By HockomockSports.com Staff
Players are listed alphabetically
Jordan Bennett, Sophomore – King Philip
Bennett stepped into the circle as a freshman last spring and, despite a truncated playoff schedule that forced the Warriors to play twice in 24 hours, helped KP make a run to the Div. 1 South semifinal. She finished the regular season 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 35 innings. She also picked up wins in the tournament against Milton and Plymouth North before coming in to pitch 5-2/3 innings of two-run relief in the semifinal against the Tigers. Although not the biggest pitcher in the league, Bennett has good velocity and is able to move the ball on either side of the plate. As she showed against Taunton, Bennett is also tenacious in the circle, not giving in even to some of the best hitters in the state. An athletic player, Bennett can also field her position well. Expectations are always high around the KP program, with not only league title but state title aspirations, and Bennett’s development in her sophomore season could be a major factor in whether the Warriors get back on top this spring.
Emma Callahan, Freshman – Foxboro
Callahan was one of several eighth-graders that Foxboro got a waiver for last season because of low numbers in the program. Despite her youth, she stepped into the circle for the Warriors and pitched like a seasoned veteran, tossing two shutouts in the playoffs to help Foxboro reach the Div. 2 South semifinals. Callahan finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and an ERA of 3.80. She struck out 60 and walked 18 in 83 innings of work. She seemed to get even better in the postseason, shutting out Medfield and NDA and winning three games. Callahan was no slouch at the plate, batting 0.426 on the season with 20 hits, a homer, and seven RBI. With a year of varsity experience under her belt, Foxboro will be hoping that she comes in as a freshman and gives them a chance to challenge North Attleboro at the top of the division and be in line for another playoff run. Her production in the middle of the order will be key, as well as her ability to keep other teams off base with the movement of her pitches and her ability to locate. Foxboro will be in D3 this spring (against several familiar faces) and hoping to make some more noise come tournament time.
Rylie Camacho, Sophomore – Attleboro
Camacho, a sophomore outfielder, was third on the team in batting last year and led the Bombardiers in RBI as a freshman. It was one of the most balanced lineups that Attleboro has produced and with a year of varsity experience, Camacho could be ready for an even bigger role in the heart of the order this spring. She batted 0.413 with 19 hits, a home run, and 20 RBI in her rookie campaign while showing good poise and a strong arm behind the plate. With a solid eye, good plate discipline, and the ability to hit to all fields, Camacho is someone who could be a big run producer for an Attleboro lineup that returns the core of one of the league’s most dynamic groups. After earning a playoff win and coming within an inning of pulling an upset of cross-town rival Bishop Feehan to reach the D1 quarterfinals, Attleboro has the potential to make some noise in the state tournament. Camacho will be one of the players that the Bombardiers will hope can take the next step and keep them challenging the top teams in the league.
Kelly Colleran, Junior – North Attleboro
Colleran was a dominant presence at the plate for North Attleboro last season, helping the Rocketeers win the Davenport division title. As a sophomore, Colleran was second in the Hock in batting average (0.697), home runs (10), and RBI (32), while leading the league in hits (36). Opponents were unable to find ways to get her out. North will be counting on that production to continue this year with the Rocketeers looking to leave the Davenport with another title and make a deep run in Div. 2. A solid defensive shortstop with a good arm, Colleran can also step into the circle (5-2 with a 1.75 ERA last year) and gives North enviable depth at pitcher. It’s at the plate where she really turns heads. With a great eye and a powerful swing, Colleran is always a threat to go deep and someone that all teams will be hoping gets up without runners on base to avoid ending up with a crooked number that inning. There will be several new faces in the North lineup this spring, so Colleran’s bat in the middle of the order will be crucial for Big Red to make a big impact in the playoffs.
Maddie Homer, Junior – Oliver Ames
Homer returns at shortstop this season for the Tigers after an impressive sophomore campaign in which she finished in the top eight in the league in batting average and provided OA with a consistent presence at the top of the order. Quick and athletic, Homer covers a lot of ground to make plays at short and is a vocal leader out on the field. After batting 0.478 with 22 hits last year, she’ll be hoping to carry that momentum into a new season in which the Tigers will have hopes of making a run at a playoff spot. Her ability to not only get on base but to put the pressure on opposing defenses with her speed will be critical for an OA lineup that will be looking for more consistency this season. The Tigers were capable of having big games at the plate (scoring 14 runs against Franklin) but also had tough afternoons. Homer is one of the returning players that OA will be counting on to get back into playoff contention and challenge the top teams in the Hock.
Angie Lynch, Senior – Taunton
Lynch was one of the critical pieces in Taunton’s run to the Div. 1 state title last spring, setting the table for the power bats in the middle of the order. The speedy leadoff hitter seemed to find ways to get on base every at-bat during the playoff run, causing havoc with her aggression on the base paths. The chances she took to gain an extra base can sometimes produce moments of panic from the fans, but also forces defenses into errors that lead to big innings. After batting 0.455 in the regular season, with 20 hits and nine RBI, Lynch took it up a notch in the playoffs. Not just someone who relies on speed, Lynch hits the ball hard and has power to the gaps, which makes it even tougher to pitch her. Taunton graduated a lot of its power from last season, so Lynch’s speed and ability to take advantage of mistakes by opposing defenses could be a key source of runs. Lynch also covered a lot of ground in the outfield last season, seeming to become more comfortable in center as the season progressed. Expectations are always high around Jack Tripp Field and Lynch will be one of the reasons why the Tigers are eyeing another league title.
Sydney Menz, Senior – Stoughton
Stoughton wants to put pressure on North Attleboro at the top of the Davenport division and Menz is one of the returning players that gives the Black Knights confidence that a jump up the league standings is possible. An anchor for the outfield, Menz is a leader in center field and one of the top hitters in the middle of the Stoughton order. Quick, athletic, and with a big arm, Menz is capable of making big plays in the field and coming through with the big hit when the team needs it. She finished second on the team in batting average last season (0.408), racking up 20 hits. Menz can also hit for power with three homers and she drove in nine runs last season. Also a threat on the base paths, Menz gives the Black Knights a weapon in all phases of the game. Coming into a normal spring, Stoughton will be aiming for a return to the postseason this spring and Menz gives the Black Knights a dynamic presence in the order and out in center to build around.
Casey Moussette, Senior – Mansfield
One of the few Hornets with significant varsity experience last season, Moussette followed up her solid freshman campaign with a strong spring to help Mansfield not only reach the postseason but knock off the No. 2 seed and reach the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. A solid first baseman, with a good glove, Moussette has been a consistent part of the Mansfield lineup for the past two seasons, providing big at bats and driving in runs in big situations, including a two-out hit that plated a couple of early runs in the playoff win over Needham last season. Mansfield’s lineup got valuable varsity experience and should be even deeper this year, which will help Moussette get more opportunities to hit with runners on base and more chances to produce big innings. The Hornets will be hoping to make a push for another postseason run and Moussette will be at the heart of Mansfield’s success.
Trinity Payne, Senior – Sharon
Payne has been at the center of everything for Sharon the past couple of seasons, both as the starting pitcher and as one of the big bats in the middle of the Eagles lineup. The Simmons University commit is a three-year starter for the Eagles, and she mixes pitches well and keeps hitters off-balance. Her size can also make her an intimidating presence in the circle, using her leg kick to cut the distance to the plate. A powerful hitter, Payne is one of the top run producers for Sharon and gives them a chance at putting up crooked numbers in an inning. Sharon will be hoping to turn things around this spring and move off the foot of the Davenport division standings and Payne’s ability as a pitcher and hitter will be crucial for the Eagles to make a push up the league.
Julia White, Senior – Franklin
Franklin showed flashes last season of being able to make a postseason run, splitting games with both Attleboro and Mansfield, and fighting back in a remarkable 16-14 win over Oliver Ames, but the Panthers will be looking for a little more consistency this year. Having White fully healthy will be a big step forward. The senior second baseman battled a hand injury all last year but she is ready from the start this spring and gives Franklin a solid defensive player in the middle infield and also a run creator at the top of the order. A solid hitter to all fields, White is also a threat on the base paths, taking extra bases and getting into scoring position for the middle of the lineup. White getting on base more this season and causing havoc will be a big boost for the Franklin offense. The league is, as usual, loaded and as deep as ever, so for the Panthers to get back into the state tournament mix they’ll need White’s leadership both in the field and at the plate.