2019 HockomockSports Softball Awards

Taunton sophomore pitcher Kelsey White has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Softball Player of the Year. White had an excellent season in the circle and at the plate for the Tigers, helping them secure the Kelley-Rex division title and make a run to the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. White was also selected by coaches as the Hockomock League MVP.

“Kelsey followed up a state title with a dominant season in the circle,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She is a great athlete who fields her position as well as any pitcher I’ve covered and adds power at the bottom of Taunton’s lineup. There was no surprise this season, everyone knew how good Kelsey would be and the target that would be on Taunton’s back, and she got even better.”

White picked right up where she left off last season, earning 18 wins this season, including a pair in the playoffs and three shutouts against rival King Philip. She got the win on the final day of the regular season against KP that secured the Tigers their third league title (and second outright title) since moving to the Hock. Her ERA was a minuscule 0.45 and she struck out 138 batters in 125 innings, walking only 11.

“Kelsey is an outstanding young pitcher who has had tremendous success in her two years starting on the mound for the Tigers,” said Taunton coach Dave Lewry. “Kelsey has excellent command of her five pitches, as evidenced by 138 K’s and only 11 walks in 125 innings. She is also a great defensive pitcher with cat-like reflexes on balls up the middle and bunt coverage from line to line. The future looks bright for Taunton with Kelsey toeing the rubber for two more seasons.”

Franklin coach Kate Fallon-Comeau, whose team split with Taunton this season, added, “Kelsey is a triple threat on the softball field, not only can she pitch, she fields her position extremely well and has a solid bat in the lineup. She may only be a sophomore but has the poise and finesse of an elite pitcher in this game.”

White is the third Taunton player to be selected for this award in the past four seasons, including the second in a row, following Aimee Kistner in 2016 and Kya Enos last season. She is also the first sophomore to be selected and second non-senior to be honored. Milford’s Emily Piergustavo was a junior when she won the award in 2017.

Honorable Mentions: Bella Erti (North Attleboro), Meghan Gorman (King Philip), Hanna Aldrich (Taunton)

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Please note that the HockomockSports.com awards are selected by our staff. They are completely separate from the Hockomock League All-Stars. Players are listed alphabetically by position.

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HockomockSports First Team

Ashley Cangiano – North Attleboro – Catcher
North Attleboro junior catcher Ashley Cangiano put together a complete season behind the plate for the Rocketeers, providing offense, defense, and leadership to help North earn its first league championship since 1990 and reach the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. She finished the season with 38 hits, scored 27 runs, and drove in 21. She had nine doubles and three triples, while not allowing a single stolen base all season and picking off four runners. Cangiano added a pair of RBI in North’s first round playoff win. North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace said, “Ashley put it all together this spring: hitting, defense and calling pitches. She has been a rock behind the dish. She personifies a catcher being a leader.”

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Hanna Aldrich – Taunton – Infield
Taunton sophomore shortstop Hanna Aldrich, the 2018 and 2019 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year (see below), has been a three-year starter at short for the league champion Tigers and was one of the top power hitters in the league this season. Aldrich hit 0.451 this year, but also led the league with eight homers and drove in 33 runs, all while playing a solid defensive shortstop. Aldrich is a five-tool player, stealing 11 bases to help the league-leading Taunton offense power its way to a third Hock title. Taunton coach Dave Lewry said, “Hanna will undoubtedly play a major role over the next two seasons as she always works hard to improve her all-around game.”

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Karly Estremera – Stoughton – Infield
Stoughton senior third baseman Karly Estremera was one of the reasons that the Black Knights finished second in the Davenport division and made a return to the state tournament this spring. Estremera was in the top five in the league with a 0.500 average, recording 39 hits this season, and drove in 14 runs. She was a key player at the top of the Stoughton lineup throughout the regular season. Stoughton coach Deb Parker said, “Karly set goals at the beginning of the season and then put in the work needed to exceed them. She can hit for power and bunt for a base hit. She is smart and aggressive on the bases and definitely keeps opponents off balance when she is at the plate.”

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Meghan Gorman – King Philip – Infield
King Philip senior shortstop Meghan Gorman closed out her impressive career by leading the Warriors in every offensive category and making sure that KP reached the state tournament again this spring. Arguably the best defensive shortstop in the state, Gorman was also one of the league’s top hitters. She batted 0.500 in the regular season, finishing with 28 hits. The Central Conn. State-commit belted six homers this spring and drove in 28 runs. KP coach Norm Beauchemin said, “Meghan is just an exceptional talent that got better every year. Meghan led the team in every offensive category, played defense second to none, and finished her career with 133 hits. What a joy to have such a player who led by example.”

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Morgan Sylvestre – Foxboro – Infield
Foxboro shortstop Morgan Sylvestre had another strong season for the Warriors, using her bat and her glove to help them get back into the postseason. Sylvestre led the Warriors in a number of batting statistics, hitting 0.400 for the season with 26 hits, including four homers. She also drove in 21 runs, while playing really strong defense at short. Foxboro coach Mark Maguire said, “Morgan is a great selection. She plays softball ‘full throttle’ all the time. As our on-field leader at shortstop, Morgan has a strong, accurate arm and covers a lot of ground with a quick first step. She’s a tough out and led our team in hits, home runs, doubles (five), and stolen bases. Morgan was our team MVP and was voted captain as a junior.”

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Mady Bendanillo – Mansfield – Outfield
Mansfield senior centerfielder Mady Bendanillo had a strong bounce-back season to close out her career, helping the Hornets secure a spot in the state tournament. Bendanillo was one of the toughest outs in the league this season, batting 0.529, but also was one of the league’s top power hitters with nearly half of her hits being for extra bases. She had four homers and 18 RBI in the regular season as well as being a strong defensive outfielder. Mansfield coach Lori Letendre said, “Mady has been a force for us for the past four years. Defensively she has great range in the outfield and spoiled many hitters’ chances by making a great catch. She has been a dynamic player for Mansfield and will be a big hole to fill.”

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Liz Bickett – Canton – Outfield
Canton sophomore Liz Bickett had a breakout season for the Bulldogs, who missed out on the playoffs by just a single game. Bickett emerged as one of the top power hitters in the league and an athletic centerfielder that can cover a lot of ground. Bickett was second in the league with a 0.545 batting average. She hit six homers and drove in 21 this spring. Canton coach Dave Bohane said, “This was our staff’s first year and we knew Liz was a very good player, but she exceeded all of our expectations. She was in the top three in hitting from wire to wire. She hit for power, ran the bases well and was excellent in centerfield. We are thrilled to have two more seasons with Liz.”

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Abby Gallagher – North Attleboro – Outfield
North Attleboro junior right fielder Abby Gallagher had another strong season at the plate for the Rocketeers, getting on base herself and moving runners along as one of the top bunters in the league. Gallagher finished with 24 hits and a batting average of 0.381, but added 17 walks and had an on-base percentage of 0.585. She scored 26 runs and set the table for the middle of the North order, despite missing a few games at the start of the season. North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace said, “Abby missed pre-season and the first three games due to a cortisone shot in her back but came back the fourth game of the year and hit a homer. She played aggressive, smart softball the rest of the way and never looked back.”

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Mckenzie Bergdoll – Attleboro – Designated Player
Attleboro senior first baseman and pitcher Mckenzie Bergdoll has been one of the league’s most fearsome hitters for the past two seasons, providing the Bombardiers with a ton of power in the middle of the order. The LeMoyne College-commit batted 0.387 this season, smacking six homers and four doubles while driving in a team-high 23 runs. Attleboro coach Mark Homer said, “Mckenzie has been the best that AHS has had to offer over the past four years. She has led our program to three consecutive tournament appearances with her physical and mental abilities on the field. A fierce competitor who will now enter the next level playing at LeMoyne College.”

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Jackie Cherry – Franklin – Pitcher
Franklin senior pitcher Jackie Cherry set the tone for her final season by no-hitting King Philip early in the spring and she continued her strong performance throughout to help the Panthers finish second in the Kelley-Rex and reach the D1 South quarterfinal. Cherry went 11-6 on the season with an ERA of 2.12. Although she walked 50 batters and hit 17, Cherry battled and shut down some of the top teams, including Taunton, and B-R twice. Franklin coach Kate Fallon-Comeau said, “Jackie is an outstanding performer in the circle, she gets the outs her team needs to win games. Overall, her senior campaign was very successful and we wish her the best of luck at Saint Michael’s.”

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Bella Erti – North Attleboro – Pitcher
North Attleboro junior pitcher Bella Erti continued her dominant career in the circle by leading the Rocketeers to the Davenport division crown, its first Hockomock title since 1990, and into the D1 South quarterfinal, where she held top seed and eventual South champ B-R without a run into extra innings. Erti finished the season with a record of 16-6, an ERA of 1.41, and a WHIP of 0.91. She struck out 148 batters, including the 400th of her career, while walking only 18. North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace said, “Bella’s pitching stats have improved every year. She wants the ball every time we take the field whether she’s tired or hurt. She’s a throwback that loves the game!”

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Kelsey White – Taunton – Pitcher
Taunton sophomore pitcher Kelsey White followed up a strong freshman campaign with an even more dominant second season, helping the Tigers earn the Kelley-Rex division title, their second outright title since moving to the Hock. White won 18 games this season with an ERA of 0.45. Taunton allowed only 29 runs all season. She struck out 138 batters and walked only 11 in 125 innings and was selected as the league’s MVP. Taunton coach Dave Lewry said, “Kelsey is an outstanding young pitcher who has had tremendous success in her two years starting on the mound for the Tigers. The future looks bright for Taunton with Kelsey toeing the rubber for two more seasons.”

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HockomockSports Second Team

Bri Ferrandiz – Stoughton – Catcher
Stoughton senior catcher Brianna Ferrandiz was a rock behind the plate for the Black Knights, providing consistent offense at the plate and working well with young pitcher Nicole Baker to help the team get back into the postseason and challenge North Attleboro at the top of the division standings. Ferrandiz batted 0.397 this season, with 27 hits, and drove in 13 runs. Stoughton coach Deb Parker said, “Brianna was consistent for us all season. She hit safely in 16 of the 19 regular season games she played in and did a great job behind the plate for us this year commanding our defense and working with our young pitchers. Her game knowledge, presence, and leadership on and off the field will be sorely missed!”

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Jaime Brown – Taunton – Infield
Taunton senior third baseman Jaime Brown closed out her five-year varsity career with another league title. The UMass Dartmouth-commit batted 0.403 in the lead-off spot this season, despite missing time early in the season, racking up 25 hits and driving in 13 runs to set up the league’s most potent offense. She was also one of the league’s top defensive infielders, making only one error at the hot corner. Taunton coach Dave Lewry said, “Her sweet left-handed swing consistently resulted in base hits sprayed to all fields, and her command of the strike zone led to many bases on balls and a high on-base percentage. Jaime was a respected leader on the team and a captain for both her junior and senior years.”

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Katie Daby – North Attleboro – Infield
North Attleboro senior first baseman Katie Daby provided pop in the heart of the Rocketeers lineup and closed out her career by helping them end a 29-year wait for a league title. Daby batted 0.425 with 31 hits. She scored 16 runs and drove in 27, which was in the top five in the Hockomock League this season. Daby came through with big hits in a number of clutch situations. She also made only one error in 173 chances at first this spring. North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace said, “Katie was our leader and sole captain this season. She always seemed to come up with the big hit or great play when we needed it. The team rallied around her!”

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Makenzie Killough – Attleboro – Infield
Attleboro junior shortstop Makenzie Killough had a breakout year in the heart of the Bombardiers lineup, adding a second big bat and helping Attleboro reach the postseason for the third straight spring. Killough led the Hockomock League with a 0.609 batting average. She had 28 hits, including five homers, six doubles, and a pair of triples. Killough drove in 22 runs on the season. Attleboro coach Mark Homer said, “Makenzie has improved at a consistent pace year after year since she entered our program as a freshman. She took the honors of leading the league in batting this season and led our defense with her skill and knowledge of the game. Her love of the game is what makes her the player that she has become.”

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Maddy White – Franklin – Infield
Franklin junior third baseman Maddy White was excellent at the hot corner for the Panthers and was the team’s leading run producer as Franklin challenged for the league title and made a run to the D1 South quarterfinal. White led the team with an average of 0.443 and drove in a team-high 26 runs this season. She only struck out four times in 82 plate appearances and committed only one error in 53 chances at third during the regular season. She compiled 35 hits this season, including six extra-base hits, and scored 17 runs. Franklin coach Kate Fallon-Comeau said, “Maddy commands the hot corner and plays aggressive, solid defense. She is an offensive powerhouse, and leads our team in RBI.”

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Anna Balkus – Franklin – Outfield
Franklin junior centerfielder Anna Balkus was the primary table setter for the Panthers offense and was one of the top defensive outfielders in the league, using her speed on both at the plate and in the field to be a weapon. Balkus hit 0.352 and stole nine bases, consistently putting her in position to score, which she did 21 times. In the field, she also made 42 put-outs and had six assists (including four double plays), with a fielding percentage of 0.980. Franklin coach Kate Fallon-Comeau said, “Anna has great speed and gets an excellent read on the ball in the outfield, she commands the defense out there and doesn’t allow other teams to run on her. Offensively she is a pest on the base path, if she gets on base, she’s scoring a run.”

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Lexi Baptista – Stoughton – Outfield
Stoughton junior outfielder Lexi Baptista proved to be one of the top centerfielders in the league, both at the plate and in the field and was a major component of Stoughton’s run to the state tournament. Baptista batted 0.475 with 29 hits on the season. She smacked a pair of homers and drove in 15 runs. Baptista also had a big hit and several plays in the field during Stoughton’s playoff win against Somerset-Berkley. Stoughton coach Deb Parker said, “Lexi is a force of nature! She anchored our outfield in center with underclassman on either side of her. She is among the most naturally talented athletes I have ever coached. She has unbelievable power and potential.”

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Alexa White – Taunton – Outfield
Taunton senior Alexa White has been a critical piece for the Tigers run to a league title, and to last year’s state championship. White seamlessly moved into centerfield this season and also added pop in the middle of Taunton’s lineup, batting 0.393 with 22 hits and 17 RBI. She also proved to be a clutch performer, coming through with the hit that secured a win against Marshfield in the D1 South quarterfinal. White also went 4-0 in the circle with a 0.23 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 30 innings. Taunton coach Dave Lewry said, “She’ll always be remembered in Taunton softball history for her dramatic grand slam in last year’s State Finals that iced the championship for the Tigers.”

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Faith Turinese – King Philip – Designated Player
King Philip senior Faith Turinese stepped into the circle this spring and battled as the Warriors top starter, but she was also capable of playing multiple positions and providing production wherever the team needed her. Turinese, a Rhode Island College-commit, went 9-7 with a 3.82 ERA this season, picking up a win in the first round of the playoffs. She struck out 54 batters. Turinese was also an important presence in the KP lineup, adding speed and power and making opposing pitchers work. She was selected as an all-star by Hockomock League coaches. King Philip coach Norm Beauchemin said, “Faith Turinese plays hard loves the game and will do anything for her team.”


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Nicole Baker – Stoughton – Pitcher
Stoughton sophomore pitcher Nicole Baker fulfilled some of the promise that she showed during cameo appearances as a freshman and put in one of the top seasons of any pitcher in the league. Baker finished with a record of 13-6 and an ERA of 2.32, She struck out 141 batters, second best in the league, over 130 innings this spring. She also picked up a win in the playoffs. Stoughton coach Deb Parker said, “Nicole is a fierce competitor! She was selected by her teammates as the 2019 MVP and she earned it! She has a tremendous work ethic and holds herself to very high standards. She remained composed and in control in the circle against many of the best teams in the state.”

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Sarah Cahill – Mansfield – Pitcher
Mansfield senior pitcher Sarah Cahill put together her most consistent season to help the Hornets book a return to the state tournament and compete against the top teams in the Hockomock League. Cahill went 12-8 on the season with a 3.15 ERA. She struck out 128 batters and walked 31 in 129 innings in the regular season. Mansfield coach Lori Letendre said, 
“Sarah had a strong year for us in the circle and pitched well against some tough Hock teams. She worked hard in the off-season to develop more finesse in her pitches to help keep batters off balance. She pitched every inning of every game and showed confidence and composure on the mound.”

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Emily Gittle – Attleboro – Pitcher
Attleboro junior pitcher Emily Gittle was the top starter for the Bombardiers this season, helping them reach the state tournament for the third straight year. Gittle pitched in 17 games this season, finishing with a 7-4 record and an ERA of 4.26. She struck out 85 batters and walked just 21 in 69 total innings, splitting time in a three-pitcher rotation. Attleboro coach Mark Homer said, “Emily was the most improved player on our squad from the previous season to the end of this season. She pitched our team over the threshold in the most important games of the season, none more important than the Marblehead game which gave us entry into the state tournament. She was fearless and consistent throughout the entire year.”

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Taunton sophomore shortstop Hanna Aldrich has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Softball Underclassman of the Year. Aldrich, in her third season as the starter for the Tigers, batted in the middle of the lineup for the Kelley-Rex division champions and solidified her spot as one of the top shortstops in the league. This is the second straight season that she has received this award.

“Hanna had some of the hardest hit balls that I saw from any player this season,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She has a powerful swing, a powerful arm at short, and a bright future as she continues to add to her game. Hanna is the prototypical five-tool player and it’s fun to watch her continue to develop into a star in this league.”

Aldrich increased her batting average to 0.451 this season while increasing her power. She belted eight homers, which led the league, and drove in 33 runs for the league’s top scoring offense. She also stole 11 bases, showing off the speed that allows her to cover a lot of ground in the field. Aldrich has also shown the ability to come through in the clutch, including two playoff wins this season and last year’s run to the state title.

Taunton coach Dave Lewry said, “Hanna has been the starting shortstop and top of the order hitter since her 8th-grade season. She is a powerful hitter with home run power as evidenced by eight long balls this year. Defensively, she is a slick fielding SS with a powerful arm. Hanna will undoubtedly play a major role over the next two seasons as she always works hard to improve her all-around game.”

This is the third straight season that a Taunton player has earned this honor, following Jaime Brown in 2017. Aldrich is also only the second player in any sport, male or female, to earn this honor two seasons in a row. Franklin’s Ali Brigham won the award in girls basketball in both 2017 and 2018.

Honorable Mentions: Ella Verheggen (Mansfield), Morgan Sylvestre (Foxboro), Nicole Baker (Stoughton)

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Franklin head coach Kate Fallon-Comeau has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Softball Coach of the Year after leading the Panthers to within one game of a Kelley-Rex division title and to the Div. 1 South quarterfinal.

“Franklin made an unexpected run at a league title this spring,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Kate had her team ready to go right from the start of the season and the Panthers were competitive in every game. They got the most of the talent on the roster and took a big step up the standings this season despite such a difficult schedule.”

The Panthers finished with a record of 16-7, but four of those losses came against Bridgewater-Raynham and Bishop Feehan, which were the two finalists in D1 South, by a combined six runs. All seven losses were to teams that qualified for the tournament. Franklin also won a pair of playoff games, including a road win at Braintree to reach the South quarterfinal, and handed Taunton one of its two league losses. The Panthers scored the third most runs in the league (157) and allowed the second fewest (52).

Fallon-Comeau is the first Kelley-Rex coach to win this award since Taunton’s Dave Lewry won his second straight Coach of the Year award in 2015.

Honorable Mentions: Dave Lewry (Taunton), Bill Wallace (North Attleboro), Deb Parker (Stoughton)