Baseball
Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final (8 inn.) – Attleboro’s offense exploded for four runs in the top of the eighth to earn a win on the road at Frothingham Park. Dylan Maskell knocked in two runs, including the game-winner, to put Attleboro ahead. Sophomore Mason Houle followed that up with an RBI single and Sam Larkin brought home the fifth run with a squeeze bunt. Drew Pagano allowed just one run on four hits in six innings of work in his first ever varsity start. Eoin Kelleher pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Oliver Ames’ Cam Johnson reached base three times, with one hit and two walks, and also stole a base.
Canton, 7 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Canton’s Robbie Wilkinson went 6.1 innings for the Bulldogs to earn the win.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final (10 inn.)
King Philip @ Taunton – Postponed to Thursday, 5/18 at 3:45.
Softball
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final
Foxboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 14 – Final (5 inn.) – With the game tied at 1-1 through three innings, North Attleboro exploded for 13 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Olivia Capobianco reached four times (three hits) and scored two runs, Andrea Miceli was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs and Abby Gallagher recorded a hit, walked, two RBI and scored two runs. Sam Courtemanche, Kristina Murphy, Liz Morehouse and Meg Barlow all finished with two hits apiece for Big Red. Bella Erti struck out six in four innings of work while Olivia DesRoches pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
Franklin, 3 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield scored two runs in the third, added two more in the fourth and never trailed in a close win over Franklin. Marissa Staffier knocked in a pair of runs in the third, bringing home Megan Letendre (double) and Mady Bendanillo (single). In the fourth, Letendre and Bendanillo – who both had two hits on the day – had RBI singles to cap the Hornets’ scoring. Sarah Cahill struck out three while allowing 10 hits in the win. Franklin freshman Anna Balkus went 3-for-3 while Alyssa DaSilva and Alexx Niss (two-run triple)
each had two hits for the Panthers.
Sharon, 8 vs. Ursuline, 3 – Final – Sharon had its best offensive game of the season in a win over Ursuline, sweeping the season series. Alli Small (2-for-4), Sam Marglous (3-for-3) and Clara Cook (2-for-4) each had extra base hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Eagles. Rebecca Clayman, Shoshana Lowe and Courtney Sollis all contributed with a triple each. Cook notched 10 strikeouts and scattered five hits in a complete game effort.
Boys Tennis
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro won a pair of singles matches and prevailed with the win over Oliver Ames with a three-set win at first doubles. Shawn Gordon won 6-3, 6-4 at first singles and Abdul Khatib won 6-2, 6-0 at second singles for the Bombardiers. The team of Eli Araujo and Ryan Gordon won 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at first doubles to clinch the win. Oliver Ames senior Danny Hanley won 4-6, 7-5, 10-4 at third singles and Jack Simone and Alex Barnett teamed up for a 6-4, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Foxboro, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final
Franklin, 2 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Franklin won both doubles matches but Mansfield swept singles play to earn the win. For Franklin, James Johnston and Derek Wu won 6-2, 6-3 at first doubles and Tyler DiPalma and Rahul Hosdurg prevailed with a 6-4, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – North Attleboro defended home court with a sweep, winning all five matches in straight sets. Zac Pfeffer won 6-0, 6-2 at first singles, Daniel Zhang won 6-4, 7-5 at second singles and Alex Rinaldi prevailed 6-2, 6-2 at third singles. The team of Andrew Harris and Vikram Senthilakumaran won 6-2, 6-1 at first doubles and Mayank Wadekar and Alex Pfeffer won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.
Taunton, 3 vs. Durfee, 2 – Final – Taunton edged out non-league rival Durfee with two wins at singles and one more at doubles. Sophomore Brett Beaulieu won 6-3, 6-2 at first singles, senior Eric Gwozdz notched a 6-1, 6-4 win at third singles and the team of sophomores Dylan Kullas and Charlie Fiske prevailed with a 6-1, 7-5 win at first doubles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Thursday, 5/18 at 3:45.
Foxboro, 1 vs. Martha’s Vineyard, 4 – Final – Foxboro’s Lexi Nelson captured the Warriors lone match, winning 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (8-6) at second singles.
Mansfield, 3 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Mansfield earned two wins in singles play and one more in doubles to defeat Franklin on the road. Junior Sarah Doyle won 6-1, 6-1 at second singles and sophomore Elizabeth Elsner took a 6-2, 6-2 decision at third singles. Mansfield’s first doubles team of Chloe Peters and Tessa Garufi won 6-0, 6-0. Franklin’s Hannah Sweeney won 6-2, 6-2 at first singles and the team of Jillian McLaughlin and Alexa Katsaros won 6-4, 2-6, 10-4 at second doubles.
Sharon, 4 @ Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – North Attleboro dropped just one game in singles play and prevailed with wins in both doubles matches at Stoughton. Emily Chiasson won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Jordan Willis won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles and Azka Siddiq notched a 6-0, 6-1 at third singles. The pairing of Gabby Duva and Katie Demontigny won 6-3, 6-1 at first doubles and Hana Hershey and Leah Marceau teamed up for a 6-1, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Taunton, 5 @ Durfee, 0 – Final – The Tigers won all five matches in straight sets, losing a total of eight games to leave Fall River with a win over the Hilltoppers. Olivia Sweeney won 6-2, 6-1 at first singles, Jordan Pagliuca notched a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles and Jillian Pagliuca recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. Ashleigh Eason and Emily Moor teamed up for a 6-2, 6-2 win at first doubles while Caroline Hebert and Jordan Martin didn’t lose a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Boys Track
Attleboro, 87 @ Taunton, 49 – Final
Canton, 61 @ Stoughton, 75 – Final – Canton’s John Guenthner and Jack Healey were both double winners; Guenthner clocking in at a personal best 15.9 in the 100M hurdles and also winning the 400M hurdles in 60 while Healey won the 1 Mile (5:00) and the 2 Mile (11:12). Other first place finishes for Canton included Steven Brady (triple jump, 39’1″), Riley McDonnell (200M, 23.8), Marquise Montes (long jump, 18’11.25″) and the 4×100 of Montes, Cordell Smith, Dan Pierre and Dan Alice.
Foxboro, 23 @ North Attleboro, 113 – Final
Franklin, 71.33 @ King Philip, 64.67 – Final
Oliver Ames, 23.5 @ Mansfield, 113.5 – Final
Sharon, 47.5 @ Milford, 88.5 – Final
Girls Track
Attleboro, 29 @ Taunton, 107 – Final
Canton, 50 @ Stoughton, 86 – Final – Canton’s Sarah Collins concluded the dual meet schedule with another two wins, taking first in the 400M hurdles (68.3) and the 800M (2:33). Other first place finishes for the Bulldogs include Nicole Brown (100M, 12.9 – a personal best), Jimisha Williams (200M, 27.1 – a personal best), Bronwyn Mahoney (shot put) and Erika Lum (high jump, 4’10”). Canton’s 4×100 of Lum, Williams, Brown and Claire Belisle) also came in first with a state qualifying time of 51.5.
Foxboro, 42 @ North Attleboro, 94 – Final
Franklin, 71 @ King Philip, 65 – Final
Oliver Ames, 68 @ Mansfield, 68 – Final – The Tigers and Hornets finished level in the final dual meet of the season. For Mansfield, Angela Corkery won the javelin with a 20-foot PR, finished second in the triple jump and was a member of the 4×100 relay (with Jordan Brill-Cass, Julia Harrison and Amanda Mangano) that finished first. Madison Haughey won both the high jump and the long jump and finished second in the 100M hurdles.
Baseball
Attleboro, 3 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro junior Joe Freitas’ third hit of the game broke a tie game, handing the Warriors the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freitas (3-for-3) slapped a two-out RBI single to bring the game-winning run home for Foxboro. The Warriors held a 3-1 lead until Attleboro tied the game with two runs in the top of the third. Foxboro’s Colin Thoener tossed a complete game to earn the win, allowing just one hit and no earned runs. He struck out seven.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Canton scored an unearned run in the first and that was all that junior Robbie Wilkinson needed, as he tossed a complete game shutout and allowed only four hits on 76 pitches, striking out two. Sophomore Tom Parker was just about as good on the hill for the Tigers, allowing no earned runs and only four hits in the loss. Sam Burr accounted for two hits for the Tigers.
Franklin, 4 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Franklin junior Bryan Woelfel tossed a complete game shutout and senior Jake Lyons had three hits to pace the Panthers past Sharon. Woelfel earned the win by going the distance, allowing just four hits, two walks and retiring seven batters on strikes. Lyons had a double and a run scored while Ryan Hodgkins had two hits and a run scored and Tyler Gomes went 1-for-1 with a walk and a sacrifice fly.
King Philip, 8 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – King Philip’s offense got off to a strong start with five runs in the first inning but had to rally when the Rocketeers put up seven straight runs. North tied the game with five runs in the second and went up 7-5 on two runs in the fourth. KP tied the game up with two runs in the fifth and knocked in the winning run in the sixth inning. KP totaled 11 hits as a team with Will Weir going 3-for-4, Ben Furfari added two hits and Jeremy Rhines recording two RBI. Jack Webster earned the win in relief while Dan Antunes picked up the save, tossing two innings without giving up a hit.
Mansfield, 12 @ Milford, 4 – Final – Mansfield’s offense wasted little time to get going, scoring two runs in the first inning and then adding on three runs in each the second, third and fourth innings. The Hornets tacked on their final run in the sixth. Colin Gibbons had the big day at the plate for Mansfield, going 2-for-4 with five runs knocked in, Anthony DeGirolamo was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and four runs scored, Matt Farragher had four hits and three runs scored and Max Boen recorded three hits and scored three runs. Kevin Dow earned the win, allowing just one earned run in five innings of work. David Simmons was solid in two innings of relief, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts.
Taunton, 3 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Stoughton scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to prevail with a win over Taunton. The Tigers held a 3-1 advantage heading into the final inning but the Black Knights rallied to load the bases. Senior Ryan Sullivan came through and a bases-clearing double to walk off with the win. Ruben Gonzalez knocked in Stoughton’s first run with an RBI double while Pat Hagerty was 2-for-2 with two runs scored for the Black Knights. Justin Hutchinson earned the win in two innings of relief, allowing two hits and retiring three batters on strikes. Tyler Medeiros had a strong outing for the Tigers, striking out six with four hits allowed and just one run in six innings of work.
Softball
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 8 – Final
Canton, 8 @ Oliver Ames, 11 – Final – Oliver Ames surged ahead to take a 9-7 lead in the fifth inning and tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth to beat Canton. Lexie Campbell was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Caroline Mahoney went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI, Rachel Han had a home run and scored a pair of runs, Kayla Georgeu had one hit, two runs and two RBI and Alyssa Gavin added an RBI.
Sharon, 1 @ Franklin, 7 – Final – Franklin’s offense started strong with a pair of runs in the first inning, tacked on single runs in each the third and the fourth and then put an exclamation point on the win with three more runs in the sixth inning. Jackie Cherry earned the win with five innings of work while Emily Valentino earned the save, retiring all six batters she faced. Alexx Niss went 3-for-4 with four RBI to pace Franklin’s offense while Olivia DiGiacomo was 2-for-4 with three runs and two assists from right field and Ally Shea recorded two hit and an RBI. FHS head coach Kate Fallon-Comeau said Tara Hartnett (shortstop) and Alyssa DaSilva (first) both had strong defense games for the Panthers.
North Attleboro, 5 @ King Philip, 6 – Final – King Philip’s Sydney Phillips had a standout performance at the plate, collecting three hits and knocking in two runs to help the Warriors edge Big Red. Nicole Carter also knocked in a pair of runs in KP’s win. Elise Pereira came on in relief and provided two scoreless innings for the Warriors. Ashley Cangiano had a pair of triples and drove in a pair of runs and Sam Courtemanche went 3-for-4 for the Rocketeers. Olivia Capobianco had three stolen bases and two runs scored for North.
Milford, 11 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Milford junior Emily Piergustavo hit for the cycle to continue her offense hot streak and the Hawks picked up a big win on the road. Piergsutavo was 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored while Kaitlyn DeCapua also had four hits, scoring once and knocking in three runs. Maggie Farrell was 3-for-3 with a double and two runs score and Maddy Bonvino had two hits, including a triple and an RBI. Kelley Reichert struck out four in a complete game effort to earn the win while also helping the offense with a three-run home run. Sarah Cahill and Caty DeMassi each had a hit Hornets.
Stoughton, 1 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Eighth grader Kelsey White gave up one unearned run and just four hits in her first varsity start. White struck out nine and walked none in a complete game win. Stoughton took the lead but Taunton tied it in the third with a single run and then took the lead in the fifth on an single by Hannah Aldrich that plated pinch runner Alexa White. A leadoff double in the sixth by McKenzie McAloon started a two-run rally that sealed the win for the Tigers. One run scored on an grounder by Jaime Brown and the second on a single by Kya Enos. Stoughton was led offensively by Karly Estremera with two hits and the team’s lone run.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 2 @ Canton, 6 – Final
Sharon, 3 @ Foxboro, 6 – Final
Franklin, 19 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Thirteen different players found the back of the net as Franklin recorded a league win in its first ever meeting with Stoughton. Zach Alexander recorded a hat trick, including one off an assist from his brother Jacob (goal, two assists). Nitin Chaudhury also had a hat trick for the Panthers.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 23 – Final
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Mansfield, 13 – Final – Tommy Donnelly and Josh London had strong days on defense for the Hornets, who rolled to a big win at home.
North Attleboro, 17 @ Milford, 4 – Final – Andy DeMattio found the back of the net four times, had one assist and scooped up four ground balls to lead the Rocketeers to a big win. Zach McGowan recorded two goals and two assists, Jason McNeany (15 face off wins) scored twice and had one helper, Colin Young, Dan MacDonald and Jack Dackin each scored once and had one assist and Hunter Sarro had a pair of helpers. Nick Ward, Paul Yeomans, Max Fontes, Zac Doucette and Dan Conroy each tallied a goal for the Rocketeers while Jack Connolly had an assist. Jack Puccio (six saves) and Jake McNeany (five saves) split the game in net for North.
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 12 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final
Foxboro, 13 @ Sharon, 12 – Final
Franklin, 15 vs. North Andover, 5 – Final – Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh had a standout performance, netting a team-high six goals to pace the Panthers. Jordan Jette had four assists to go along with one goal, Erin Walsh scored a hat trick and had one helper, Caroline Lounsbury also netted a hat trick and Kelsey MacCallum scored a pair of goals and added one assist. FHS head coach Kristin Igoe Guarino said Halle Atkinson had a strong game in the midfield with two draw controls and two ground balls.
King Philip, 21 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Katie Crowther led the way for King Philip with six goals and the Warriors had 14 different players tally at least one goal. Caroline Watson made eight saves in net for KP while Christina Hathaway scored her first goal. Olivia Tormey and Caroline Klim each scored two goals in the win. Alana Tavares and Delaney Powell each scored a pair of goals for the Tigers and Lorna Li made 19 saves in the loss.
Mansfield, 14 @ Oliver Ames, 10 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Kendall Clifford found the back of the net five times and Chloe Kikelly scored a hat trick but the Tigers fell just short to Mansfield. OAHA head coach Abby Tepper said Katie Davenport, Sydney Hedrick, Grace McCallum and Dimitra Efremidis all played great defensively. Ari Waldorf made 15 saves in net for the Tigers.
Milford, 4 @ North Attleboro, 16 – Final – Chloe Olsen had three goals and three assists for the Rocketeers. Kenzie Rosenberg and Camille Pizarro each had four goals on the day for North, while Julia Tolfa had a pair of goals and Julia Noreck scored one goal and played stout defense, according to head coach Mike Vitelli.
Boys Tennis
Foxboro, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final
Canton, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final
Sharon, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Sharon prevailed from a competitive match with a win on the road, taking all five matches in straight sets. Senior Griffin Fein won 6-2, 7-5 at first singles, junior Fred Bondar won 6-4, 6-0 at second singles and junior Andre Olivei won 6-0, 6-1 at third singles. The team of senior Alex Romantz and freshman Alberto Olivei recorded a 6-3, 6-4 win at first doubles and sophomore Danujan Thirumavalavan and junior Ashwin Sreevatsa took a 6-3, 6-0 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip won a pair of matches in singles play and came away with a key win at second doubles to edge Big Red. The team of Aidan Ignatius and Marco DiStefano prevailed with a 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles for KP while Cole Ginter took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at first singles and Martin Matous notched a 6-3, 6-3 win at third singles. North’s Barsomo Nuay won 6-3, 7-5 at second singles and the team of Daniel Zhang and Ben Pfeffer won 6-2, 6-3 at first doubles.
Milford @ Mansfield, 3:45
Stoughton, 1 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Taunton picked up two wins in singles and two wins in doubles to take down Stoughton. Sophomore Brett Beaulieu won 6-1, 6-1 at first singles and junior Mike Briggs took a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles. The team of sophomores Dylan Kullas and Charlie Fiske won 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles and junior Kyle Dennehy and freshman Alex Pugh won 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro won all five matches in straight sets to defend home court against Attleboro. Sophia Prinos notched a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Lexi Nelson won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles and Kayla Prag recorded a 6-3, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Olivia Dantona and Morgan Krockta picked up a 6-3, 6-2 decision at first doubles and the team of Jacey Nicklas and Kendall Milender walked away with a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Oliver Ames, 4 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames won at second and third singles and swept doubles play to take down Canton. Claudia Ferrara won 6-2, 6-2 at second singles and Maura Kiernan took a 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 10-5 win at third singles. The team of Tori Wyman and Tate Hadges notched a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles and Kristin Bloumbas and Eva Belanger teamed up for a 6-4, 6-4 win at second doubles. Canton’s Emma Sokolovsky won 6-2, 6-2 at first singles.
Franklin, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Franklin’s Hannah Sweeney recorded a big win at first singles but Sharon only lost one game total in the other four matches to beat the Panthers. Sweeney won 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 at first singles but Sharon’s Emily Zhang and Lulu Yuan each won 6-0, 6-0 at second and third singles, respectively. The team of Katie Merport and Emily Wen won 6-1, 6-0 at first doubles and Rithika Neti and Sophia Fein paired up for a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro’s second doubles team of Hana Hershey and Katie Demontigny prevailed in three sets to give Big Red the edge of the Warriors. Hershey and Demontigny won 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at second doubles while Azka Siddiq and Gabby Duva won 6-0, 6-2 at first doubles. Jordan Willis notched North’s lone in singles with a 6-0, 7-5 victory at second singles. KP’s Becca Ricci won 6-2, 6-4 at first singles and Meghan Sepich won 6-1, 6-0 at third singles.
Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and swept singles play to notch a win over Milford. Paulina Martin won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Sarah Doyle won 6-1, 6-0 at second singles and Elizabeth Elsner completed the sweep with a 6-1, 6-4 win at third singles. Mansfield’s fourth win came via Chloe Peters and Tessa Garufi, with a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles. Milford’s Angela Pillarella and Ashlyn Oliveria won 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 at second doubles.
Taunton, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Taunton lost a total of just three games in a convincing win on the road. Vanessa Rosa (third singles) and the team of Ashleigh Eason and Emily Moor (first doubles) both won 6-0, 6-0. Olivia Sweeney (first singles) and Jillian Pagliuca (second singles) each won 6-1, 6-0 while the team of Jordan Martin and Callie Hebert won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.
Boys Volleyball
Milford @ St. John’s Shrewsbury, 5:00
Taunton, 3 @ Quincy, 1 – Final – Taunton’s Nate Grant dished out 43 assists and the Tigers notched their second win over Quincy (25-15, 14-25 25-12, 25-20) in less than a week. Grant also had two kills and three blocks while Lance Law had a team-high 15 kills and had one block. Lens Esquil had five blocks as well as 13 kills while David Fusiecki had 10 kills and 11 digs.
Boys Track
Stoughton, 15 @ North Attleboro, 121 – Final
Girls Track
Stoughton, 28 @ North Attleboro, 108 – Final
With a deep and experienced lineup and both pitchers returning, Milford will once again be the favorite to retain the Davenport division title. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2016 Record: 2-18 2016 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Mark Homer
Attleboro struggled through a difficult 2016, the first season under new head coach Mark Homer, winning only two games while giving up a league high 177 runs and scoring a league-low 46. Heading into this spring, the Bombardiers will be counting on a group of young players to try and turn things around and it seems to be working so far, as Attleboro has played two games and already matched last year’s win total.
One of the true bright spots from last season was freshman pitcher McKenzie Bergdoll, who showed flashes of the potential to be an ace for Attleboro, and this season she will be counted on to keep the Bombardiers in games and to provide big hits from the three-spot. Julia Woyton will be behind the plate this year while senior Ilea Caverley and junior Casey Whelan (outfield) and Jordyn Lako (second base) are the few returning players on the roster.
The Bombardiers are going to turn to youth this spring with freshman MacKenzie Killough taking over at shortstop. Freshmen twins Emma and Jenna Gittle will add depth to the Attleboro pitching staff and classmate Ashley Macia will take over in centerfield. Homer also said that there were underclassmen who would provide speed off the bench.
“The expectations are to play hard, be committed and get excited with every game and practice that they take part in,” said Homer. “With the added depth in each position this year, the girls hope to gain advantages from the previous year and reach their set goals for the season.”
2016 Record: 3-17 2016 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Jennifer Robillard
Former King Philip and Sacred Heart University shortstop Jennifer Robillard takes over the Canton program this spring with the hope of bringing some of the success that she enjoyed playing for two state champions and a Division I college to the Bulldogs, who are coming off a three-win season.
The Bulldogs will be looking to their experienced players to help turn things around in 2017, including seniors Molly Loughran, Taylor Carrington, and Julia Ezepik and junior Hannah Jerrier, who are all captains this spring. Jerrier and Ezepik will start the season injured, but Robillard is hoping that other players can step up until they return. Canton will have depth in the circle, as both junior Caitlyn Cahill and freshman Caroline Hughes will see action at pitcher.
Lillian Carrington and Samantha Keefe are two other players that will be counted on to contribute and both provided home runs in a loss to Mansfield in the second game of the season. Robillard is excited about the opportunity to get back into the Hockomock League and she sees a team that “wants to learn.”
“This team has a lot of potential. If we can tap into this potential, I truly believe that we are going to take teams by surprise,” Robillard said. “I am here to share my passion for and knowledge of the game I love with these girls. It is important to me that these girls learn how to be strong, independent and respectful young women.”
2016 Record: 9-13 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Mark Maguire
In 2016, Foxboro finished 6-10 in the Hockomock League but got its chance to play in the postseason and took advantage with a preliminary round win over Westwood and a near-upset of Abington in a nine-inning classic. The Warriors will hope to build on that experience this spring with a number of key players returning.
League all-star Hannah Davis is back behind the plate for the Warriors and will be one of the top hitters in the Hockomock. Davis will likely be in the three-spot in the lineup and right behind her will be senior Kelly Fisher, who head coach Mark Maguire called one of the best first basemen in the league. Kelly McCarthy will try to set the table for the power hitters in the lead-off spot.
Sophomore pitcher Emma Rohan is back in the circle and Maguire expects that she will compete every game and build on her rookie campaign. Behind Rohan, Cam Willis will moved from second base to short and Chelsea Gibbons will provide good ‘D’ and a solid bat at third. Lefty Lexi Buckner could grab the second base spot and senior Jamie Gorham could provide an unexpected boost as a first-year player in the outfield. Mandy Ryan and Kayla Wheatley are two of the players coming up from JV that Maguire is hoping will step in to provide depth.
“They’re all working hard and they’re ready to build together as a team,” said Maguire. “The expectations are really to compete every game.”
2016 Record: 12-11 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Kate Fallon
Once the rains go away for a few days, Franklin will be able to open its new field and make official its move back to the high school after a couple seasons playing at Dean College. The Panthers are excited about the new facility and about the team’s potential for success this spring with seven returning starters from last year.
Leading the way is third baseman, and four-year starter, Olivia DiGiacomo, who has been a mainstay at the hot corner and provides leadership for the infield. To her left is shortstop Alyssa DaSilva, a three-year starter with two years of experience at short. Sophomore Allie Shea is back at first base and senior Clara DeCarvalho is back behind the plate and poised for a “breakout season,” according to head coach Kate Fallon. The outfield is also filled with veterans, including seniors Rachel Cousineau in left and Olivia Haba in center.
The seventh starter is senior Alex Niss, who started as a pinch hitter last season before taking over the DP role and turning into one of the top power hitters in the Hockomock League. The Panthers should be solid defensively and at the plate and Fallon is hoping that sophomore pitchers Jackie Cherry (who carried a shutout into the seventh in the season opening loss to North Attleboro) and Emily Valentino can make an instant impact in the circle.
“Win 11 games and make the tournament again,” said Fallon when asked about the expectations for the team this season. “I expect the seniors to provide leadership and be role models for the underclassmen. It’s always a dogfight in this league…but I think we are a good team.”
2016 Record: 24-4 2016 Finish: Won Div. 1 State Championship Coach: Norm Beauchemin
King Philip comes into 2017 on the back of its third state title in the past six years and, while expectations remain high for one of the region’s top programs, there are key pieces from last year’s team that need to be replaced in order for the Warriors to get back on top in the Kelley-Rex division and in the state.
The biggest absence this season is, of course, pitcher Kali Magane, who is now in the circle for Boston University and who was dominant during KP’s playoff run a year ago. Senior Jenn Hutnyan will step in to be the team’s starting pitcher after several starts and relief appearances in the past two seasons. Hutnyan will also be an important bat in the lineup. Junior Brie Lacy will be back behind the plate to help Hutnyan and head coach Norm Beauchemin noted that junior Jessica Bonner will be a solid defensive third baseman.
KP rarely rebuilds and almost always reloads for another title push. This year should be no different with a lineup that features several familiar names from last season’s title run, including sophomore Meghan Gorman and juniors Brooke Taute, Elise Pereira, and Hailey McCasland. Each of those players had important roles last season and will be ready to step up for the Warriors this spring as KP tries to regain the league title after Taunton ended its nine year run in 2016.
“Though it’s hard to replace last year’s seniors,” said Beauchemin, “we have a solid core of returning players ready to represent King Philip and its proud softball legacy.”
2016 Record: 13-9 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Lori Letendre
Mansfield is coming off a 13-win season that included a tournament win against Notre Dame Academy, but after four years of being able to count on Maddie Letendre in the circle the Hornets will be handing the ball over to a new pitcher this spring, although as it turns out only the first name will be changing.
Megan Letendre, who played shortstop as a freshman, will take over in the circle for the Hornets and her development as the No. 1 pitcher will go a long way to determining if Mansfield can repeat last year’s success. Pitcher is not the only position that needs to be replaces, as the Hornets will have a new catcher and three new infielders. Still, with nine returning players, there is plenty of experience on the roster.
Kara Bendanillo will move from third base to second, according to head coach Lori Letendre, and Megan Letendre will sometimes see time at second when not pitching. Liz Mackin will take over at first base, while Marissa Staffier and Amanda Giambanco will take the corner outfield positions. Mady Bendanillo will be back in center after an impressive first season for the Hornets.
“This is one of the hardest working teams I have had at Mansfield and they have been putting in a lot of effort to get ready for the season,” said Coach Letendre.
2016 Record: 17-5 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal Coach: Steve DiVitto
Milford has been the class of the Davenport division for the past four seasons and the Hawks come into 2017 with the expectations of being heavy favorites for another league title, but, with three seniors and nine juniors on the roster and eight starters returning, head coach Steve DiVitto is hopeful that the talent will translate to a deep run in the state tournament.
The Hawks are one of the few contenders to return not just one but two starting pitchers from last season. Senior Ali Atherton is back to be the primary option in the circle and the Southern New Hampshire-commit has been dominant at times in her career. If Atherton gets into trouble or needs a rest, junior Kelley Reichert has demonstrated that she is more than just a fill-in but can also shut down opponents. They will be pitching to sophomore Emily Hartman, who will step into the starting lineup this season.
There are very few question marks in this year’s lineup with junior Emily Piergustavo moving from second to short to replace Jill Powers, which is Piergustavo’s natural position and one she has played several times in the past year. Junior Jess Tomaso is back at first base and in the heart of the lineup where she will be joined by senior outfielder Maggie Farrell and senior third baseman Kaitlyn DeCapua. Junior Kate Irwin will try to be the table-setter at the top of the order and juniors Maddy Bonvino (second base) and Shannon Cormier (outfield) will also be contributors.
“This has been a focused and driven group ever since the end of last season,” said DiVitto. “They have worked hard in the off-season and that was very apparent in the early stages of the season. We are excited to compete in the best league in the state, which will hopefully prepare us for a long run into June.”
2016 Record: 11-10 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro returned to the postseason in 2016 and for the Rocketeers to get back to the tournament this spring it will be the younger players that will lead the way. Head coach Bill Wallace knows that his team will be “green” (with only four seniors on the roster), but he is excited about North’s athleticism and versatility.
Pitching may be North’s biggest strength this season with five players in the rotation, led by freshman Bella Erti, who won her first career start, and last year’s starter Amelia Murphy. Juniors Olivia DesRoches, Jaclyn Buckley and Abby Warren could also step into the circle to help out. Senior Sam Courtemanche will be behind the plate to help the pitchers.
Senior Liz Morehouse returns at first base and Andrea Miceli will be at second. Megan Barlow moves in from the outfield to take over at short (and provided the walk-off hit in North’s season opening win), while Murphy will see time at third when she’s not pitching. Olivia Capobianco will play center with Katherine Munley and Kristina Murphy in left and right with freshmen Ashley Cangiano and Abby Gallagher getting playing time.
“With only four seniors on the roster, I am hoping the learning curve will be brief!” said Wallace. “This may be the year we see a lot of pinch hitting and pinch running! For a young team, they are very focused between the lines!”
Oliver Ames finished in second in the league in 2016 and qualified for the postseason, but that will be an even tougher task now that the Tigers have made the move to the Kelley-Rex division. Even with facing the likes of defending state champion King Philip twice this spring, head coach Lindsey Allison is optimistic that the 10 returning players have the experience to get back into the playoffs.
Senior Victoria Ziner will be the spark on offense for the Tigers this season, but OA also has a number of juniors that Allison said can “do some damage at the plate.” Among those players is Caroline Mahoney, whose bat “is still as dangerous as ever,” according to Allison. Freshman Katie Abreu will be a newcomer to watch for the Tigers as her versatility will make her a valuable member of the lineup.
The Tigers will bring back sophomore Kayla Georgeu in the circle and will be hoping that she continues to develop and keep OA competitive against the league’s top teams. Junior Alexis Campbell will be a second pitcher and also help out at second base.
“We have a solid 10 players returning from last year’s roster,” said Allison, “and we are looking to fill holes behind the plate, in the outfield and at first base this year. Definitely hoping to use some of the speed we have on our team to our advantage this year.”
2016 Record: 4-16 2016 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Deb Parker
Sharon is coming off a four-win season in 2016 but head coach Deb Parker believes that the Eagles have the potential to be a contender in the Davenport division this spring as long as the players continue to develop over the course of the season.
Although the Eagles are a relatively young team, Parker is counting on senior captains Clara Cook and Sam Marglous to provide the leadership needed to keep the team on the right track. Cook will be back in the circle for Sharon, while Marglous will be back behind the plate. Parker said, “Both have been solid contributors for their entire high school careers.”
Sophomore centerfielder Rebecca Clayman and shortstop Ally Small, who Parker referred to as “standouts,” will be the anchors of the defense. Freshman Shoshanna Lowe will step in to play third base and should have a positive impact in the lineup as well.
“I believe we have the right combination of experience, talent and drive to be a contender in the Hock,” said Parker. “This is a team that works hard every day to be better than they were the day before. They have great chemistry and our captains have done an excellent job leading them into the season.”
2016 Record: 10-11 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Tim Norton
The Black Knights made a return to the state tournament in head coach Tim Norton’s first season in charge, and nearly pulled out a win against Braintree, and Stoughton will be counting on last year’s freshmen to continue developing and keep the program heading in the right direction.
One of the sophomores that the team will be leaning on is third baseman Jordan Lyons, who brings a strong bat to the hot corner and her leadership skills had her named a captain for this spring. Brianna Ferrandiz will take over behind the plate for Sam Tullis and Karly Estremera will move into the infield and continue to be the table-setter as the leadoff hitter.
Norton is excited to have depth in the circle with Shannon Flaherty and Gina Carafa both capable of racking up innings and “setting great examples on and off the field.” Stoughton will also have depth in the outfield with first-year starters Krista Michienzi, Val Whalen and Alessandra Loffredo.
“We were extremely fortunate in Stoughton last year to have such a strong freshman class with great senior leadership,” Norton explained. “This year that sophomore class is going to have to come into their own. While this team is young they got a taste of the post season last year and are hungry for more.”
2016 Record: 22-2 2016 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal Coach: Dave Lewry
Last season, Taunton won its first outright league title, ending King Philip’s nine-year reign atop the Hockomock. It was a fitting coda to the impressive careers of Taunton’s senior class, but this spring the Tigers will now have to move forward with six new faces in the starting lineup, including at pitcher and the middle infield positions. Taunton typically reloads quickly and head coach Dave Lewry believes this year’s team has a plenty of potential.
Senior Courtney Fisher will step into the circle hoping to make a seamless transition from 2016 Player of the Year Aimee Kistner. Fisher tossed three shutout innings and had three hits in the season opener and got several opportunities to pitch in the past two seasons. She will be pitching to junior captain Kya Enos, who is making the move back to catcher after two seasons in the outfield. Other starters coming back include first baseman Katie VanZandt, junior outfielder Liana Duarte, and sophomore Jaime Brown, who is in her third year at third base.
The Tigers have always found young players who can step right in an make an impact at the varsity level and this year could be a breakout season for eighth grader Hannah Aldrich, who will take over from Jordan Wade at short. Sophomore Alexa White looks ready to step in at second, while senior Rebekah Lajoie and junior Hailey Medeiros are in line to start in the corner outfield places. Taunton could also get contributions at pitcher from eighth grader Kelsey White and freshman Jaylin Couto.
“While we lost six starters from last season, I am excited about the potential of this year’s team,” said Lewry. “I expect there will be some growing pains with six new starters in the lineup, but with some seasoned veterans and good young talent we are optimistic that we’ll be competitive this season.”
Franklin @ St. Peter Marian – Postponed to 5/15 at 12:00
King Philip, 10 @ Sharon, 8 – Final (9 inn.)– Jon Rolfe had three hits and was the catalyst in King Philip’s ninth inning. Rolfe walked in the ninth and advanced on a sac bunt from Jack DiCenso. Ben Furfari had a sacrifice fly, Ryan Coulter doubled and Stephen Murray singled to put the Warriors up. Rolfe was a perfect 3-3 at the plate while Coulter and Will Weir each had two hits. Jake Lannigan allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings while Rolfe allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief. Jake Cavanagh closed the game with a strikeout in the ninth.
Milford, 4 @ Franklin, 5 – Final– Each time that Milford made a move, Franklin seemed to have an answer on Friday. The Scarlet Hawks took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth only for the Panthers to match it in the bottom half of the inning. Base hits from Olivia Haba and Alyssa DaSilva as well as a sacrifice fly from Julia Arms knotted the game 3-3. Milford’s Jess Tomaso (3-3) belted a solo home run in the top of the fifth but once again, Franklin had an answer. Allie Shea walked and Clara DeCarvalho’s base hit put two on. Junior Alexx Niss connected for a two run double in the inning to put the Panthers ahead 5-4. Caroline D’Aprile struck out four while scattering six hits for the Panthers. Haba came up with three catches in the final innings to help Franklin preserve the win.
Mansfield, 3 @ Needham, 2 – Final– Mansfield cashed in early, scoring all three of the team’s runs on four singles in the first inning. Freshman Mady Bendanillo knocked in one run and Liz Mackin plated the other two in the opening frame. Maddie Letendre struck out five, allowing just four hits for the Rockets, whiling going 2-3 at the plate. Rachel Carafa and Megan Letendre each added a hit for the Hornets.
Oliver Ames, 10 vs. Walpole, 8 – Final– Oliver Ames erased deficits in both the fourth and sixth innings. After trailing 3-0, Oliver Ames rallied for four runs in the fourth to take a lead. Walpole responded with five runs in the top of the sixth to seize an 8-4 lead but the Tigers clawed back again. A one out single from Dalene Gomes (run) started the rally and Emma Papargiris (2-3, run) followed suit with a hit to put two on. A bunt single from Lizzie Miller (run) loaded the bases for the Tigers. Missy Krim (run, RBI) and Rachel Han (3-4, two runs, RBI) each had an RBI single for OA. Victoria Ziner (run, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to score Krim to tie the game. With two on, Jamie Gottwald (3-4, double, two runs, three RBI) belted a two run home run to centerfield to give the Tigers a 10-8 lead.
Sharon, 10 vs. Ursuline Academy, 4 – Final– Sharon freshman Alli Small hit her first career home run and classmate Jody Goldenberg had an RBI double to lead the Eagles to a non-league win. Senior Clara Cook pitched a complete game for the Eagles, scattering six hits while fanning 10 batters. Senior Jenny Friedman added a pair of hits for Sharon.
Stoughton, 8 vs. Brockton, 6 – Final– The Black Knights raced out to an early 8-0 lead and were able to fend off the Boxers to get the win. Karly Estremera hit a two-run homer to start the scoring for Stoughton and Bri Ferrandiz and Nicole Bodette each racked up two hits. Jeni D’Andrea, Sam Tullis, Gina Carafa, Courtney Campbell, Shannon Flaherty, Bridgette Whalen each had one hit for Stoughton. Shannon Flaherty got the win, pitching seven innings and giving up just two earned runs.
Boys Lacrosse
Milford vs. Doherty – Postponed to 5/23 at 4:15
Girls Lacrosse
Foxboro, 12 vs. Medway, 11 – Final (OT)
Franklin, 12 vs. Grafton, 7 – Final
North Attleboro @ Notre Dame Academy, 4:00
Boys Tennis
Milford vs. Medway, 3:45
Sharon, 5 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final– With the win, Sharon boys tennis has clinched at least a share of the Davenport title. With that, the Eagles have now won 37 straight league titles, dating back to 1980. Griffin Fein won 6-3, 6-1 at first singles, Fred Bondar won 6-1, 6-3 at second singles and Han Cui won 6-1, 6-1 at third singles. The team of Adam Dobbin and Alex Romantz won 6-2, 6-1 at first doubles and the pairing of Tilak Mehta and Andre Olivei won 6-2, 6-5 at second doubles.
Baseball
Attleboro, 4 vs. Dartmouth, 8 – Final– Dartmouth plate all eight of its runs in the second inning to get the win. Attleboro rallied to cut the deficit in half with four runs in the fifth inning. Nate Tellier drove in three runs with a triple and Will Carter had an RBI single for the Bombardiers.
Softball
Franklin, 6 @ Abington, 3 – Final – Alexx Niss had four hits to help pace the Panthers’ offense. Niss was 4-4 with a single, double and a pair of home runs, driving in four runs. Alyssa DaSilva was 2-3 with a double and an RBI and Olivia DiGiacomo was 2-3 with a pair of runs scored. Maddie Connelly had six putouts at second base and head coach Kate Fallon-Comeau noted Olivia Haba’s strong defense in the outfield.
Milford @ Silver Lake – Postponed to 4/24 at 10:00AM
North Attleboro, 3 vs. Durfee, 1 – Final – Amelia Murphy didn’t allow an earned run and struck out seven to get the win. Gina Miceli scored on a hit from Jordan Sharpe and then Liz Morehouse drove in Sharpe. Kristina Murphy had a solo home run in the sixth inning for the Rocketeers.
Boys Lacrosse
Foxboro, 13 vs. Whitman-Hanson, 10 – Final – Louis Piccolo led Foxboro’s offense with four goals while Pete Conley was the main setup guy on the day with six assists and one goal. Colin Spinney scored a hat trick and had three assists as well. Jake Addeche made eight saves in net for the Warriors.
Franklin, 11 vs. St. John’s Prep, 2 – Final – Austin Kent scored six goals to lead the Panthers to the win in the consolation game of the Creator’s Crosse Tournament at Lincoln Fields in Lexington. Nitin Chaudhury, Sam Arsenault, Chase Tanner, and Eric Civetti added goals for Franklin, while goalie Connor O’Rourke made 12 saves. Mike Keane also made a save in the first quarter after a penalty to O’Rourke.The Panthers led 7-1 by halftime and 10-1 after three quarters.
Mansfield, 9 vs. Scituate, 8 – Final – Mansfield held a 9-5 lead in the fourth quarter and was able to hold off Scituate’s late charge. Billy Grant had three goals and two assists and Connor Finerty added a pair of goals and one assists. Cullen Murphy scored once and had three assists and Hunter Ferreira, Sam O’Connell and Jon Reed each scored once. Sean Powers made 12 saves in net for Mansfield.
Milford, 1 @ King Philip, 18 – Final – King Philip built a 15-1 lead by halftime and used 12 different goal scorers to get the win. Freshman Collin DeVellis led the Warriors, scoring a hat trick and recording three assists. Harry Fallon added a pair of goals and a pair of assists for King Philip as well. Freshmen Connor Galvin and Andrew Sajcak each scored their first career goals in the win.
Boys Tennis
North Attleboro @ Durfee – Postponed to TBD
Girls Tennis
North Attleboro vs. Durfee – Postponed to TBD
The 2015 HockomockSports.com Softball Player of the Year Kali Magane is back in the circle this year for King Philip. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
By HockomockSports.com Staff
ATTLEBORO
2015 Record: 7-13
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Mark Homer
Attleboro comes into the spring hoping to make a return to the state tournament for the first time since it joined the Hockomock League. Head coach Mark Homer is confident that his team can score runs this year. Senior Sarah Vincent will return as the lead-off hitter and first baseman while classmate and fellow captain Olivia Kass will hit in the two-hole and play shortstop. Catcher Julya Carlson bats third followed by Julia Woyton and Mikayla Harnois, who will see time as the starting pitcher and at third base.
The pitching staff got a boost this year with a pair of newcomers – freshman McKenzie Bergdoll and sophomore transfer Makayla Vasquez – who Homer said will see time in the circle. Inexperience in the outfield remains a question mark for the Bombardiers but Homer sees potential for a big spring.
He said, “Although its been tough getting in the outdoor practices that we need, the team as a whole are very motivated and excited to get the season going. Our goal is to improve from last season and take it one game at a time and continue to work hard all season long.”
FRANKLIN
2015 Record: 14-10
2015 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South first round
Coach: Kate Fallon
For the past few seasons, Franklin has been solidly entrenched as the third best team in the Kelley-Rex division, behind KP and Taunton, and also a team with the potential to make a run in the tournament. This spring, the Panthers will look to sustain that success with a number of new faces.
Senior Maddie Connelly returns as one of the team’s leading hitters and is a strong defensive outfielder. She will be joined by classmate Julia Arms and by Olivia Haba, as the Panthers look to fill the void left by Erin Hanley’s graduation. Seniors Caroline D’Aprile and Emily Sawyer will take over in the circle and try to replace Sabrina LoMonaco. In the infield, Olivia Di Giacomo returns at third base and classmate Alyssa DaSilva is back as well.
While there are question marks coming into the season, Franklin coach Kate Fallon is still expecting a strong year. She said, “We have some holes to plug from last years graduates, but we have a very hungry group!”
KING PHILIP
2015 Record: 20-3
2015 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South semifinal
Coach: Norm Beauchemin
King Philip has long been the team to beat in the Kelley-Rex division and that should continue coming into this spring as well. Led by senior pitcher and defending HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Kali Magane, the Warriors boast a strong lineup and one of the best defensive teams in the league.
Senior Ashley Hession will be back as one of the state’s top shortstops and centerfielder Christa Wagner gives the Warriors one of the fastest players in the state. Senior Caeli Bench and junior Jenn Hutnyan will bring experience as well.
Head coach Norm Beauchemin, now in his fourth year in charge, believes that the team has a roster filled with players that could win a game for the team. “As usual King Phillip is always considered to be one of the top teams in the Hock and this year should be no different,” he said. “Offensively we will have to take advantage of our scoring opportunities and the team does have some power hitters.It should be a real fun season and I can’t wait for it to start.”
MANSFIELD
2015 Record: 11-9
2015 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South preliminary round
Coach: Lori Letendre
Mansfield can enter a new season with confidence because the Hornets return senior pitcher Maddie Letendre, who is coming off a season in which she struck out 226 hitters and posted an ERA of 1.41 in more than 138 innings. Letendre will also be throwing to a familiar face, as classmate Brianna Homer will return behind the plate.
Outside of that, there will be a lot of new faces for Mansfield with six new starters. Jocelyn Reardon will be back and will play multiple positions this year, as head coach Lori Letendre shuffles a roster that includes a sophomore and four freshmen.
Although the team may be young, Letendre is keeping the expectations high. She explained, “I have a talented group of girls and am very happy with the progress the team has made in the first week of the season. I like our chances for making playoffs this season!”
NORTH ATTLEBORO
2015 Record: 6-14
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro is coming off a season in which it won six games, a far cry from a South sectional final appearance in 2014, but this could be a rebound year for the Rocketeers who bring back seven starters. Included in that number is senior Mycala Moody, who only played six games last year due to injury, and will be the starter at short and a big bat in the middle of the order.
Liz Morehouse returns at first and the outfield (Kaylea Sherman, Meg Barlow, and Jordan Sharpe) is back in its entirety. Sam Courtemanche will be behind the plate for North to catch returning pitchers Carolyn Wallace and Abby Warren. King Philip transfer Amelia Murphy could be added to the mix in the circle and in the lineup.
“My first thoughts are we will be a little sounder defensively,” said Wallace. “My gut says we will win more than six like we did last year but the league is so strong I wonder where they will come from.”
TAUNTON
2015 Record: 23-3
2015 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South final
Coach: Dave Lewry
Taunton reached the Div. 1 South final last season before falling to eventual state finalist Silver Lake. The Tigers bring all but two players (and one starter, Hock MVP Kelly Reading) back to try and make another run at the sectional title. Senior pitcher Aimee Kistner will be back in the circle, with additional help from Courtney Fisher, and adds a power bat to the lineup.
Fellow seniors Jordan Wade (shortstop) and Meghan Navarro (second base) shore up the middle of the infield while sophomore Kya Enos will take her speed into centerfield. Freshman Jaime Brown returns at third, Amber Wainwright will be the designated player, and Sarah Bagge will be behind the plate. Sophomore Liana Duarte will step into right field to fill Reading’s shoes.
It is a familiar roster and the Tigers are looking forward to familiar success in the league and in the tournament.
