On Quincy softball, sisters being together is the biggest hit

QUINCY -- Doug Sorensen watched from the sidelines at Pageant Field, a softball diamond that overlooks marshland and Quincy Shore Drive.

On the first warm afternoon of the year, his daughters, Rachel and Rebi, took the field for Quincy High School in a game against Cardinal Spellman, one of the top high school teams in the state.

Spellman's Ashley Bernstein proved why she was the Massachusetts High School Softball Player of the Year last season. She fashioned her third no-hitter of the year for unbeaten Spellman as the Cardinals rolled to an 11-0 victory over the Lady Presidents on the sunny afternoon last Wednesday.

It was the first loss of the season for Quincy, but no matter how this season plays out for their team, the Sorensen sisters savor every moment on the field together.

More than a year ago, Rachel Sorensen was looking forward to her senior season for the Lady Presidents. She was their No. 1 pitcher and Quincy was the defending Atlantic Coast League champion. But in February 2004, she got sick. First the family thought it was the flu. But her conditioned worsened. She lost more than 30 pounds as doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital tried to determine what ailed her.

''Problem was Rachel is a trooper," said her father. ''She never complains. Even when she was in extreme pain, she hardly complained." After a week of testing, Rachel Sorensen was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. It causes severe muscle weakness and can cause heart and breathing problems.

Sorensen, now 19, spent two weeks at Mass. General before returning home in a wheelchair and beginning an extensive rehabilitation program. Eventually, she walked with the aid of a walker. She missed so much school that her parents decided it was best that she repeat her senior year.

Her teammates and coaches were there for her, offering support. ''I love this team, all the girls are like my sisters," said Rachel Sorensen.

Her coach, Mike Sedar, said he will never forget his conversation with Sorensen when she was in the hospital.

''When she first got sick, I said to her, 'How you doing?' She said to me, and I'll never forget it, 'Coach, how are you doing. I'm worried about you and the team.' It doesn't get any better than that."

Although she was unable to play for the Lady Presidents last year, she was part of the team. They all wore her name on their batting helmets.

''Besides our team, many of the other teams in the league knew of her plight, and they would come over after games and give her their best," said Doug Sorensen. ''That was special."

The Quincy team is a family because it is so small. A year ago, with Rachel sidelined, they did not have enough players to field a junior varsity squad. Rachel watched from the sidelines. ''I was envious of them. It hurt more not to play that you can imagine," she said.

Her younger sister, Rebi, 17, took over pitching duties and did well. They nearly repeated as league champions, losing to Whitman-Hanson Regional.

This year, they are chasing the league title again.

In the opener on April 11, Rachel Sorensen threw a perfect game, beating Plymouth South High School.

The next game, on April 14, facing Whitman-Hanson's star pitcher Lisa de la Campa, Rebi Sorensen struck out 14, and Quincy won, 1-0, in eight innings.

''I talked to Rachel after she threw a no-hitter," said Quincy High's athletic director, Ed Miller. ''I wanted her to know how proud of her we are. She is a special person."

Miller coordinated the application process so that Rachel Sorensen could play this season.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rarely grants waivers to athletes who are 19 or in their fifth year of high school. ''But this was legitimate," said Miller. ''The MIAA understood how sick she really was."

Rebi did not know what to make of having her sister in the same senior class. ''I was hesitant at first. It was weird because she is my older sister. But now that it's here, I'm enjoying every day. Two of us are better than one."

Rachel Sorensen tried to graduate last year. She battled to return to school last spring. ''But I told her she had to be able to walk to the bus stop," said her father. ''She fell down when she got out of the house. She was that weak."

Sorensen underwent rigorous rehabilitation at the Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, and Sedar says it is a miracle she is on the playing field this spring.

''That's the way this kid is," said the coach. ''She's a joy to be around every day. She comes in the first game of the year this season, and I throw her against Plymouth South and she throws a no-no, a perfect game."

Sedar said he always knew Rachel Sorensen would play softball again.

''You know, it sounds stupid, but I expected her back. I guess this disease can be devastating. But knowing her and her father, they have a great faith. They don't practice or play softball on Sundays because they go to church. If I'm on the golf course and there is a lightning storm, I'm going to stand next to her because God isn't going to take us. She's too good a kid."