“Ellen and Emily are both very committed and disciplined players. Each has grown a lot in their four years here,” Harvard coach Jenny Allard remarks.
Henderson was named to the All-Ivy First Team her freshman year, when she set the Ancient Eight record for single-season steals. Her sophomore year, Henderson was tabbed for the All-Ivy Second Team.
Macadam earned a place on the All-Ivy Second Team her rookie season when she posted the highest batting averages, hits, runs, and doubles for the Crimson. In 2010, Macadam was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Northeast Region First-Team and the All-Ivy League First Team.
“They’re great to work with. They’re on the same page in terms of their goals for the team,” Allard adds. “They compliment each other well.”
As co-captains, Macadam is a strong voice in the infield. She has a “focused intensity” about her, as Allard describes. Henderson, the leader from the outfield, has found her voice in the past few years, directing the team with persistence and a positive image.
“I sound ridiculous, but we really don’t see each other very often at practice,” Henderson says. “We kind of joke when we get back to the room and say, ‘So how was practice for you?’”
As natural leaders of the team, the two will have more responsibility as they try to lead the squad to its first Ivy title since 2007.
“I expect both of them to be sparks in the lineup. As captains we expect them to set a great tone and have good pull for the team,” Allard says.
“Ellen’s very vocal. She’ll be the first one to speak after we come in, and her speeches really fire us up,” Brown says. “Emily is the one to put her arm around you if you’re having a tough time. She makes sure everyone on the team is doing well.”
Teammates for life
On top of the fun they have as co-captains, the pair each describe a deeper passion for softball and the team.
“Softball’s really been everything to me here,” Macadam says. “The team is my family.”
“The team is like having 20 other sisters,” Henderson adds.
As they look forward to the season, the two mention another set of goals they have in common: to treasure every game as a team and leave the program better than when they arrived.
“For me personally, the friendships on the team are really the part that lasts,” Henderson remarks. “And [hopefully] we can make the program more competitive and improve it more than it already has.”
“Above anything else, [we want to be remembered] as great teammates and great friends to everyone on the team,” Macadam echoes. “Also, to have made an impact on the program.”
Their strong desire to be remembered has already left an impression on the rest of the squad, Brown emphasizes.
“We’re not going to let them leave without a ring.”