Division 3 softball preview: Teams scramble to handle short season

With new rosters, limited prep time and the ability for any team to opt in to the state tournament, an already competitive Division 3 softball scene is wide open for the team that comes together, hits a groove and is able to withstand the grind of a compact schedule leading to the start of the state tournament on June 15.

The reigning Div. 3 state champions and four-time North sectional champs Austin Prep are a prime example of what teams are going through heading into the 2021 spring season: roster turnover.

The Cougars will lean on the experience of several returning players to defend their title, including juniors Melina Fedele and Brianna Meroli.

Austin Prep will face regular season pushback within a tough Catholic Central League, namely from St. Mary’s, who will have 21 games packed between early May and the tournament. Seniors Alyssa Grossi, Sam Porazinski, Merina Dibiasio and Felicia D’Alesandro will set the standard and junior Lily Newhall will be in the circle.

Amesbury is another North squad with high hopes, returning 11 of 14 players from two years ago. Liv Delong, who led the Cape Ann League with a .475 batting average, and fellow junior Alana Delisle will be major contributors.

Latin Academy is returning a handful of starters from 2019, four of whom will likely see time in the circle. Seniors Michaela Barcelou and Carleigh Schievink will alternate between pitching and first base, while sophomore Alanis Toledano and freshman Ellie Etemad-Gilbertson will get substantial time pitching.

Lynnfield will play 13 league games prior to the state tournament, and with two returning players in senior pitcher Reilly Ganter and senior shortstop Chloe Shapleigh, they will look to underclassmen for additional contributions.

In the South, reigning sectional champion Case returns seniors Hannah Pelletier and Abby Medeiros and are expected to lead the way. Monomoy is always a team to watch out for; the perennial powerhouse went 21-3 as the top seed in 2019, but fell to Case in the sectional title bout and will be looking for some payback this season with Maddie Cressen and Caroline DiGiovanni back.

Abington, which returned to Div. 3 South in 2018 and won the state title that year, is always in the mix. Four players remain from the 2018 state championship roster: MacKenzie Cahill, MacKenzie Bailey, Victoria Seppela and Lilly Jackson. Younger impact players will include freshman catcher Kasey Bailey and sophomore outfielder Maddie Perry, while sophomore Shannon Varvitsiotis and freshman Ava DiPietro will both pitch this season.

Bellingham will look to make waves this year with seniors Ashleigh Hughes and Brooke Silvestri leading the charge. A pair of junior captains will provide the offense for Bellingham in catcher and Providence commit Ryanne Haynes, who led the Tri-Valley League with six home runs in 2019, and shortstop Charlotte MacGregor.

West Bridgewater was 16-7 in 2019, but were bounced in the first round by Bellingham. Colleen O’Toole, Kelsey Connors and Alexis Anderson are expected to lead the way for the Wildcats.

Rockland will lean on a pair of seniors, Michaela Bruno and Macy Grass, who have been part of the team since they were eighth graders along with Darcy McGuirk.

DIVISION 3 NORTH TEAMS TO WATCH

Amesbury

Austin Prep

St. Mary’s

Latin Academy

Lynnfield

DIVISION 3 NORTH PLAYERS TO WATCH

P: Juliana Berardi (O’Bryant), Alana Delisle (Amesbury), Brittanny Elliott (East Boston), Reilly Ganter (Lynnfield), Madeleine Mogavero (Georgetown), Lexi Malenfant (Greater Lawrence), Brandi McNeil (Northeast), Guiliana Micciche (Mystic Valley), Lily Newhall (St. Mary’s), Angelina Pepe (Austin Prep), Megan Quinn (Mt. Alvernia), Carleigh Shavnik (Latin Academy), Sofia Vitale (Winthrop)

C: Caroline Crowley (Latin Academy), Molly Hickey (Mystic Valley), Pam Mota (Snowden)

1B: Olivia DeLong (Amesbury), Brianna Meroli (Austin Prep)

2B: Amanda Patti (Austin Prep)

SS: Elle Eteman-Gilbertson (Latin Academy), Zoe Lucido (Rockport), Samantha Porazinski (St. Mary’s), Madison Theriault (East Boston)

3B: Hannah Marie Akoury (Hamilton-Wenham), Olivia Levasseur (Amesbury), Melina Fedele (Austin Prep), Makayla Mills (Greater Lowell)

OF: Taylor Frost (Rockport)

DIVISION 3 SOUTH TEAMS TO WATCH

Case

Abington

Bellingham

Monomoy

Rockland

West Bridgewater

DIVISION 3 SOUTH PLAYERS TO WATCH

P: Alexia Anderson (West Bridgewater), Michaela Bruno (Rockland), Morgan Collupy (Tri-County), Abbey Gray (Rising Tide), Abby Orzechowski (Old Colony), Juliana Price (Bristol Aggie), Abigail Russell (Bourne)

C: Jayden Bryant (Mashpee), Ryanne Haynes (Bellingham)

1B/3B: Abby Medeiros (Case), Katelyn Caplete (Old Colony), Kelsey Connors (West Bridgewater), Caroline DiGiovanni (Monomoy)

2B/SS: Maggie Connolly (Mashpee), Heather Cormier (Upper Cape), Maddie Crossen (Monomoy), Bella Hendrickson (Hull), Hannah Pelletier (Case), Victoria Seppala (Abington), Colleen O’Toole (West Bridgewater)

OF: Emma Curtis (Holbrook), Darcy McGuirk (Rockland), Allyson Pompeo (Old Colony), Christina Russell (Bristol Aggie), Emily Strojny (Bourne)

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3weDuah