Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/18/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip, 15 – Final (5 Inn.)King Philip got off to a great start offensively with seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in a big win over visiting Attleboro. The Bombardiers struck first in the top of the first inning but the Warriors responded with seven runs in the first, five more in the second, and three in the third to take a 15-1 verdict. The Bombardiers scored without a hit in the first, an error followed by a fielder’s choice allowed the visitors to stake the early lead. KP scored all seven of its runs in the first with two outs, getting two-run singles from each Matt Kelley and Max Robison. The Warriors added five more in the second with two outs as well with Matt DiFiore, Eli Reed, and Brendan Sencaj singling in a run each. Quin Garstka earned the win for the Warriors, allowing just one hit (leadoff single in the fourth) with no walks and five strikeouts.

Sharon, 8 @ Canton, 13 – FinalCanton exploded for six runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to pull away from Sharon, who acted as the home squad for the game. Junior Matt Chafin went 3-for-3 with a walk, scoring all four times he reached base and Jack Digirolamo (two runs, three RBI), Hayden Rose (four RBI), and Matt Quan (run, two RBI) each added two hits in the win. For Sharon, Will Hippler went 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs and two RBI and both Conbor Blaney and Eli Greenfield drove in a pair of runs for the Eagles. Junior Alex Coughlin pitched well in relief for Sharon, allowing one run on four hits and one walk, striking out three in 2.2 innings out of the pen.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Foxboro, 9 – FinalFoxboro made it five straight wins with a 9-1 decision over visiting Oliver Ames, making it four straight games the Warriors have limited the opposition to just a single run. Sean O’Leary earned the win on the mound for the Warriors, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks, striking out eight for the win. Matheiu Sullivan had one of his best performances of the season, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings in relief with a pair of strikeouts. The Warriors wasted little time to get the offense going, plating five runs in the first inning before tacking on insurance runs in the fifth (three) and the sixth (one) innings. Ryan LeClair tripled on Foxboro’s second at-bat, driving in Jack Watts, and then scored on a single from O’Leary. Sophomore Tyler Prescott had an RBI single and then Louis Carangelo (double) and Prescott both came around to score on separate wild pitches. Kenny Mello and Mike Marcucella each added an RBI single in the fifth and Tom Marcucella had a sac fly in the sixth. OA’s Jake Waxman smacked a solo home run in the fourth for OA’s first hit of the game.

Franklin, 12 @ Milford, 0 – Final (5 inn.)Holding a 3-0 lead after four innings, Franklin found its groove in the fifth and exploded for nine runs to secure a win at Fino Field. Eisig Chin had an RBI double early in the fifth, Evan Raider blasted a two-run triple, and Jacob Crisileo had a two-out RBI triple to give the Panthers a 12-0 lead. Jack Marino (two RBI, run) Jase Lyons (two runs, RBI), and Joe Tirrell (two RBI) also had two hits for the Panthers. James Kuczmiec tossed a five-inning complete game shutout for the Panthers, allowing a pair of hits and walks to go along with four strikeouts to get the win. Sophomore Keith Lee went 2-for-2 for the Scarlet Hawks.

Mansfield, 0 @ Taunton, 6 – FinalRyan MacDougall, Colin Botelho, and Dawson Bryce combined to toss a shutout as Taunton avenged a loss to Mansfield from earlier this year with a 6-0 verdict at home. MacDougall got the win, scattering four hits and three walks to go along with a pair of strikeouts. Botelho (one hit) and Bryce (one walk, one strikeout) each pitched a scoreless inning in relief to help the Tigers close out the win. After MacDougall pitched out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the first, Taunton took the lead with one run in the bottom half. MacDougall hit a two-out double and scored when Bryce got a hit to fall into right. Braden Sullivan led off the third with a triple and scored on a single from MacDougall, AJ Lewis added an RBI double and Shawn Cali singled in a third run for Taunton to make it 4-0. Botelho knocked in a run with a single to right in the sixth and Lewis grabbed another RBI with a single to right.

Stoughton, 3 @ North Attleboro, 6 – FinalStoughton pushed across three runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead but North responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to get the win and clinch the Davenport division title outright. Christian Bates earned a leadoff walk, stole second, took third on an error, and scored the tying run on a single from Kyle Conroy. Tyler DeMattio added an RBI double to put the Rocketeers ahead, and Dillon Harding brought in two runs after reaching on an error to make it 6-3. Tyler Bannon earned the win for North, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks, striking out nine in a complete game effort. Derek Maceda and Danny Curran each added two hits in the win for North. Jonah Ly went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Stoughton while Anthony Tilton and Dom Belle each drove in a run.








Softball
King Philip, 7 @ Attleboro, 0 – FinalKing Philip earned a shutout win on the road over Attleboro to clinch the Kelley-Rex division title for the first time since 2018. Sophomore Jordan Bennett had another stellar outing in the circle, allowing just three hits and one walk, striking out eight in a complete game shutout effort for the win. The Warriors pushed a pair of runs across the plate in the second and went on to score in each of the next three innings, punctuated with a three-run fifth. Mia Bennett opened the scoring with an RBI double and Maddie Paschke followed with an RBI single up the middle for a 2-0 lead. Ava Lanza drove in a run in the third to make it 3-0 and Bennett dropped a squeeze bunt down in the fourth to plate Taylor Regan. Meg Sherwood extended KP’s lead with an RBI single to right to bring Sarah Cullen home, and then Regan followed with her second hit of the day, a line drive single to right to bring both Ava Kelley and Lanza home.

Sharon, 2 @ Canton, 3 – FinalTaylor Reynolds had two hits and an RBI, Emily Ciampa had a hit and an RBI, and Gillian Gordon scored a run as Canton secured a close win over visiting Sharon. Jessica Vo had a solid game defensively in right for the Bulldogs, and Sophia Santos was the winning pitcher, striking out four. For Sharon, Ally Foulsham had two hits, Ciara McAuliffe played a strong game defensively behind the plate, and Trinity Payne struck out six in four innings of work.

Foxboro, 12 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final (6 inn.)Foxboro exploded for eight runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in a win on the road at Oliver Ames, earning a season sweep of the Tigers. Freshman Vittoria Cuscia tossed a complete game shutout for the Warriors with three strikeouts, and helped her cause at the plate with a hit and an RBI. Peyton Feldman went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot with three runs scored and two RBI, Allie Willis added two RBI, and Natalia Leach drove in three runs for the Warriors.

Milford, 2 @ Franklin, 10 – FinalMilford jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the third but Franklin quickly responded with seven runs in the bottom half and went on to secure a big win over the visiting Scarlet Hawks. Sophomore Camille Bonina launched a two-run home run in the top of the third to put Milford ahead 2-1. In the bottom half, Franklin had its first five batters reach base including a two-run double from Hailey Fales as the Panthers jumped back ahead 4-2. Avery Chalk and Dana Stott had back-to-back RBI singles and Katy Liberman smacked a two-out, two-run double to push Franklin’s lead to 8-2. Junior Kiera Kotwicki earned the win for the Panthers, allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks, striking out four in a complete game effort.

Taunton, 13 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final (6 Inn.) – Taunton bounced back after losing two of its last three games by picking up a big win at Mansfield. The Tigers finished with 19 hits as a team, including nine extra-base hits, and scored five runs in the second and four in the third to break the game open. Ava Venturelli was 2-for-5 with a homer, a double, and four RBI, while Kaysie DeMoura also was 2-for-5 with a homer and drove in three. Taunton got good production from the bottom of the order, including Kylie Thorpe, who was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI. Liv Mendonca and Cate Larson combined to pick up the win. The Hornets got their lone run in the third inning. Amanda Schwarz singled and courtesy runner Sydney Fernando took second on a wild pitch before crossing the plate on a Callie Lake double. Mansfield finished with seven hits as a team.

North Attleboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final (8 Inn.)Freshman Maryellen Charette drove in the game-winning run in the top of the eighth and Kelly Colleran made it stand up by striking out the side in the bottom half to secure the win and clinch the outright league title for North. Zoey McDonough started the winning rally with an infield hit and took second on the throw. Shaelyn Burns singled to move McDonough to third and Charette followed with a hit of her own to bring in the go-ahead run. Colleran went the distance in the circle and struck out 16 hitters. Charette, Burns, and Grace Simmons each had two hits, while Colleran scored twice and McDonough had a pair of RBI.




Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 9 @ Sharon, 12 – Final
King Philip, 10 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 9 – Final (3 OT)
Franklin, 11 vs. Longmeadow, 16 – Final

Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 3 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 12 – Final

Sharon, 2 @ Canton, 15 – FinalCanton had seven different scorers to pick up its 10th win of the season, sweeping the season series with the Eagles. Emily McCabe was the spark plug for the Bulldogs, scoring five goals. Ella Yeaton added a hat trick for Canton and Elyse Broderick made nine saves. Bailey Garte scored both of Sharon’s goals and Tess Letendre had a big game, making 14 saves in the loss.

Franklin, 9 vs. Notre Dame Academy, 7 – Final

Foxboro, 11 @ Natick, 8 – FinalFoxboro pulled out a big non-league win at Natick to build momentum for the postseason. Val Beigel led the Warriors with four goals and Paige Curran finished with a hat trick and four assists. Mary Collins added two goals and an assist, while Cate Noone and Grace Riley each found the back of the net once. Mya Waryas had an assist and Audrey Campbell made nine stops in the win.




Boys Tennis
King Philip, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – FinalBehind a pair of single wins and one from doubles action, King Philip went on the road and picked up a win over Attleboro. Jonathan Cohen took care of business with a 6-1, 6-3 win at second singles and Jackson Hom captured a 6-1, 6-2 victory at third singles for the Warriors. The team of Leo Manning and Arjun Kullo added KP’s third point, getting a 6-1, 6-2 win at second doubles. Attleboro’s Kyle Neuendorf grabbed a 6-3, 6-2 win at first singles and the duo of Tyler Rocchio and Evan Sousa earned a 7-6, 6-3 win at first doubles.

Sharon, 3 @ Canton, 2 – FinalSharon swept both doubles matches and added another win from third singles to fend off host Canton. Jacob Stavsky earned a 6-0, 6-0 third singles win, the team of Ruemon Bhattacharyya and Mitch Weiss earned a 6-0, 6-0 first singles victory, and the team of Hyojae Park and Sava Kassev emerged from second doubles with a 6-1, 6-4 verdict. Canton sophomore Max Kupferman and senior Suraj Ramanathan both continued their strong seasons with wins at first singles (6-4, 6-2) and second singles (6-1, 6-1), respectively.

Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final

Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – FinalFranklin’s experience was on full display as the Panthers used five seniors in the lineup to knock off visiting Milford. Senior Vayshnav Malhotra and senior Sameen Shaik both won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while senior Drew Mahoney earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. The senior tandem of Thomas Broyles and Tyler Fitzpatrick captured a 6-2, 6-0 win at first doubles and Franklin’s sophomore pairing of Ahan Shetty and Jay Gorgas captured a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles.

Taunton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – FinalMansfield used a trio of underclassman to sweep singles action and added a fourth point in a win at second doubles to defend home court against Taunton. Freshman Neema Khosravani captured a 6-3, 6-1 win at first singles, while sophomores Iniyan Karruppusami and Nikhil Nain both won 6-0, 6-0 at second and third singles, respectively. The tandem of Jesse Colchamiro and sophomore Dhruv Jain added a 6-1, 6-0 second doubles win for the Hornets. Taunton’s first doubles pairing of senior Andrew Letourneau and junior Derek Deseault battled to a 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 win.

North Attleboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final Behind a three-set victory at first doubles, North Attleboro returned home from Stoughton the victorious side of a 3-2 match. Junior Griffin Rodden and sophomore Quinn DiFiore won the first set but Stoughton took the second, sending it to a third set. Rodden and DiFiore had their best set of the match and prevailed with the win (6-4, 4-6, 6-1). North senior Will Folan captured a 6-0, 6-2 win at first singles and junior Brody Carter took a 6-1, 6-0 verdict at second singles. Stoughton senior Anish Sinha earned a 6-4, 6-3 win at third singles.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – FinalIn a battle of two of the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division, King Philip took a clean sweep over visiting Attleboro. Ahunna James (6-4, 6-1), Shea Mellman (6-0, 6-0), and Caroline Freese (6-1, 6-2) swept the singles matches for the Warriors. Resha Ajoy teamed up with Lauren Casper and emerged from a 90-minute battle to take a 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 victory at first doubles, and the pairing of Priya Riar and Carlie Burns used their strong chemistry to capture a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles for KP.

Canton, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – FinalSharon took three matches in straight sets and two more in third-set tiebreakers to earn a 5-0 sweep of visiting Canton. In a great battle at first singles, sophomore Navya Shukla emerged with a hard-fought win over Canton freshman Camila Cutter (7-5, 4-6, 10-8). Sharon’s Sophia Oh and Ritu Sreeram also prevailed in a tiebreaker, taking a win at first doubles (6-2, 4-6, 10-6). Sharon’s Ale Aguilar won 6-2, 6-4 at second singles, Judy Song added a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at third singles, and Jenny Sand teamed up with Alina Hou for a 6-1, 6-2 second doubles victory.

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – FinalOliver Ames swept both doubles matches and got a key win in singles action from a senior to take a 3-2 verdict on the road at Foxboro. Senior Elizabeth O’Brien played a very smart and consistent match to take a 6-2, 6-2 win at third singles for the Tigers’ lone point in singles action. The senior pairing of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper were strong at the net in a 6-3, 6-2 win and the duo of Marina Mierzwinski and Olivia Querzoli also won in straight sets (6-3, 6-3) for OA. Foxboro’s Athena Li continued to shine at first singles with a 6-0, 6-0 win while Hailey Kornbluth took a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles for the Warriors.

Franklin, 5 @ Milford, 0 – FinalFranklin took all five matches in straight sets to take down Milford and stay in first place in the Kelley-Rex division with three matches to go. Izzy Trull (6-2, 6-1) Chloe Essum (6-3, 6-2), and Sarah Schiavo (6-1, 6-2) swept the three singles matches for the Panthers while Vedika Vinayak and Lexy Winkler secured a 6-2, 6-3 win at first doubles, and Amulya Jayam and Nihara Lijan captured a 6-4, 6-4 win at second doubles.

Mansfield, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final

Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Boys Volleyball
King Philip @ Millis, 6:00
Milford @ Medfield, 6:00

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