Division 1 softball preview: Taunton a force once again

Despite no season a year ago, Taunton is ready to pick up where it left off.

Behind the dynamic trio of Kelsey White, McKenzie McAloon and Hanna Aldrich, Taunton still looks like the team to beat in Div. 1. The Tigers won the state championship in 2018 and followed it up with a 22-3 campaign in 2019.

“It comes down to more than physical components,” Taunton coach Carrie Consalvi said. “We have three great players but the whole team has to learn and gel. It’ll be more than the talent that gets us to the next level come the postseason and that’s what we’re fighting to find.”

A pair of Hockomock League rivals will challenge Taunton. Franklin is relying on Gabby Colace and Molly Collins, while King Philip looks to Paige Berdos and Anna Bradley.

Bishop Feehan, a fresh face in the Catholic Central League, is poised to make its mark. Head coach Bill Milot has high expectations for his girls and senior captains Allie Plante and Sierra Basara hope to help ensure those come to fruition along with Haly Coupal, Haley Petrucci and McKenzie Flaherty.

Bridgewater-Raynham is looking to a new group to defend its sectional title from 2019. Senior first baseman Riley Sroczinski is at the center of the young lineup while Julia Newcomb will handle responsibilities inside the circle.

Hopkinton has four key players back from its 2019 team and they all figure to be some of the best in the Tri-Valley League in Tara Kester, Kristin McCluskey, Julianna Ceddia and Charlotte Cann. Walpole has slugging outfielder Catie Powderly and third baseman Jordan Larkin back, while freshman pitcher Lauren Lynch is one of the top underclassmen to watch.

Up North, Lowell enters the season as the top dog to no one’s surprise behind star in the circle Giana LaCedra. LaCedra took home back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2019 and 2020 and seems poised to earn the award once again. Alongside LaCedra is plenty of talent, including fellow captains Mia Ly (first base) and center fielder Christina Panagiotopoulos. The key, however, may be freshman catcher Molly Schribman, who is getting her feet wet while at the same time learning how to catch a pitcher of LaCedra’s caliber.

“With Giana we have the ability to win every game, but we are overall very young,” Lowell coach Bo Durso said. “If we can win a fair amount early in the season I think it could do a lot for our young girls to show we can compete with anyone.”

Lowell will not have to go far to find its top competition in Div. 1 North. Fellow Merrimack Valley Conference foes Andover, Methuen, Billerica and Central Catholic figure to be in the mix.

Andover returns Juliana Alperts and Paige Gillette, while freshman pitcher Jackie Giordano has been excellent early on. Methuen is always in the conversation with Jason Smith at the helm and this year figures to be no different as shortstop and Boston Herald All-Scholastic Stephanie Tardungo is the center of a potent Methuen lineup.

Central Catholic has two quality returners from the 2019 season manning the outfield in Lacey Swift and Maddie Guy along with Ava Ianessa and Hayley Rapaglia. Patty Higgins always puts together a competitive squad at Billerica.

The Dual County League trio of Lincoln-Sudbury, Concord-Carlisle and Acton-Boxboro will make their fair share of noise.

The Warriors hope to benefit from having eighth-graders on the junior varsity team two years ago who are now ready to compete as sophomores on the big stage. Second baseman Ava Lynch, third baseman Claudia Mazzocchi and first baseman Jen Grous will lead the way.

Acton-Boxboro, always one of the premier teams in the area, is expected to have one of the stronger lineups around behind senior slugger Olivia Comolli. Concord-Carlisle returns Emma Tonnies, Madelyn Gambino and Nicole Celi.

Newton North will be a factor as always with Ella Maher on the mound.

In the Middlesex League, Woburn will rely on the Sgroi sisters (Grace and Bella) along with Keeli Queen. Lexington returns Abby Sommers, Caroline Palys and Taylor Benson.

 

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH IN DIV. 1 NORTH

Lowell

Newton North

Woburn

Acton-Boxboro

Concord-Carlisle

Andover

 

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH IN DIV. 1 NORTH

P: Taylor Benson (Lexington), Madelyn Gambino (Concord-Carlisle), Giana LaCedra (Lowell), Rachel LaLumiere (Chelmsford), Ella Maher (Newton North), Kate McGrath (Boston Latin), Janie Morales (Chelsea), Hayley Rapaglia (Central Catholic), Brooke Warren (Lynn Classical)

C: Lissette Curran (Malden), Dawn Eisnor (Medford), Alexis Iacoviello (Revere), Caroline Palys (Lexington), Bella Sgroi (Woburn)

1B: Olivia Comolli (Acton-Boxboro), Olivia Filmore (Masconomet), Jennifer Grous (Lincoln-Sudbury), Mia Ly (Lowell), Madi Wong (Newton South)

2B: Paige Gillette (Andover), Ava Ianessa (Central Catholic)

SS: Alexis Burnham (Reading), Nicole Celi (Concord-Carlisle), Rayanne Forbes (Medford), Meghan Mulhern (Westford Academy), Eliza Reimold (Masconomet)

3B: Meghan Goode (Chelmsford), Grace Sgroi (Woburn)

OF: Juliana Alperts (Andover), Claire Ewen (Arlington), Nora Flint (Newton South), Stephanie Little (Newton South); Abby Sommers (Lexington), Stephanie Tardugno (Methuen), Emma Tonnies (Concord-Carlisle), Sara Whitehouse (Malden)

 

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH IN DIV. 1 SOUTH

Taunton

Bishop Feehan

Hopkinton

Walpole

Franklin

King Philip

 

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH IN DIV. 1 SOUTH

P: Nicole Baker (Stoughton), Chatlotte Cann (Hopkinton), Julianna Ceddia (Hopkinton), Ashlyn Conley (Mansfield), Faith Ferrera (Durfee), Lillian Gray (New Bedford), Ava Hilaire (Milton), Katie Lynch (Walpole), Laney Martin (Somerset Berkley), Kelsey White (Taunton)

C: Alannah Akins (Duxbury), Marilyn Carroll (Milton), Carolyn Green (Brockton), Haley Petrucci (Bishop Feehan), Lola Woyton (Attleboro)

1B: Anna Bradley (King Philip), Delaney Calanan (Silver Lake), Cary Ferreira (Milford), Casey Moussette (Mansfield), Riley Sroczinski (Bridgewater-Raynham), Emily Wilkinson (Marshfield)

2B: Jayme Carr (Stoughton), McKenzie McAloon (Taunton), Emily Nardelli (North Attleboro)

SS: Hanna Aldrich (Taunton), Gabby Colace (Franklin), Haley Coupal (Bishop Feehan), Emma Ferrara (Needham), Lily Gustafson (Silver Lake), Tara Kester (Hopkinton), Ella Staffier (Marshfield), Jillian Vaughn (Milton)

3B: McKenzie Flaherty (Bishop Feehan), Kristin McCluskey (Hopkinton), Caroline O’Donnell (North Quincy), Catie Powderly (Walpole), Abbey Strollo (Durfee)

OF: Megan Banzi (Plymouth North), Paige Berdos (King Philip), Molly Collins (Franklin), Veronica Hulbert (Needham), Jordan Larkin (Walpole), Emily McDonald (Whitman-Hanson), Sydney Menz (Stoughton), Gabrielle Messier (Somerset Berkley), Orla O’Driscoll (North Quincy), Hailey Richardson (Nauset)

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