes to make it 3-1 in favor of Allen.

At one point, Allen’s Juvitce Cortez hit a fly ball to center fielder DeJesus with two runners on base. DeJesus had to move to her right and tracked the ball perfectly and made a nice catch. While that would be nothing big for a lot of teams, it touched off a celebration by Salisbury players for a nice effort and play by their teammate.

“These girls really do love the game and we tell them to go out there and just play the game that way,” said Silberman, whose two daughters now play at Moravian College after playing for Salisbury. “That’s why you’re supposed to be here: because you love the game, and they put in the work at practice and in games because of that love and it’s great to see. We have a very young team, but we improve every week, and we are starting to make plays out there that we wouldn’t have made a couple weeks ago. There is definite improvement and as a coach, that’s what you look for.”

The coaching staff also has been both positive and patient. Coaches often work with players during the game to point out things that the players can work on and to also point out the things that they have done well.

There are some successful teams that do not exhibit the love for the game of softball the way the Falcons have this season.

There are eight games left on the schedule and four of them are against teams with losing records; Saucon Valley (4-6), Catasauqua (4-6), Southern Lehigh (4-6), and Central Catholic (1-10). If Salisbury can pull off a win or two the rest of the way, nobody should be surprised. Perhaps, one of the winning teams they face will take them to be a push over and find out just what playing because you love the game can do for a team.

“We are trying to build a program and we have a lot of inexperienced players on this team, but we find things to celebrate. Maybe it’s a nice catch or getting a bunt down or anything, just something to celebrate and build on and the girls have bought into that,” said Silberman. “For me, it has been fun to watch them learn and celebrate with each other instead of turning on each other. It’s a lot of fun.”