2017 High school softball preview capsules
ECC LARGE DIVISION East Lyme Coach: Judy Deeb (46th year)
Key returnees: Sr. IF Mya Robinson, Jr. C-SS Alexandra Chambers, So. P-1B Isabel Siciliano, So. C-1B Caitlyn Sievers.
Top newcomers: So. 2B Nikki Marsh, So. OF Emma Kelley, So. IF Ariel Cassidy-Ising, Fr. IF Mya Delesdernier, Fr. IF-OF Lydia Swan, Fr. P-OF Olivia Quagan, Fr. C-IF Angie Venditti, Fr. IF Grace Wargo, Fr. IF Megan Nolan, Fr. OF Kelly LaPlante.
Outlook: The Vikings, who went 15-7 a year ago, were hit hard by graduation, including starting pitcher Mikaela Lopriore and veterean infielder Kaylie Crosby. Deeb, who is calling the 2017 edition her “Baby Vikings,” will rely on the 1-2 pitching punch of Siciliano and Quagan, adding, “the success of the season will depend on the development of the very young and inexperienced players.”
Fitch
Coach: Arielle Cooper (4th year)
Key returnees: Sr. P Jayden Delaporta, Sr. CF Cassie Woods, Sr. C Taylor Wolfgang, Sr. SS Jonell Hobert, Sr. 1B-OF Susanna Mewha, Sr. 2B Nicole Vignato, Sr. 3B Rylee MacMillan, So. P-OF Casey Flax, So. P-OF Ally Georgetti, So. IF Olivia Carney.
Top newcomers: So. IF-OF Meagan Giwoyna, Sr. OF Devin Lyon, Fr. OF Anna Guido.
Outlook: The Falcons were the state’s best team in 2016, capturing the Eastern Connecticut Conference and Class L state tournament championships while finishing a perfect 27-0. Cooper must replace the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, pitcher Caroline Taber (now at Princeton), but returns a veteran cast otherwise and should remain among the state’s elite programs. Delaporta, who did not make an error at first base last year, replaces Taber with Flax and Georgetti capable backups. Wolfgang hit .410 last year and was an all-state selection while Hobert and Vignato also hit .400 or better. Having seven senior starters is also a plus.
Ledyard
Coach: Brittany Robinson (3rd year)
Key returnees: Sr. OF Riley Pratt, Sr. C Larissa Topalis, Sr. SS Izzy Wells, Sr. 2B Corinne Diaz, Sr. 3B Corrynne Medina, Jr. P Madison Sanborn, Jr. IF Elsyana Morales, Jr. OF Meghann Coers.
Top newcomers: Jr. C Madyson Coers, Jr. C Whitney Brandt, So. Sarah Whatton, Fr. IF Amanda Cox, Fr. IF Jenna Topalis.
Outlook: The Colonels must replace starting pitcher Chloe Hespeler and most of their infield from a team that went 9-12 and qualified for the Class L state tournament in 2016, but Robinson does have plenty of experience and a promising group of newcomers. Sanborn replaces Hespeler on the mound, but will see a familiar face behind the plate in Topalis. New London Coach: Missy Parker (7th year)
Key returnees: Sr. IF-OF Jhannah Rivers, Sr. OF Dahyir Croft, Jr. UT Erin Heap, So. P Jovanna Potter, So. IF Brian Fielding, So. IF Jasmine Silva, So. OF Angie Lepore.
Top newcomers: Fr. C Jaelynn Potter, Fr. IF Anaya Vega, Sr. 1B Osiris Nando.
Outlook: The Whalers, who went 4-16 last season, face the difficult challenge of moving up to Division I with a young team whose nucleus will be freshmen and sophomores. “It will be a challenge,” Parker said, “but I have not doubt that the players will work hard and improve on a daily basis.
NFA
Coach: Bryan Burdick (9th year) Key returnees: Sr. P-OF Beth Fleming, Sr. 3B Kayla Tosses, Jr. C-SS Shea Gendron, So. OF Hailee Schrader, So. SS-3B Sara Cote, So. 2B-OF Brooke Gottshall, So. P-1B Bailey Comeau.
Top newcomer: Fr. P-OF Sophia DiCocco.
Outlook: The Wildcats return seven starters from a team that went 21-6 a year ago (three of those losses were to Class L champion Fitch) and reached the Class LL semifinals, so Burdick has high hopes for this NFA edition, which returns its talented battery of Fleming and Gendron. Schrader is also a settling influence in the outfield. Fleming is one of the state’s top returning pitchers, which makes the Wildcats a threat to win the Large Division and challenge for ECC and Class LL tournament titles, too. ECC MEDIUM DIVISION Montville Coach: Robert Alves (8th season)
Key returnees: Sr. OF Tiffany Evans, Sr. OF Ria Alvaran, Jr. IF Amanda Perkins, Jr. IF Emmiley Genua, So. P-IF Abby Diamantini, So. IF-OF Katelyn Price.
Top newcomers: Sr. C Sara Bigalbal, Jr. IF Emma Meyers, Jr. OF Angel Skulczyck, So. IF Leila Awad, Fr. IF Kylee Waite, Fr. P-UT Alexis Michon, Fr. IF-OF Madison Dawley.
Outlook: The Indians did graduate five senior starters from a team what went 8-13 a year ago and qualified for the Class M state tournament, but ECC all-star Perkins returns to lead a young but solid nucleus that will have new faces throughout the lineup. If those younger players develop, Montville should make another run at the postseason.
Stonington
Coach: Ann-Marie Houle (14th year)
Key returnees: Sr. 1B Cameron Dreher, Jr. P Trinity Lennon, Jr. SS Lainnie Connor, Jr. C Erin Craig, Jr. 3B Abby Flakus.
Top newcomers: So. P-OF Katie Sanford, So. IF Colette Dreher, So. CF Miranda Arruda, Sr. OF Madi Dyer, Fr. OF Sarah Flakus, Fr. OF Katie McNeil.
Outlook: The Bears, who went 20-6 a year ago and lost to eventual champion Seymour in the Class M semifinals, have high expectations again this season, despite some key graduation. Stonington does, however, return one of the ECC’s top pitchers in Lennon and an experienced lineup led by captain Cameron Dreher. “We have a core of starters returning from last year and some unbelievable newcomers who are ready to contribute,” Houle said. “We continue to have our same goals – to compete in every game and win our division, as well as make a run in the state tournament.”
Waterford
Coach: Andy Walker (2nd year)
Key returnees: Sr. IF-OF Baylee Brackett, Sr. 3B-C Emily Borysewicz, Jr. P Ashley Goldstein, Jr. IF Ashlee Hancock, Jr. P Marissa Walker, So. C-IF Lili Stoddard, So. IF Ciana Chiappone.
Top newcomers: Jr. OF Jessica Cleary, So. OF Chloe McCue, So. P-IF Cassidy Susi, So. OF Alyson Sanford, So. IF Regan Mazzulli, So. IF Devyn Concasia, So. IF-C Jayne Darras, So. IF Lexi Mangual, Fr. P-OF Rachel Miller, Fr. IF Madison Nott, Fr. IF Gina McKittrick, Fr. IF Taylor Lee, Fr. IF Molly Quiles.
Outlook: After leading the Lancers to a 16-8 record in his first season, Walker was decimated by graduation, losing eight starters. It’s hard to picture one of the ECC’s elite programs in a rebuilding mode, but Walker said 22 of the 28 players in the program are freshmen and sophomores, so there will be plenthy of growing pains. Captains Brackett and Borysewicz will lead a young team that still hopes to challenge for a division title and be a dangerous postseason team.
ECC SMALL DIVISION St. Bernard Coach: Nicole Nelson (4th year) Key returnees: Sr. P Sophie Nelson, Jr. C Briana Beverly, So. P-SS Emily Nelson, So. 1B Shania Riviere, So. P-IF Meghan Bergeron.
Top newcomers: Fr. OF-1B Taina Quinones, Fr. IF Bethany Chavez.
Outlook: The Saints went 2-16 a year without a single senior in the starting lineup, so Nelson expects to be much more competitive in 2017, especially with the return of two Small Division all-stars – Sophie Nelson and Beverly. Emily Nelson and Bergeron gained valuable experience when Sophie Nelson was out with an injury, so there is plenty of pitching depth, if needed. This should be a bounce-back year for St. Bernard.
Wheeler
Coach: Joe Cawley (7th year)
Key returnees: Sr. P Sam Muller, Jr. P-IF Kendra Perez, Jr. IF Nikki Collins.
Top newcomer: Sr. C Gracie Anglin. Outlook: The Lions must replace five starters, including all-state SS Raven Houck, from a team that went 16-6 during the regular season and reached the Class S quarterfinals. There will be some new faces – and Cawley said some old ones in new positions – but Muller and Perez give Wheeler a strong 1-2 pitching punch and defense is a strength. The Lions have won three straight Small Division titles and have won 30 straight games in the division, so repeating is the first goal. OTHERS Grasso Tech Coach: John Blake (13th year) Key returnees: Sr. P Ashley Cambisaca, Sr. OF Clara Pratts, Sr. SS Sophia Green, Jr. P-IF Lucero Urena. Top newcomers: Fr. IF-OF Christian Reynolds.
Outlook: The Eagles went 10-10 last season and earned a Class S tourney bid, so with the return of pitcher Cambisaca, Blake believes Grasso Tech can contend for the Constitution State Conference East Division title and return to the state tournament.
Old Lyme
Coach: Tim Gavin (1st year)
Key returnees: Sr. P-1B Kyra Teixeira, Sr. 2B-3B-OF Rachel Hayward, Jr P-SS-1B Audrey Gavin, Jr. SS-3B-OF Liz Richard.
Outfield: Gavin has coached for 34 years in the Old Lyme system, so he is familiar with the program that struggled a year ago (1-19) and continues to be in a rebuilding mode in the difficult Shoreline Conference. The Wildcats have only 13 players in the program, so all will be thrust into varsity roles.