Silver Lake’s 1 to watch in South
The Silver Lake softball team clearly earned the right to be considered the best team in Eastern Mass. during the regular season.
Now comes the time when the Lakers have to do it all over in the tournament against an elite field in Division 1 South. The road won’t be an easy one, as Silver Lake could be looking at possible matchups with Milford and Bridgewater-Raynham just to get to the sectional final.
Taunton saw its dreams of an undefeated season snapped in the final week, but this team has the horses to be the last one standing in the South. Keep an eye on Hopkinton, which blossomed as the season wore on.
In Div. 1 North, Central Catholic was rock steady throughout the season and has to be considered the favorite. Lexington and Medford could meet it a potential quarterfinal matchup on the top side of the draw. The same holds true on the bottom side as Woburn and Newton North, two teams good enough to win the sectional, could clash in the quarterfinals.
Defending Div. 2 South champion Norton is the favorite to get to the final again thanks to the brilliance of ace Kelly Nelson. The Lancers could be looking at either red-hot Abington or Dennis-Yarmouth in the semifinals.
Case proved its mettle in the always-competitive South Coast Conference and will have a say in who emerges. A pair of Patriot League teams, Middleboro and Hanover, could provide the Cardinals with some tough competition.
Tewksbury slugged its way to prominence in the Merrimack Valley Conference and is one of the favorites in Div. 2 North. The Redmen could be looking at either Dracut or Burlington in the semifinals. On the other side of the draw, North Reading is solid but it is worth watching a pair of Northeastern Conference teams in Marblehead and Swampscott.
Div. 3 North could be a Catholic Central Large rematch between St. Mary’s and Austin Prep. The road to the final is a lot tougher for the Spartans, who are lumped into the same bracket as Whittier and Amesbury.
In the South, Greater New Bedford and Millis tend to repeat the postseason benefits of playing in larger, competitive softball leagues. These two could very well meet in the sectional semifinals, while West Bridgewater appears to have an easier road to the final.