High school softball: These 18 programs are off to fast starts
With the high school softball season in full swing in Central Mass., our first column of the season will zip around the region to catch up with a number of programs.
More: Big bats and strong arms: Vote for the Hometeam Softball Player of the Week
AMSA
The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak following a season-opening loss to Bay Path. A big reason for that fast start is the play of captain Ashley Correll, who pitches and plays first base for coach Jay Ayik.
Correll has emerged after being behind 2022 Telegram & Gazette all-star Piper Kinney a year ago. Ayik said Correll brings a carefree, give-your-best-effort and fun-loving mentality to the field each day.
“She's the type of captain that our younger players enjoy being led by,” Ayik said. “It's clear she projects the ‘softball is a game, and it's meant to be fun’ persona. This season, (Correll) gets the opportunity to be the primary pitcher to showcase and enjoy her years of hard work to reach her goal.”
At 5-foot-11, Correll’s height gives her tremendous range at first base. She bats cleanup for the Eagles, adding great power to the lineup.
“She's a great all-around player and a pleasure to have on the team,” Ayik added.
Correll, who maintains a 4.5 grade point average, has committed to play softball at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, next year and plans to major in environmental science.
Correll is a veteran on a younger AMSA team, comprised of just two seniors, two juniors and two sophomores. The bulk of the team consists of six ninth grade players, including several starters in key positions.
“Although our players are much younger than most varsity high school players, they have a great knowledge of the game for their age,” Ayik said. “They all play travel softball with several of the local organizations and understand playing highly competitive softball.”
Ayik hopes his team can put themselves in a position to be playing their best late in the season.
“Heading into the playoffs, we hope to make a strong run during the season-end tournaments,” Ayik said. "Led by our captain leaders, Ashley Correll, Emelia Carvalho and Abigale Asman, I believe we have the overall talent to be very competitive by that time.”
Ayik also said the AMSA program is poised to be strong beyond just his season.
“The school is filled with so many talented younger players,” Ayik said. "I'm truly proud to be part of the school's growth and success.”
More: Mark your calendars: Picking the top Central Mass. softball games of the week
Leicester
First-year Wolverines coach Jill Russo returns to the place where she graduated in 2012 and starred onthe softball and soccer fields (maiden name Witkowski) before playing both of those sports at Worcester State.
“I am excited to be back at Leicester coaching,” Russo said.
Sophomore Vivian Giles has started the season on a tear, batting .625 and also has volunteered to fill the void at catcher, despite having no previous experience at the position.
“She has been doing excellent,” Russo said of Giles.
The Wolverines also feature a talented pitcher in the circle in Fallyn Pedersen, who has worked her way back from injury to start the season.
More: Hometeam high school spring sports standings
Grafton
Coach Kim Danish has high hopes for her Gator squad this year after her team made a run in the Division 2 state tournament last year, advancing to the quarterfinals before being edged by Westfield, 2-1.
“Grafton softball is hungry to build on last year's success,” Danish said. “We have seven seniors to lead the way, and we are returning the same battery of Taylor Coonan and Abby DuBois. Their leadership both as captains and as the battery are integral to the team's success.
"We're looking to play a unified game and support each other while paying attention to the small details that win big games.”
Doherty
The Highlanders have started 3-0, led by the hot hitting of senior Clare Murray (7 for 11, .636) and junior Alana Ladrie (.545, 4 doubles, 6 RBIs).
Senior pitcher Hailey Hill has started strong with two wins and a 1.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts and only two walks. Hailey also is swinging a hot bat (.455).
Junior Francie McMahon has the other win, allowing just one run while striking out eight. Seniors Taegan Covino, Kate McCarthy and Emma Brunell have provided great outfield defense and timely hitting for coach Phil Spellane’s squad.
Uxbridge
The Spartans have started fast with wins over Douglas, Quaboag, Tantasqua and Blackstone Valley Tech. Coach Allyson Durkin said her team is young but extremely talented, with most of her roster consisting of eighth, ninth and 10th graders. The team has no juniors and just one senior.
Lola Grube, Erin O'Day, Bailey Dzviasen and Olivia Pirrotta make up the core of the offense and defense. Grube has had three home runs and 11 RBIs to date, while O'Day has struck out 23 in 13 innings. Dzviasen has recorded 17 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Clinton
Gaels pitcher Ella Repole started her season with a 17-strikeout performance against Oakmont in the season opener. Kaela Ciarletta went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double.
Repole is joined on the team by her twin sister Ava. Coach Angela Kaizer said the twins have been vital contributors since they were in the seventh grade and are now seniors. Younger sister Leo has now joined the Repole sisters with the Gaels as a freshman.
St. Bernard's
The Bernardians opened their season with two wins in three games. They are led by their junior captain Paris Cuevas, who catches and bats third in coach Tea Preston’s lineup.
Preston also has two reliable pitchers in sophomore Brennah McDonald and freshman Lynn Warren. The coach said the team has come together as a unit very quickly.
“These girls are showing what playing as a family really means and bringing softball back to the limelight at STB,” Warren said.
Hopedale
Blue Raiders coach Jim Casey has a senior-heavy team to help him navigate through his first season. That group includes captains Franny Fitch, Riley Thomson and Lauren Montville, as well as Liana MacDonald, April Mason and Ava Romano.
Junior Lizzie Brytowski continues to excel in the pitcher's circle, along with classmates Kelsey Evans and Tori Miranda. Sophomores Layden MacDonald, Mackenzie Reynolds and Maddie DiMaio, along with freshman Mia Casey round out the team. Hopedale won its first two games while putting up a combined 33 runs.
Northbridge
The Rams have two players with a shot of achieving career milestones this season.
Mia Pellegrino had 47 hits as a freshman and 10 in just three games as a sophomore, putting her on the way to 100 career hits.
Dakota Grazulis had entered her junior season with 47 hits and has added seven this season, giving her a chance to reach 100 as well.
Murdock
Blue Devils pitcher Kassandra Santos had an impressive performance in a loss to Gardner earlier this season, recording 16 strikeouts. In two separate innings, she collected all three outs herself.
Leominster
Blue Devils senior Megan Dube returned to the circle last Friday after being sidelined for all of the 2022 season with a knee injury.
In that game against Grafton, Dube struck out 13 without allowing an earned run. She also added a single, double, and two RBIs.
Nipmuc
The Warriors lost only one senior to graduation last year, something coach Stephanie DeBaggis said will be a big benefit to her team this year.
“We are looking to improve our record as well as try to get deeper into postseason play,” DeBaggis said. Nipmuc has won two of their first three games.
Fitchburg
The Red Raiders started the season red hot, posting dominant wins over St. Bernard’s and Murdock by a combined score of 22-0.
Freshman twin sisters Anna and Ina Soino have led the way early. Ina pitched a shutout in the win over St. Bernard’s, while Olivia Wentworth went 3 for 3 with two home runs. Anna pitched a no-hitter against Murdock.
Tahanto
The Stags started 2-2, but the offense has come alive over the past three games, scoring 31 runs.
Leading the offense has been Abby Bidinger, who is hitting .600 to start the year with five RBIs and a 1,425 OPS. She also Abby Bindinger has started off the strong in the circle, logging a 2-0 record with 34 strikeouts.
Anna Bidinger, Sarah Mendoza and Lauren Wattu are also swinging hot bats.
Blackstone Valley Tech
Beavers coach Peter Cardoza said his five seniors — Julia Bern, Kasey Reeves, Abby Marino, Grace Gilroy and Shannon Mahoney — have shown great leadership early on.
“They have been great role models as the season has gotten underway,” Cardoza said. “They have played wherever needed and at any spot in the batting order. Every day they demonstrate a team-first attitude.”
Quaboag
The Cougars have started 0-4, but seventh grade pitcher Lizzie Bennington has started and finished each game, striking out 37.
Narragansett
Narragansett posted an 11-2 victory over Burncoat on Monday. Sophomore Cassidy Paradis struck out 16 while going 3 for 4, coming up a home run short of the cycle while scoring twice.
Hudson
Hudson opened Monday with a 6-3 win over Acton-Boxborough. Freshman Taylor Attaway notched her first varsity win in the circle, and Maddie Kiley hit a three-run homer.
—Contact Chris Kyne at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Several schools enjoy success early this high school softball season
