Here are capsule previews for the area’s high school softball teams in Division II and Division III:
BOW
Division: II
Coach: Emily Crompton (2nd year)
Last year: 3-13, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Maddy McSweeney, C/INF; Lauryn Colby, P/1B; Ruby Towne, 1B/OF; Annika Geiben Lynn, 2B; Brooke Biehl, OF; Katelin Howe, SS; Alex Bessette, OF; Abby Hutcheson, OF
Top newcomers: Kelly Harris, C/3B; Kyle Laflamme, OF; Cassie Murphy, INF; Madison Speckman, OF/P; Ashlyn Wright, INF/OF; Alisha Anderson, OF; Abby Denise, OF
Outlook: “With a handful of returners and a group of talented freshmen we are hoping to jump out of the gate early this season and record some wins,” coach Crompton said. “The girls are working hard, have a positive outlook and truly make coaching them an amazing experience.”
Teams to beat: Coe-Brown, Plymouth, Milford, Pembroke
Division: II
Coach: Dave Allis (2nd year)
Last year: 14-6, D-II runner-up
Returning starters: Katie Messenger, jr., INF/P; Abby Jerome, jr., INF/P; Autumn Stevens, so., C; Maggie Sylvester, so., INF; Olivia Farrar, sr., OF; Angie Moss, jr., OF; Brynna Meeker, jr., OF/P; Drew Ceppetelli, sr., OF
Top newcomers: Celia Fogarty, jr., INF/P; Kelsey Pease, jr., INF/Utility; Hayleigh McNeil, jr., INF/Utility
Outlook: Even with a few players lost to graduation, the Bears return one of the strongest rosters in Division II on paper. Both Stevens and Messenger made First Team All-State as underclassmen, and should only continue to develop as premier players in D-II. “On paper we should be competitive, but all D-II teams are great, so we’ll have to play every hard game,” coach Allis said.
Division: II
Coach: Gerry Morin (4th year)
Last year: 18-2, D-II champions
Returning starters: Sarah Ferguson, sr., 1B; Kale Kolehmainen, sr., SS; Elizabeth Aubin, jr., LF; Sydney Nelson, jr., 3B; Anna Stenger, jr., C; Izabella Nelson, so., P; Brooke Patnode, so., RF; Lilli Stogner, so., 2B
Top newcomers: Gracie Bolduc, fr., OF
Outlook: The Generals return eight starters from last year’s team that won the first title in program history. Stark earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament last year and beat No. 8 Coe-Brown in the final, 9-4, behind a solid pitching performance from Izabella Nelson and an offense that scored runs in the first inning and got three hits from Kolehmainen, who also had two hits in the semifinal win against Pembroke. With so much talent back from a title team, Stark has to be considered a favorite in D-II, but the Generals aren’t taking anything for granted. “Although last year’s outstanding season gives the team confidence, they are focused and committed to putting in the hard work needed to have another successful season,” Morin said.
Teams to beat: Coe-Brown, Milford, Pembroke
Division: II
Coach: Sam York (9th year)
Last year: 9-9, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Sadie Merrow, jr., C/OF; Sadie Barton, so., P/OF; Molly McLaughlin, jr., 1B/OF; Alani Ramas, sr., 2B; Lauren McLaughlin, jr., SS; Miah Boucher, jr., 3B/C; Haleigh Boutwell, sr., P/OF; Jadyn Holmes, jr., OF/3B; Meghan McGonagle, so., INF/OF
Outlook: The Pride’s main priority is building off consecutive trips to the quarterfinals. MV returns its entire starting lineup and will have the luxury of not thrusting younger players into key roles like many other programs around the state. “Our team is hungry to win, works hard and is fun to coach,” York said.
Division: II
Coach: Ashley Gladu (4th year)
Last year: 16-3, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Chloe Carignan, jr., P/1B; Olivia McCarty, jr., SS/3B; Shannon Trainor, jr., P/OF; Kayla Paquin, sr., C/OF
Top newcomers: Alex Bonacorsi, jr., P/2B; Jade Pecinski, jr., OF; Whitney Moses, fr., 3B/1B; Brook Davison, fr., 1B/C
Outlook: The Spartans have reached the final four in each of the past two seasons and bring back four strong starters with the hopes of being there again this spring. Pembroke did lose a pair of First Team All-State players in outfielder Danielle Parent and shortstop Olivia Langevin, but Gladu is counting on Trainor, Paquin, McCarty and Carignan to step up and lead this year’s team.
Teams to beat: Milford, John Stark, Coe-Brown
BELMONT
Division: III
Coach: Bill Clary (9th year)
Last year: 15-5, D-III runner-up
Returning starters: Margaret Witham, sr., 1B; Lizzie Fleming, sr., Utility; Julianna Estremera, sr., SS; Makenzie Donovan, sr., OF; Chantel Martin, sr., OF; Noel Murphy, jr., C; Kelley Allen, so., P; Morgan Hall, so., P; Becca Fleming, so., C; Raven Gates, so., 3B; Kara Stephens, so., 3B
Top newcomers: Paige Irving, jr., OF: Savannah Perkins, fr., Utility
Outlook: The Raiders caught fire at the right time last season and it resulted in a deep playoff run all the way to finals. With only two new faces and a plethora of experienced varsity players back in the fold, Belmont has no reason to think it can’t do it again. Coach Clary is eager to see this group build off last year’s momentum, and even with the departure of All State First Team outfielder Jordan Sargent, the Raiders return enough weapons on offense to mitigate the loss.
Teams to beat: “White Mountain and Campbell are always strong, but we have so many tough teams in the division,” Clary said. “Bishop Brady, Mascenic and Berlin are often in the hunt. Local teams like Gilford and Prospect Mountain are good and always play us tough.”
Division: III
Coach: Freddy Rivera (5th year)
Last year: 10-8, reached first round
Returning starters: Abby Santis, sr., CF; Jess Beeso, sr., OF; Ami Rivera, so., C; Halle Laramie, so., P/INF; Jayden Johnson, so., P/INF
Top newcomers: Isabella Rivera, fr., SS; Libbey Hicks, fr., Utility; Ashley Brust, fr., INF; Kat Weed, so., Utility; Hannah Hicks, jr., INF; Ariel Bergeron, sr., Utility
Outlook: As a very young team, the Green Giants will strive on the leadership roles of captains Santis and Beeso. Despite its youth, Brady features a lot of talented-athletic players: Ami Rivera will now call the game from behind the plate after a stellar freshman season at shortstop; Laramie and Johnson will split pitching duties in the circle, both coming off exceptional freshman seasons; and freshman Isabella Rivera will replace her sister at shortstop. There are also a handful of new players competing for spots in the starting lineup, including Brust, who will provide a boost to the offense once she recovers from a hockey injury.
Teams to beat: “The road to the championship goes through White Mountains,” coach Rivera said.
Division: III
Coach: Darren Lennon (1st year)
Last year: 5-12, reached first round
Returning starters: Ryley Haskins, sr., C; Clarissa Martin, sr., 1B; Fayth Kaspszak, jr., 3B; Halie Turner, sr., P; Kirsten Smith, sr., SS; Hannah Fife-Huckins, so., CF
Top newcomers: Abby Sylvester, fr., C; Jada LaPierre, fr., 2B/OF
Outlook: Lennon takes over the coaching duties for Skip DuBois, who was Franklin’s coach for 22 years before stepping down. While the Tornadoes lose an experienced voice in DuBois, they get one back in Haskins, who missed last year with a knee injury but is back behind the plate this spring. If Haskins needs a break, there are three freshmen catchers ready to step in – Sylvester, Jazmine Remillard and Destiny Emery. The rest of the infield defense should be solid with Martin, Kaspszak and Smith all returning. “Our team goal is to make the tournament,” said Lennon, who is still tinkering with positions and the lineup.
Division: III
Coach: Jim Bailey (2nd year)
Last year: 4-12, did not make tournament
Top returners: Kimberly Rodier, sr.; Madison O’Brien, sr.; Halie Hurd, sr.; Alannah Johnson, jr.; Zoe Kemp, so.; Erin Dean, so.; Hannah Hurd, so.
Top newcomers: Emily Wilkens, fr.; Maddy Podsadowski, fr.; Irena Rose, fr.; Kelsey Powell, fr.; Emily Ferguson, fr.
Outlook: With five freshmen and five sophomores on the roster, Bailey said the team is looking to gain experience throughout the season.
Division: III
Coach: Dan Meserve (14th year)
Last year: 11-7, reached quarterfinals in D-IV
Returning starters: Megan Blanchette, jr., P/1B; Katie Meserve, jr., C; Brooke Carlson, so., 2B; Megan Kimball-Rhines, so., 3B/P; Clara Walling, sr., CF
Top newcomers: Julia Baer, fr., 2B/SS; Kally Murdough, fr., 2B/SS; Maddy Follansbee, fr., C/1B
Outlook: The Hawks move (back) up to Division III this year with stong pitching and a lot of youth on the roster – eight of the 14 players are freshmen or sophomores. Blanchette was a First Team D-IV selection last year and Kimball-Rhines was a D-IV Second Team pick. Those two will once again share pitching duties and will be called on to lead the Hopkinton offense. Katie Meserve has a strong arm behind the plate and should be on the same page as her coach, who is also her father. The team’s four seniors (Walling, Maddie Bishop, Maddy McCluskey, and Lauren Secore) provide stability in the outfield.
Teams to beat: “New division, we see them all as teams to beat,” coach Meserve said.
Division: III
Coach: Mark Dawalga (1st year)
Last year: 8-9, reached first round
Returning starters: Ashley Deshaies, jr., 3B/OF; Natalie Deshaies, jr., OF; Hannah Max, jr., C; Carly Catty, jr., SS; Chloe Colarusso, jr., 1B/OF; Olivia Dill, jr., 2B; Aubrey St. Onge, sr., P
Top newcomers: Lea Dalton, fr., C/OF; Emma Griffin, fr., 1B; Kaitlyn Carey, fr., 2B/OF; Eveline Auger, so., OF; Abby Rose Smith, so., INF/OF; Cheyenne Cooper, so., P
Outlook: Dawalga, the girls’ basketball and soccer coach at Belmont, takes over at Winnisquam for longtime coach Kevin Dame this season and will be relying on the leadership of his seven upperclassmen as he makes the adjustment. Catty returns as one of the best young shortstops in Division III after a First Team All-State caliber season a year ago, and like many programs, the Bears just want to be playing their best as the season progresses. “The older group has really taken on leadership roles, helping out our younger group to get up to speed and learn new positions,” Dawalga said. “With a wet spring, time on the field has been hard to find. We will look to improve as the season goes on.”
Teams to beat: White Mountains, Berlin, Belmont, Gilford