Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/28/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
King Philip, 5 @ Attleboro, 2 – FinalRudy Gately tossed a complete game, allowing only one earned run, to help the Warriors bounce back with a road win. Gately gave up six hits and struck out five. He also had a hit and scored a pair of runs. Max Robison drove in the first KP run in the second with a ground ball that brought in Gately, who had walked. In the third, Travis Crawford singled and stole second. Matthew Kelley dropped down a sac bunt to move Crawford to third and then Shawn Legere scored the run with a double to center. KP scored the winning runs in the sixth. Brendan Sencaj singled and Gately bunted for a hit, with Sencaj moving to third and Gately taking second. Will Astorino’s ground ball brought in one and Matt DiFiore’s safety squeeze scored Gately. The Warriors got an insurance run in the seventh. Kelley walked and Legere was hit by a pitch. A Sencaj fly ball moved Kelley to third and he would come home on a passed ball.

Sharon, 6 @ Canton, 10 – FinalCanton put up 10 runs for the second straight day and earned another win, this time taking down visiting Sharon. Tied 1-1 through 3.5 innings, Canton exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a lead for good. Jay Kelleher and Matt Quan each drove in a pair of runs with a single to push the Bulldogs advantage to 6-1. Sharon responded with four runs in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run game but Canton answered with three of its own in the bottom half to pad the lead, getting an RBI from both Hayden Rose and Matt Hart. Jack Digirolamo went 3-for-4 for Canton with two RBI and two runs scored while Quan tossed two scoreless innings in relief to get the save. Palash Raina had a three-run triple for Sharon and scored a pair of runs.

Foxboro, 9 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – FinalFoxboro freshman Nolan Gordon tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Warriors to a quality win on the road at Frothingham Park over Oliver Ames. Gordon allowed seven hits, six of them singles, and didn’t have a walk, striking out four for the win. The Warriors’ offense plated three runs in three straight innings starting in the third inning. Junior Louis Carangelo had an RBI single, freshman Ryan O’Leary scored on a wild pitch, and Jack Watts scored on a ground out as Foxboro jumped ahead 3-0. Freshman Ben Angelini had a one-out RBI single to start the scoring in the fourth, and Carangelo drove in two more with a two-out single to center to make it 6-0. Liam Mulkern’s triple brought Tom Marcucella (double) home in the top of the fifth, Angelini drew a bases-loaded walk for a run, and Kenny Mello (HBP) scored on a ground out to make it 9-0.

Milford, 1 @ Franklin, 11 – Final (6 Inn.)Franklin pushed across four runs in the bottom of the third to increase its lead to 5-0, and then ended the game with a six-run fifth inning to knock off Milford. Jase Lyons continued to rake at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored to pace the Panthers’ offense. Chris Goode added two hits and two RBI, Eisig Chin also drove in two runs, and Henry DiGiorgio had a pair of hits and three runs scored. Junior Alfred Mucciarone had a strong outing on the bump, allowing one run on six hits and no walks, striking out five in five innings.

Taunton, 2 @ Mansfield, 7 – FinalMansfield exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and that was enough as the Hornets handed Taunton its first loss of the season. The Tigers staked a 1-0 lead after an RBI double from Braden Sullivan scored Dawson Bryce in the top of the first but Mansfield answered quickly, loading the bases on three of the first four at-bars. Jared Fraone singled in Matt DeShiro, Connor Curtis drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0, and Jake Maydak brought home two runs on a base hit. With two outs, Conner Zukowski got his second hit of the inning with a two-run double to make it 7-1. Jimmy Gilleran handled the lead the rest of the way for the Hornets, allowing just two runs on five hits and one walk, striking out six in a complete game effort.

North Attleboro, 7 @ Stoughton, 3 – FinalStoughton led 3-0 after two innings, but North rallied with seven runs in the final two innings to pick up the win and stay unbeaten in league play. Danny Curran went the distance for the Rocketeers, allowing only four hits and one earned run, striking out seven. The Black Knights got one in the first and two in the second to take the early lead. It took until the sixth inning before North got on the board. Derek Maceda started the rally with a walk, stole second, and scored on a triple by Tyler DeMattio (3-for-3, two extra base hits and two RBI). DeMattio would score on a ground out by Curran. North took the lead with a five-run seventh. Jordan Paradis beat out an infield single to lead things off, David Floyd followed with a single and both moved up on a sac bunt by Christian Bates. Tyler Bannon brought them both home with a double and DeMattio scored him with a double. Curran (three RBI) plated two more with a single up the middle to put North up by four.








Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 7 – FinalKing Philip softball Jordan Bennett tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Warriors to a 7-0 win over a quality opponent in Attleboro. Bennett allowed just two singles — both to Attleboro’s Lily Routhier — with one coming in the first, and one coming in the sixth, but responded with a strikeout for the third out on both occasions. Junior Charlotte Raymond and freshman Liv Petrillo each brought in a run with an RBI single during KP’s four-run second inning, and two runs came in to score after an error on sophomore Maddie Paschke’s squeeze bunt. KP added two key insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth after both junior Sarah Cullen and sophomore Caitlyn Sencaj singled and then both came into score on a hit from senior Meg Sherwood. Petrillo drove in another run with a double in the bottom of the fifth to plate Mia Bennett (walk).

Canton, 16 @ Sharon, 3 – FinalJessica Wright and Olivia Mackwell each recorded five hits and drove in five runs as Canton picked up a big win on the road over Sharon. Sam Vrabel added four hits and drove in three runs while Taylor Reynolds chipped in with a pair of hits and four RBI on the same. Sophia Santos and Gillian Gordon pitched well for the Bulldogs in the win.

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 10 – FinalClick here for a photo gallery of this gameFoxboro scored in each of the first five innings, including a four-run second and a three-run fifth, to secure a win over visiting Oliver Ames. Freshman Vittoria Cuscia had a big day for the Warriors, getting it done both in the circle and at the plate. She tossed a complete game, including six shutout innings before the Tigers struck for three in the seventh. She added seven strikeouts and then paced the offense with three hits and two runs scored. Peyton Feldman had a big day on the base path, stealing four bases and scoring three runs.

Franklin, 18 @ Milford, 8 – FinalFranklin’s bats exploded for 18 runs on 18 hits, scoring in five straight innings between the second and sixth inning during a victory over Milford. Sophomore Carly Johnson-Pellegri had a huge day at the dish, going 4-for-5 while driving in eight runs to pace the Panthers’ offense, scoring three times herself. Kiera Kotwicki added three hits, three runs, and RBI in the win while Aislinn Lavery (two RBI), Georgia Harvey, Katy Liberman and Hailey Fales each added two hits in the win. Milford’s Cae Pellegrini had two hits, including her second home run in as many days, and sophomore Grace Bonina chipped in with two hits and two RBI in the win.

Mansfield, 0 @ Taunton, 13 – Final (5 Inn.)Taunton scored 11 runs in the first inning and never looked back, rolling to a big win and ending Mansfield’s three-game win streak. Liv Mendonca allowed just two hits and one walk and struck out nine to pick up the win. Kyleah Plumb (two runs), Kaysie DeMoura (two runs and five RBI), Ava Venturelli (thee runs and two RBI), and Hayley Krockta (run scored and RBI) each had two hits for the Tigers. Angie Lynch drove in a pair and Kylie Thorpe and Mendonca both drove in one. Venturelli and DeMoura both went deep for Taunton. Callie Lake and Cat Kipp had Mansfield’s hits.

Stoughton, 2 @ North Attleboro, 7 – FinalKelly Colleran was dominant in the circle and at the plate, leading North to a crucial division win over Stoughton. Colleran earned the win with a 14-strikeout day and helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, and three RBI. Mandi Hanewich continued to do her job in the leadoff spot with two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored. Shaelyn Burns blasted a three-run homer in the third to give North separation. Ally Levine and Zoey McDonough added a hit and a run scored apiece, while Maryellen Charette had a strong game at catcher.




Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 14 @ Canton, 9 – FinalClayton Billingkoff and Connor Ruppert each scored four goals to help North earn the season sweep of Canton. Matt Antonetti added a hat trick for the Rocketeers and JT Gallagher was trong in goal with 12 saves. Jared Vacher continued to be a force on the draw, winning 19 face-offs.

Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro vs. Norton, 4:00

Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – FinalKing Philip swept all three singles matches and added another win in doubles play, taking a 4-1 verdict over visiting Attleboro. Senior Brady Jannell prevailed with a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 win at first singles, senior Jonathan Cohen added a 6-1, 6-1 second doubles win, and junior Jackson Hom secured a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles. The team of senior Diego Neto and junior Noah Ihley added a first doubles win (7-6, 6-4) for the Warriors. Attleboro’s Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen won 6-2, 6-3 at second doubles.

Canton, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – FinalA sweep of doubles and one win from singles action gave Sharon a close win over visiting Canton. The team of Ruemon Bhattacharyya and Mitch Weiss won at first doubles, while Hyojae Park and Sava Kassev won at second doubles for the Eagles. Sharon also got a win from Jacob Slavsky (6-1, 6-0) at third singles. Canton sophomore Max Kupferman prevailed from a well-played, hard-fought first singles battle with sophomore Matthew Lally to take a 6-3, 6-7, 10-8 win while Suraj Ramanathan added a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles for the Bulldogs.

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – FinalClick here for a photo gallery of this matchOliver Ames second doubles team of Alex Vasiliou and Ben Dias emerged victorious after a marathon three-set match, giving the Tigers their fourth straight win. Second doubles was a battle from the get-go and Vasiliou and Dias prevailed with a 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 win to clinch the match. The Tigers also got a big win from sophomore Nick Westerbeke, who dropped the first set 0-6 but rallied to win the second, and took the third 6-2 at first singles.

Franklin, 5 @ Milford, 0 – FinalFranklin won all five matches in straights to stay undefeated on the season, moving to 7-0. Senior Drew Mahoney earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, sophomore Ahan Shetty secured a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles, and junior Ryan Essam prevailed from third singles with a 6-4, 6-4 verdict. The team of seniors Tim O’Keefe and Aidan Karlowicz earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles, and the team of freshman Dan Reis and junior Tyler Fitzpatrick were victorious, 6-1, 6-0, at second doubles.

Mansfield, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – FinalSenior Pratham Tallam and junior Jesse Colchamiro overcame a one-set deficit to prevail with a third-set tiebreaker win, completing Mansfield’s sweep over Taunton. Pratham and Colchamiro earned a 4-6, 7-5, 10-5 win at first doubles and sophomore Jacob Weiner and junior James Kennedy secured a 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles. Mansfield won all three singles matches in first sets: Neema Khosravani (6-1, 6-1) at first singles, Kailash Elumela (6-2, 6-0) at second singles, and Benson Delaney (6-0, 6-0) at third singles.

Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – FinalFreshman Darren Liang and the sophomore tandem of Quinn DiFiore and Aaryan Anjna both overcome a one-set deficit to get a win, helping North Attleboro complete a sweep over Stoughton. Liang rallied for a win at third singles, taking the match 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 while DiFiore and Anjna earned a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10) win at second doubles. Senior Will Folan took a 6-2, 6-0 decision at first singles, junior Brody Carter added a 6-3, 7-5 victory at second sinlges, and the team of junior Griffin Rodden and sophomore Arnav Raghuvanshi secured a 6-4, 6-3 first doubles win for North Attleboro.




Girls Tennis
King Philip, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – FinalAttleboro picked up its biggest win of the season, getting a big boost in doubles action, with a 3-2 decision over King Philip. Seniors Saharla Yusuf and Tina Lam continued their impressive campaign with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win at first doubles while the team of senior Alison Rebelo and junior Bree Paulette emerged with a 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles. The Bombardiers got a third point at first singles from senior Ella Lynch Bartek (6-2, 6-6 [2-3] ret.). King Philip sophomore Shea Mellman earned a 6-4, 6-3 win at second singles and junior Caroline Freese added a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win at third singles.

Sharon, 5 @ Canton, 0 – FinalSharon’s Navya Shukla emerged from a third-set tiebreaker that took 34 points to decide to get the win, completing the Eagles’ sweep over Canton. Shukla and Canton’s Camila Cutter split the first two sets before engaging in an epic tie-breaker with the hosts first singles prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 18-16. Sharon also got wins from Ale Aguilar at second singles (6-2, 6-2), Judy Song at third singles (6-1, 6-1), the team of Ritu Sreeram and Sophia Oh at first doubles (6-2, 6-2), and the duo of Sasha Fein and Abby Vilk at second doubles (6-2, 6-4).

Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – FinalThe team of Olivia Querzoli and Marina Mierzwinksi rallied from a one-set deficit to win two in a row, clinching the decisive third point to give the Tigers a win over Foxboro, their third win this week. Querzoli and Mierzwinksi rallied to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win while OA’s first doubles team of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper earned a 6-1, 6-4 victory. OA’s first win came at third singles from Elizabeth O’Brien (6-2, 6-1). Foxboro won both first singles (Athena Li) and second singles (Hailey Kornbluth) without dropping a set, taking both 6-0, 6-0.

Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – FinalTaking all five matches in straight sets, Franklin defended home court against visiting Milford. Izzy Trull took a 6-2, 6-0 win at first singles, Vedika Vinayak earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and Sarah Schiavo completed the singles sweep with a 6-0, 6-3 victory at third singles. The team of Allison Bagley and Amulya Jayam earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at at first doubles while the tandem of Ashmita Boopathy and Brooke Daniels emerged with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at second doubles.

Taunton @ Mansfield, 3:45
North Attleboro @ Stoughton, 3:45

Boys Volleyball
Taunton vs. Greater New Bedford, 5:00

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Taunton is coming off a state championship and a perfect season, but there will be plenty of competition for the league crown this season. Read team-by-team previews below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Attleboro

2021 Record: 9-7
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Mark Homer
Last spring, Attleboro was an inning away from upsetting crosstown rival Bishop Feehan and reaching the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. The Bombardiers were also the only team to score on state champ Taunton. That is a good foundation to build on coming into a new season, as Attleboro brings back a strong core of players looking to challenge the top two in the Kelley-Rex and make another state tournament push.

Senior Lindsey Perry, who can also play second base, will be in the circle for the Bombardiers to start the season and will be throwing to sophomore Rylie Camacho, who had an impressive debut campaign at the plate and in the field. Senior Hailey Perry is coming back from a knee injury but should be at shortstop early in the season. Attleboro added pitching depth this season with junior Lily Routhier transferring in from Wheelock School (R.I.). Routhier will also play center field when she’s not pitching.

Sophomore Kayla Goldrick is another player coming off a standout rookie season and she will be at third and in the middle of the order. Junior Lauren Eby will return at the other corner and junior Sarah Maher gives Attleboro versatility by being able to play multiple positions. The Bombardiers have a balanced lineup and will be able to incorporate new faces to the program and players pulled up from JV to find the right combinations.

“The team’s goal is to stay competitive for every practice and game, and qualify for states,” said Attleboro coach Mark Homer. “We must be consistent in every aspect of the game. It’s always a tall order, but this team has the potential and determination to make it happen. We’re gonna have fun doing it.”

Canton

2021 Record: 5-11
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Sandy Lombardi
Canton returns seven players from last year’s team, which went on the road to beat Cardinal Spellman in the first round of the state tournament. After Dave Bohane stepped down, Sharon girls basketball coach and former Duxbury softball coach Sandy Lombardi has taken over the Bulldogs hoping to take the mix of experience and new talent on another trip to the postseason.

The Bulldogs will have depth in the circle this season with seniors Gillian Gordon and Sophia Santos bringing experience to the position and sophomore Jess Wright adding another option. Senior Taylor Reynolds brings a strong bat to the top of the order and will play in left field. Senior Emily Ciampa will return at second base, with Wright playing mostly at first, and junior Olivia Mackwell behind the plate. Sophomore Laura Valkanas will be at shortstop.

Freshman Chloe Guerschuny is a new face at third base and classmate Klara Redquest will take over from Liz Bickett in center. Senior Jessica Vo, junior Sam Vrabel, and sophomore Anna Lehan are all newcomers on varsity who will give Canton additional options in the outfield and in the lineup.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Lombardi said, “We have a good mix of upper and underclassmen. The girls are working hard and we are looking forward to competing in a tough Hockomock League.”







Foxboro

2021 Record: 11-6
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Mark Maguire
With two eighth graders in the starting lineup, including one in the circle, no one was quite sure how good Foxboro could be last spring. As it turned out, the Warriors were good enough to make a run all the way to the Div. 2 South quarterfinal. With additional pitching depth and critical varsity experience, Foxboro will try to build on that momentum and make another deep tournament run.

Senior Peyton Feldman was one of the top hitters in the league last season and she will be moving to shortstop while continuing to lead off. Senior Allie Willis will add leadership from the catcher position, as she is in her third year behind the plate. Her experience is critical when working with Foxboro’s young pitching staff. Freshman Emma Callahan had a breakout season as the starter last year and she will get the chance to play some second and third base as well to make sure her bat stays in the lineup. Freshman Vittoria Cuscia and sophomore lefty Angelina Rifai will give Foxboro more options in the circle.

Foxboro will have plenty of speed in the lineup this season. Freshman Jillian Slattery and Natalia Leach are athletic outfielders and will add production from the bottom half of the order. Freshman Ava Hill is back to start at first base after a solid eighth grade season and Fiona Dunn will get the start in right field.

“We are a young team that is looking to compete for the Davenport division,” said Foxboro coach Mark Maguire. “We have some very good athletes that look to take their softball skills to the next level. They are a group of kids who are a pleasure to coach.”

Franklin

2021 Record: 6-9
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Katie Holbrook
Last season, Franklin showed that it could score runs in bunches, hitting double digits in five of its 15 games, but the Panthers could also allow runs in bunches with teams reaching double digits six times. With seven returning players, second-year coach Katie Holbrook is hoping that experience and depth will carry the Panthers back up the standings and into the postseason.

Franklin will have depth in the circle this season with senior Aislinn Lavery taking the bulk of the innings and junior Kiera Kotwicki able to step in when needed. Both will mix pitches and keep teams off-balance. Junior Hailey Fales will be back behind the plate, adding another layer of experience to the pitching staff. Senior Julia White battled an injury all spring in 2021 but she is back healthy and back in the middle of the infield and the order. Junior Georgia Harvey is a versatile player who can fill in at multiple positions and batted 0.426 as a sophomore.

Sophomore Carly Johnson-Pellegri had an impressive rookie season and will be moving from second to short and senior Hannah Cacciapaglia is back at first, and in the middle of the order, after recovering from an injury that kept her out all of last spring. The outfield looks strong for the Panthers this season. Senior Kelly Moussa has a strong arm in right and juniors Reece Allen and Dana Stott are two newcomers that could play big roles for the team this season.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

“We have a lot of different players who can jump in and be the spark at any given moment,” Holbrook said. “There are a lot of new players in the mix, but they are already showing signs of coming together as a team and leadership is not lacking in this group. If they can remain poised and confident and play their game, we should do well this season.”




King Philip

2021 Record: 14-3
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Kate Fallon-Comeau
King Philip lost only three games last season and all of those were to league and state champion Taunton. The Warriors bring back a lot of players from last season and that has put high expectations on one of the state’s perennial powers to get back on top not only in the Kelley-Rex division but also once the tournament kicks off.

A year of varsity experience might be most beneficial in the circle where senior Emma Sheehan and sophomore Jordan Bennett give the Warriors a lot of depth for a long season. Both saw plenty of action last year, including in the playoffs and they should be ready for the challenge of the new season. Junior Sarah Cullen will also be back behind the plate for the Warriors after an impressive debut season in which she batted nearly .500.

Infield defense was a strength for the Warriors, even after an injury to junior shortstop Libby Walsh. Senior Mia Bennett returns at second base and sophomore Maddie Paschke will be back at third base, after an impressive playoff run at the hot corner. Senior Meg Sherwood will add leadership in the outfield, while juniors Charlotte Raymond and Ava Lanza provide a spark in the lineup.

KP coach Kate Fallon-Comeau said, “We’re hoping to have a solid season, make the tournament, and see where it goes from there!”

Mansfield

2021 Record: 9-8
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Lori Letendre
Mansfield made a surprising run to the quarterfinal of the South sectional last spring, winning at Needham and at No. 2 seed Natick before falling to perennial power Silver Lake. With seven starters returning, the Hornets will be aiming at another tournament run this year and building the confidence that they can challenge the top teams in the Kelley-Rex.

Pitching will be a question mark for Mansfield this year after graduating last year’s starter Ashlyn Conley. Senior Julia Kelly, better known for her exploits on the volleyball court, will join the team for the first time in her career and will get the chance in the circle. Junior Amanda Schwarz will also be given time in the circle, as she makes the jump up from JV.

The lineup was young and inexperienced last season, but still proved to be dynamic and most of the players who came through with big at-bats have returned. Seniors Alanna Conley, Olivia DeTrolio, and Casey Moussette are all back along with sophomores Molly Kucharski, Callie Lake, Jill Koppy, and Liv Madeira, who all had impressive rookie seasons.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

“It’s been fun to get back on the field and start working with a great group of girls and we are looking forward to the season!” said Mansfield coach Lori Letendre.

Milford

2021 Record: 0-14
2021 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Steve DiVitto
The Kelley-Rex division is loaded every year and a young Milford roster is hungry to move past a couple of tough seasons to be more competitive in a difficult league schedule. While the Hawks went winless in 2021, they lost twice to Mansfield by a combined five runs and lost by only two runs to Franklin and Sharon, so the Hawks had opportunities to come out on top. Now, with a year that is closer to normal, Milford hopes to take the next step and turn those close defeats into victories.

While the roster is almost all underclassmen, Milford does return seven players from last year. Only two of the returners are upperclassmen, senior pitcher and outfielder Olivia Morelli and senior third baseman Gianna Cacciola. Both captains are entering their third seasons on varsity and going to be expected to provide leadership for the rest of the lineup, which is almost all freshmen and sophomores.

Also returning this year are sophomores Maddie Burns (catcher and first base), Camille Bonina (first base and outfield), Grace Bonina (middle infield), Maeve Driscoll (pitcher, shortstop, and outfield), and Sarah Wengel (outfield and first base). Each player gained valuable experience as freshmen and provide a lot of versatility in how the team will line up. The Hawks will also look to a trio of freshmen for instant impact as starters or off the bench, including pitcher Cae Pellegrini, outfielder Jianna Fernandes, and shortstop Olivia Baglione.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

“With such a young crew, we will rely on our two seniors, our captains, who have four years of experience to help lead the way,” said Milford coach Steve DiVitto. “We pride ourselves on keeping strong team chemistry; something that will be an important part of this season. We’re hungry to get back on the field!”




North Attleboro

2021 Record: 12-4
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro has won back-to-back league titles for the first time in program history and would love to make it a three-peat before moving to the Kelley-Rex division next season. The Rocketeers graduated four starters, so there will be opportunities for underclassmen to step in and contribute right away, but North also has a strong core, particularly with two strong starting pitchers, to make a run in the Div. 2 tournament.

Juniors Zoey McDonough and Kelly Colleran are back and give North an impressive one-two punch in the circle. Both players were all-stars in their debut seasons, and both are Div. I college recruits. Since they’re also important to the lineup, McDonough will play first and Colleran will play short when they’re not pitching. Senior Mandi Hanewich is battling a hand injury at the start of the season, but the four-year varsity player will add leadership in center, while senior Ally Levine will be behind the plate working with North’s staff. Junior Grace Simmons is the fifth returning starter and the right fielder will also get the chance to produce at the plate as well.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Senior Shaelyn Burns will take over at third after being the DP for most of last season, while freshman Maryellen Charette gets the nod at short or at first, depending on who the starting pitcher will be. Junior Emma Hanwell and senior Grace Barry will both get chances in the outfield, while juniors Maddie Bailey and Julia Forman will play second and be the DP. Freshman Aryanna McDavitt provides much-needed versatility, as she can play anywhere in the infield and pitch when called on.

“Our goals don’t change – what does change is the approach to get there,” said North coach Bill Wallace. “We’re working at it, let’s see if we retain it. The girls are focused – they know what’s in front of them!”

Oliver Ames

2021 Record: 4-10
2021 Finish: Missed Postseason
Coach: Lindsey Allison
Despite having no seniors on the roster this season, Oliver Ames has set a goal of getting back into the state tournament picture and moving up the standings in the Davenport division. The Tigers return five players from last year’s team but there is excitement about the underclassmen who will be stepping into the lineup this year and the energy that they’re bringing to the team.

Junior Maddie Homer is the team’s top returning hitter and was also an all-star at shortstop last spring. She will provide leadership in the infield. Junior Katie Melendy has a year of varsity experience in the circle and will look to build on her four wins as a sophomore. Lexi Galsband will be at first base and fellow junior Caitlin Miller returns in center, while sophomore Katherine Farley is stepping in behind the plate.

The underclassmen will give OA important versatility to find the right spots for everyone in the lineup. Sophomores Madison Monteiro, Paige Taylor, Sammy Johnson, and freshmen Emily Martin and Devon Morris will fill out the roster this season. Although young, there is a lot of club experience that they will add to the Tigers.

“Overall, I am impressed with the attitudes, hard work, and teamwork that I have seen so far this season and I am looking forward to watching them grow together as a team,” said OA coach Lindsey Allison. “We expect to be competitive in the Hockomock League and get back to the culture of making tournament an expectation.”

Sharon

2021 Record: 2-12
2021 Finish: Missed Postseason
Coach: Heather Poliferno
For Sharon to move up the Davenport division standings, the Eagles are going to need to produce more runs this season. Sharon was last in the league with 31 runs scored in 14 games last year, but there is optimism around the team this spring that the combination of returning players and talented new faces is making good contact, being aggressive on the base paths, and look ready to create more opportunities to manufacture runs.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Senior Trinity Payne will be a second-year captain for the Eagles, and she will need to produce in the circle (60 strikeouts last year) and at the plate (0.343 average in 2021). Senior catcher Ciara McAuliffe can hit for power and is an experienced battery mate for Payne, which will be a key to Sharon limiting the opposition’s base runners. Senior Savannah Gray is another power hitter in the middle of the Sharon order and a leader at first base.

Junior Ally Foulsham gives Sharon important versatility, being able to play solid defense at several positions and even jump in the circle to give Payne a breather. Foulsham, who will start at third base this spring, played third, short, and pitched last year and had a fielding percentage over 90 percent. Sophomore Maddie Hu will be the new shortstop this season and junior Natalie Kessler will start in the outfield but could see time at a few positions, including catcher.

“Our players have worked incredibly hard the last couple of weeks,” Sharon coach Heather Poliferno, “and we are all eager for them to get out on the field and show everyone what Sharon High softball is capable of.”

Stoughton

2021 Record: 8-7
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Deb Parker
After a year off, Stoughton got to experience the postseason in 2021, and a playoff win, and now the Black Knights will enter a normal spring with confidence that they can build on that foundation to make another run for a state tournament spot. With depth and talent throughout the lineup, Stoughton will be hoping to be back in the mix in the Davenport division standings as well.

Senior Sydney Menz will be the anchor for the team in center and as one of the top hitters in the middle of the order. She will be joined in the outfield by classmate Kate Bulger and freshman Angie Berry, who is going to get the chance to step right into the lineup this spring. Pitching is always critical and junior Kerry Driscoll will get the nod as the starter after getting a taste of facing varsity lineups last season.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview

The infield will be led by senior shortstop Melody Casna. Surrounded by underclassmen, Casna will give a dash of experience and is a vocal leader. Sophomore Alyssa Edwards is back at the corners, primarily at third, after a freshman season that saw her lead the team with a 0.417 batting average.

“I have so much confidence in this team and I expect big things from them this year,” said Stoughton coach Deb Parker. “They have come together really quickly and have chemistry that I have not seen in a long time. I am excited to see what this team will accomplish together this season, they have talent, depth, and personality, and they are willing to work. They are really fun to coach!”

Taunton

2021 Record: Won Div. 1 State Title
Coach: Carrie Consalvi
Not every team rebuilds in the same way. After graduating five starters from last year’s state championship-winning team, including in the circle and the heart of the order, Taunton will have plenty of new faces stepping into big roles this spring, yet the expectations remain high for the Tigers to challenge for a third straight league title and make another tournament run.

Senior Kylie Thorpe will be the anchor in the middle of the infield and add strong leadership at the top of the order. Freshman Brooke Aldrich will take over for her sister Hanna at shortstop and has already shown off a strong arm and a strong bat. Junior Kaysie Demoura will give the Tigers vocal leadership from behind the plate and looks set for a breakout season at the plate, while senior Angie Lynch was one of the stars of Taunton’s playoff run as a leadoff hitter and center fielder.

Junior Ava Venturelli is back in the fold this spring and the University of Louisville-commit will bring her big bat to left field, having hit a pair of homers during the preseason jamboree at the PAL fields. It won’t be easy to fill the shoes of Kelsey White in the circle, but senior Olyvia Mendonca will get that assignment and has had a strong preseason.

“We have a great crew this year, very different team from last year,” said second-year coach Carrie Consalvi, noting her team will have plenty of personality and rely on key leaders this year.

2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview