Tag: Attleboro
Hockomock League Outdoor Track Championships 2021
The Hockomock League Championships were held at Foxboro High this past weekend. Below are the team results and the top eight finishers for each event.
Boys Team Results
1. Stoughton – 108
2. Mansfield – 82
T3. Taunton – 71
T3. North Attleboro – 71
5. Attleboro – 65
6. Oliver Ames – 47
7. King Philip – 46
8. Canton – 42
T9. Sharon – 41
T9. Franklin – 41
11. Milford – 33
12. Foxboro – 16
100M
1. Jonathan Chery, Canton – 11.13
2. Kevin O’Connor, Milford – 11.23
3. Patrick McManus, Sharon – 11.26
4. Sean McCombs, King Philip – 11.32
5. Adam Connolly, Foxboro – 11.34
6. Dasean Peters-Wolfe, Mansfield – 11.39
7. Nathan Shultz, North Attleboro – 11.43
8. Jalen Castillo, Stoughton – 11.50
200M
1. Jonathan Chery, Canton – 22.97
2. Nathan Shultz, North Attleboro – 23.27
3. Adam Connolly, Foxboro – 23.36
4. Jordan Emile, Stoughton – 23.38
5. Gavin Weldon, Taunton – 23.42
6. Dasean Wolfe-Peters, Mansfield – 23.43
7. Jalen Castillo, Stoughton – 23.62
8. Alexander McCoy, North Attleboro – 23.89
400M
Hockomock League Outdoor Track Championships 2021
1. Jovan Joseph, King Philip – 50.62
2. Mason Benton, Sharon – 51.60
3. Joseph Soucy, Attleboro – 52.09
4. Cashmere Mathurin, Stoughton – 52.11
5. Tyler Powderly, Franklin – 52.27
6. Alec Hanley, Franklin – 53.21
7. Caden Riley, Mansfield – 53.30
8. Jack Taylor, Mansfield – 53.69
800M
1. Conal Scully, Taunton – 2:00.02
2. Noah Hurd, King Philip – 2:00.42
3. Nathan Seybert, Attleboro – 2:00.54
4. Nathan Reservitz, Oliver Ames – 2:03.91
5. Aidden Fitting, Taunton – 2:06.11
6. Tim Corkery, Mansfield – 2:07.86
7. Mark Butters, Milford – 2:08.46
8. Gabe Soares, Milford – 2:09.75
1 Mile
1. Nicholas Calitri, Franklin – 4:31.02
2. John Blouin, Attleboro – 4:41.97
3. Chris Leonard, Mansfield – 4:43.00
4. Nolan Tavares, Taunton – 4:45.19
5. Joseph Zercie, Franklin – 4:47.43
6. Zachary Oliveira, Taunton – 4:50.59
7. Jack Jansons, Milford – 4:52.18
8. Alexander Pierce, Oliver Ames – 4:53.36
2 Mile
1. Kyle Sarney, Oliver Ames – 9:09.24 (meet record)
2. Owen McMorrow, Oliver Ames – 9:59.39
3. James Comisky, Milford – 10:07.14
4. Neil Bowie, Attleboro – 10:07.38
5. Lee Casstevens, Attleboro – 10:17.41
6. Trevor Flint, Mansfield – 10:23.82
7. Ethan Sylvia, Attleboro – 10:27.69
8. Collin Stevens, Mansfield – 10:29.81
110M Hurdles
1. Jordan Emile, Stoughton – 14.48
2. Elisha Teneus-Claude, Stoughton – 15.83
3. Dylan Buchanan, Mansfield – 16:03
4. William Tinkham, Stoughton – 16.77
5. Kevin Smith, King Philip – 16.91
6. Fabrice Fouron, Oliver Ames – 17.52
7. Andrew Nobrega, North Attleboro – 17.55
8. Ryan Munroe, Mansfield – 18.16
400M Hurdles
1. Steven Westgate, Taunton – 58.04
2. Deyontai Dennis, Canton – 59.52
3. Dylan Buchanan, Mansfield – 59.74
4. Samuel Borst, Milford – 1:01.11
5. Andrew McInnis, North Attleboro – 1:03.06
6. Christian Dadasis, King Philip – 1:03.98
7. Jacob Blazek, Attleboro – 1:04.04
8. Sean Drew, North Attleboro – 1:04.13
4×100 Relay
1. Taunton (Nathan Candido, Almonroe Leaman, GJ Mualis, Gavin Weldon) – 43.78
2. Stoughton (Jalen Castillo, Omare Welch, Shawn Howze, Christian Georges) – 44.50
3. Milford (Keithley Sutton, Jaden Agnew, Kevin O’Connor, Lucas Rocha) – 45.31
4. North Attleboro (Colby Feid, Chamberlain Guthrie Jr., Alex McCoy, Matt Penta) – 45.33
5. Attleboro (Alexander Bakowski, Cashel Stuger, Jordan Rivera Silva, Joseph Soucy) – 45.38
6. Mansfield (Dasean Peters-Wolfe, Isaiah Kinds, Ryan Munroe, Dylan Buchanan) – 45.81
7. Franklin (Cullen Pek, Grady Ellis, Karl Gruseck, Colman Flynn) – 45.96
8. King Philip (Tim Mullen, Kevin Smith, Jack Morgan, Sean McCombs) – 47.16
4×400 Relay
1. Taunton (Edward Paiva, Conal Scully, Aidden Fitting, Steven Westgate) – 3:34.06
2. King Philip (Noah Hurd, Nate Gebhard, Neelam McGrath, Jovan Joseph) – 3:36.20
3. Mansfield (Stephen Saba, Evan Rawlings, Jack Taylor, Caden Riley) – 3:38.23
4. Sharon (Jordan Saks, Patrick McManus, Mason Benton, Balint Mihajlovits) – 3:38.96
5. Franklin (Alec Hanley, Tyler Powderly, Ashton McLean, Joshua Anderson) – 3:40.33
6. Milford (Jack Jansons, Mark Butters, Samuel Borst, Ben Parson) – 3:40.88
7. Stoughton (Jordan Emile, Nathaniel Peters, Alex Huynh, Aris Giatrakos) – 3:41.24
8. North Attleboro (Sean Drew, Andrew McInnis, Matt Penta, Jack MacLaughlin) – 3:41.50
4×800 Relay
1. Franklin (Nicholas Calitri, Joseph Zercie, Griffin Sieckiewicz, Connor Kucich) – 8:34.77
2. Attleboro (Nathan Seybert, Zachary Stromfors, Neil Bowie, John Blouin) – 8:44.69
3. Oliver Ames (Nathan Reservitz, Alexander Pierce, Owen McMorrow, Kyle Sarney) – 8:49.82
4. Mansfield (Talon Johnson, Trevor Flint, Tim Corkery, Chris Leonard) – 8:58.65
5. North Attleboro (Chris Martinez, Kyle Robinson, Evan Tino, Jason Drinan) – 9:01.97
6. Taunton – 9:02.14
7. Stoughton (Jaoa Marotti, Colin Ozturk, Aiden Castillo, Nathaniel Labossiere) – 9:04.73
8. King Philip (Andrew Noke, Jeff Bourque, Eliot Davis, Jackson Fletcher) – 9:26.20
Shot Put
1. Mark Edge, Stoughton – 48-08.00
2. Ike Ogbonnanze, Sharon – 47-02.00
3. Jonathan Vixamar, Oliver Ames – 44-03.50
4. Chris Leonardo, Attleboro – 44-01.00
5. Mark Etienvre, North Attleboro – 44-00.00
6. Sproul Derolus, Stoughton – 43-07.00
7. Jhayvon Salomon, Stoughton – 43-02.00
8. Harry Bullock, North Attleboro – 42-01.00
Discus
1. Ike Ogbonnanze, Sharon – 133-04.00
2. Ethan Crosby, Attleboro – 124-07.00
3. Mark Etienvre, North Attleboro – 122-09.00
4. Jonathan Vixamar, Oliver Ames – 118-00.00
5. Harry Bullock, North Attleboro – 110-00.00
6. Brodie Clemente, North Attleboro – 108-07.00
7. Chris Leonardo, Attleboro – 105-10.00
8. William Martin, King Philip – 102-02.00
Javelin
1. Matt Penta, North Attleboro – 154-05.00
2. Jack Taylor, Mansfield – 147-04.50
3. Nolan Tomaszycki, Taunton – 143-03.00
4. Ethan Gattoni, Attleboro – 140-02.00
5. William Martin, King Philip – 132-00.00
6. Stephen Saba, Mansfield – 129-04.00
7. Owen McGrath, North Attleboro – 128-08.00
8. Harrison Keen, Foxboro – 120-11.00
High Jump
Hockomock League Outdoor Track Championships 2021
1. Elisha Teneus-Claude, Stoughton – 6-07.00
2. Matt Singletary, Stoughton – 6-00.00
3. Steven Westgate, Taunton – 5-10.00
4. Colby Feid, North Attleboro – 5-10.00
5. Declan Walmsley, Franklin – 5-10.00
6. Nathan Shultz, North Attleboro – 5-10.00
7. Dana Johnson, Mansfield – 5-08.00
8. Nathaniel Peters, Stoughton – 5-06.00
Long Jump
1. Jake Wall, Mansfield – 22-08.50
2. Elisha Teneus-Claude, Stoughton – 22-06.25
3. Deyontai Dennis, Canton – 21-11.00
4. Adam Connolly, Foxboro – 21-01.50
5. Patrick McManus, Sharon – 20-10.25
6. Colby Feid, North Attleboro – 20-09.00
7. Cashmere Mathurin, Stoughton – 20-05.25
8. Xavier Manuel, Mansfield – 20-04.50
Triple Jump
1. Omare Welch, Stoughton – 42-11.50
2. Deyontai Dennis, Canton – 42-06.50
3. Cashmere Mathurin, Stoughton – 42-04.75
4. Xavier Manuel, Mansfield – 41-00.00
5. Dana Johnson, Mansfield – 40-03.25
6. Fabrice Fouron, Oliver Ames – 39-01.25
7. Carson Crump, North Attleboro – 38-11.50
8. Degen Granese, King Philip – 38-07.75
Girls Team Results
1. Franklin – 107
2. Mansfield – 83
3. Milford – 75.5
4. North Attleboro – 62.5
T5. Sharon – 50
T5. Taunton – 50
7. Foxboro – 48
8. Oliver Ames – 47
9. King Philip – 44
10. Canton – 42
11. Stoughton – 29
12. Attleboro – 25
100M
1. Jordyn Collins, Foxboro – 12.30
2. Kiyanni Simas, Milford – 12.36
3. Sofia DelVecchio, King Philip – 12.68
4. Wendy Wooden, Sharon – 12.70
5. Talya Mendez-Degraw, Canton – 12.89
6. Colleen Waters, Mansfield – 13.03
7. Meghan Driscoll, Mansfield – 13.12
8. Abigail Scott, Mansfield – 13.17
200M
1. Jordyn Collins, Foxboro – 25.69
2. Wendy Wooden, Sharon – 26.28
3. Camryn Collins, Foxboro – 26.56
4. Kiley Hanlon, Canton – 26.61
5. Shayla Ford, Stoughton – 26.88
6. Ella McDonough, Oliver Ames – 27.09
7. Morgan Zakrzewski, Taunton – 27.17
8. Sydney O’Shea, King Philip 27.18
400M
1. Jillian Fenerty, Franklin – 58.33
2. Nia Mainer-Smith, Taunton – 59.41
3. Caelen O’Leary, Taunton – 59.75
4. Anna Darlington, Mansfield – 1:00.25
5. Cassondra Stuger, Attleboro – 1:00/37
6. Dani Atherton, Milford – 1:00.96
7. Olivia Dias, Taunton – 1:01.05
8. Shayla Ford, Stoughton – 1:01.85
800M
1. Emma Lawrence, Milford – 2:17.00
2. Jenna Gilman, Oliver Ames – 2:23.34
3. Charlotte Majer, King Philip – 2:26.70
4. Emma Dahl, Foxboro – 2:26.94
5. Emersyn DePonte, Taunton – 2:28.74
6. Norah Puleo, Mansfield – 2:29.91
7. Emma Lamson, Mansfield – 2:30.13
8. Phylicia Dias, Taunton – 2:32.34
1 Mile
1. Katie Sobieraj, Oliver Ames – 5:15.33
2. Daphne Theiler, Sharon – 5:23.58
3. Taegen Hodges, Oliver Ames – 5:32.48
4. Diana Blouin, Attleboro – 5:35.13
5. Kiara Cerruti, Canton – 5:35.96
6. Charlene Peng, Franklin – 5:37.38
7. Lily Valcovic, Taunton – 5:41.96
8. Katherine Miller, Mansfield – 5:44.37
2 Mile
1. Tessa Lancaster, Mansfield – 11:50.57
2. Anna Moore, Mansfield – 12:04.10
3. Johanna Holmes, Oliver Ames – 12:11.10
4. Kelly Neuendorf, Attleboro – 12:13.33
5. Angelina Perez, Franklin – 12:15.35
6. Sydney Kalil, Milford – 12:21.25
7. Vivienne Loukota, Franklin – 12:24.65
8. Kate Buban, King Philip – 12:40.95
100M Hurdles
1. Madison Rousseau, Canton – 14.79
2. Milan Simmons, King Philip – 15.98
3. Simone Dunbar, Sharon – 16.26
4. Lindsey Morse, Franklin – 16.47
5. Catherine Madden, Milford – 16.49
6. Annelise Grunewald, North Attleboro – 16.58
7. Olivia Etienvre, North Attleboro – 16.62
8. Sarah Brogioli, Milford – 16.74
400M Hurdles
1. Kerry O’Connor, Milford – 1:05.03
2. Caitlin Dumouchel, Mansfield – 1:06.51
3. Tess Collins, North Attleboro – 1:07.26
4. Anna Cliff, Franklin – 1:10.92
5. Alasia Taylor-Landry, Stoughton – 1:12.45
6. Madison Gaughran, Franklin – 1:12.55
7. Sarah Hilliard, Oliver Ames – 1:13.99
8. Sydney O’Connor, North Attleboro – 1:15.68
4×100 Relay
1. Foxboro (Aislinn Servaes, Camryn Collins, Rebecca Foley, Jordyn Collins) – 50.30
2. Canton (Kiley Hanlon, Talya Mendez-Degraw, Katherine Oliver, Madison Rousseau) – 50.88
3. Mansfield (Abigail Scott, Meghan Driscoll, Erika Penney, Colleen Waters) – 50.90
4. Franklin (Ava Fraulo, Jillian Fenerty, Barra Pfluke, Anna Cliff) – 51.46
5. Stoughton (Ashley Camilo, Daija Dutrieuille, Shayla Ford, Cyrstal Sarblah) – 51.96
6. Milford (Kiyanni Simas, Jenna Mastroianni, Catherine Madden, Sarah Pointer) – 52.02
7. Oliver Ames (Bridget Hughes, Ella McDonough, Jai’Lyn Diaz, Haley Gilman) – 53.04
8. North Attleboro (Chidera Agbanari, Meagan Dowd, Kadence Peri, Carlie Stochl) – 53.81
4×400 Relay
Hockomock League Outdoor Track Championships 2021
1. Milford (Kerry O’Connor, Emma Lawrence, Dani Atherton, Julia Gonzalez) – 4:00.13
2. Taunton (Nia Mainer-Smith, Morgan Zakrzewski, Olivia Dias, Caelen O’Leary) – 4:03.77
3. Franklin (Jillian Fenerty, Anna Cliff, Sarah Dumas, Olivia Costa) – 4:13.10
4. Mansfield (Rosie McIntyre, Brooke Penney, Caitlin Dumouchel, Anna Darlington) – 4:16.62
5. North Attleboro (Haley Carr, Tess Collins, Kailey Lockavitch, Katie Manning) – 4:16.92
6. King Philip (Isabelle Crocker, Grace Crocker, Allison Beltramini, Sydney O’Shea) – 4:17.01
7. Attleboro (Alexis Cincotta, Jahela Douglas, Cassondra Stuger, Rebecca Rainey) – 4:25.04
8. Stoughton (April Richardson, Julie Richardson, Alasia Taylor-Landry, Samantha Tran) – 4:25.40
4×800 Relay
1. Oliver Ames (Taegen Hodges, Emily Meyers, Katie Sobieraj, Jenna Gilman) – 9:59.93
2. Franklin (Angelina Perez, Charlene Peng, Emma Nelson, Liliana Duffy) – 10:31.44
3. Mansfield (Emma Lamson, Norah Puleo, Tessa Lancaster, Meghan Johnston) – 10:37.47
4. Sharon (Carolyn Bayha, Margaret Li, Daphne Theiler, Sierra Robison) – 10:43.18
5. Foxboro (Casey Dahl, Aine Fitzpatrick, Brooke Davies, Emma Dahl) – 10:44.99
6. Stoughton (Nikki Anderson, Elaine McCarty, Avrie Martin, Alexis Medeiros) – 10:47.56
7. Taunton (Phylicia Dias, Olivia Weber, Lily Valcovic, Emersyn DePonte) – 10:49.21
8. Attleboro (Diana Blouin, Madison Ellis, Kacey Parker, Kelly Neuendorf) – 10:52.86
Shot Put
1. Katelynn Taylor, Franklin – 35-11.00
2. Kamsi Igbobi, Attleboro – 33-06.00
3. Lily DeForge, Franklin – 30-09.50
4. Hannah Crocker, King Philip – 30-08.00
5. Carmela Brown, Stoughton – 30-01.00
6. Darby Nicholson, Franklin – 29-11.00
7. Kaylah Seavey, North Attleboro – 29-04.00
8. Nicolle Santos, Stoughton – 28-07.00
Discus
1. Katelynn Taylor, Franklin – 108-05.00
2. Arianna Newth, North Attleboro – 96-00.00
3. Lily DeForge, Franklin – 90-06.00
4. Sarah Brogioli, Milford – 90-03.00
5. Megan Burns, North Attleboro – 84-01.00
6. Angela Elias, Canton – 83-07.00
7. Carmela Brown, Stoughton – 81-03.00
8. Alissa Cooke, Mansfield – 77-06.00
Javelin
1. Hannah McEntee, Taunton – 125-06.00
2. Abby Camelio, North Attleboro – 105-10.00
3. Caitlin Dumouchel, Mansfield – 105-05.00
4. Emily O’Gara, Taunton – 104-05.00
5. Lily DeForge, Franklin – 91-10.00
6. Chloe Byrnes, Foxboro – 91-03.00
7. Maya Ashu, Stoughton – 91-03.00
8. Evalysse Pierce, Milford – 87-06.00
High Jump
1. Olivia Etienvre, North Attleboro – 5-02.00
2. Lindsey Morse, Franklin – 5-00.00
3. Ava Fraulo, Franklin – 5-00.00
3. Annelise Grunewald, North Attleboro – 5-00.00
5. Isabelle Watson, King Philip – 5-00.00
6. Gabriella Julien, Stoughton – 4-10.00
T7. Sarah Brogioli, Milford – 4-10.00
T7. Abigail Griffith, Franklin – 4-10.00
Long Jump
1. Kiyanni Simas, Milford – 17-11.75
2. Simone Dunbar, Sharon – 17-06.00
3. Kerry O’Connor, Milford – 17-03.00
4. Anna Buckley, Mansfield – 16-11.00
5. Talya Mendez-Degraw, Canton – 15-10.50
6. Caitlin Haley, Mansfield – 15-10.00
7. Sofia DelVecchio, King Philip – 15-08.00
8. Heidi Lawrence, King Philip – 15-06.50
Triple Jump
1. Simone Dunbar, Sharon – 37-02.00
2. Olivia Etienvre, North Attleboro – 35-07.75
3. Sydney O’Shea, King Philip – 35-04.50
4. Anna Buckley, Mansfield – 34-02.25
5. Madison Rousseau, Canton – 34-01.25
6. Caitlin Haley, Mansfield – 33-05.50
7. Katelyn Guidi, Franklin – 33-03.25
8. Heidi Lawrence, King Philip – 33-03.00
Hockomock League Outdoor Track Championships 2021
Softball Photos: King Philip vs. Attleboro
King Philip Sweeps Attleboro Behind Stellar Defense
PLAINVILLE, Mass. – With the playoffs right around the corner, the King Philip softball team is clicking on all gears.
The Warriors have boasted solid pitching and a punishing offense all season long, but for the second straight game, the defense stole the show. Aided by terrific effort plays and pinpoint accurate throws in almost every inning, King Philip scored a 7-5 win over visiting Attleboro.
Charlotte Raymond cut a runner down at second base in the early stages to set the tone, senior Anna Bradley made a pair of momentum-swinging plays at first, and Paige Berdos’ alert double play in the final inning helped put an end to Attleboro’s comeback attempt.
“They made the plays they had to, that’s what you have to do against good teams. [King Philip] can really play in all aspects and we were right there with them,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Homer. “We’re disappointed with the loss but there are positives, we were competitive tonight, we were one swing away, we were only one swing away in the first game too.”
Both defenses played mistake-free ball, the second straight contest that saw both sides make big plays on offense and defense with no errors recorded. King Philip held a 1-0 lead, a 5-2 advantage, and a 7-5 edge; the final lead the only one to hold.
Attleboro took its first lead of the game with a pair of runs in the third inning, and just a half-inning after letting that lead slip away, the Bombardiers battled back with three runs to tie the game.
King Philip softball Attleboro softball
“That was a battle,” said King Philip head coach Kate Fallon-Comeau. “It was an all-around great game again, back and forth between two good games. Our defense has been really solid, and it’s been great these last two games. The assists we’ve gotten from the outfield in both games have changed the game.”
Offense was hard to come by in the first contest between the two teams, a 2-1 win for the Warriors. King Philip wasted little time to get things going on Wednesday night though, pushing across a run in the opening inning.
Berdos led off with a single and sophomore Ava Lanza (3-for-4) followed with a base hit of her own, but Attleboro catcher Lora Woyton caught the runner stealing at third. Two batters later, Raymond smacked a double off the fence in right-center field to plate Lanza and Sarah Cullen (HBP).
Woyton laced a shot to right field to lead off the second inning but Raymond was able to chase down the ball and fire to second where junior shortstop fMia Bennett applied the tag for the out.
Attleboro’s defense continued to make plays as well, as pitcher Lindsey Perry made a spectacular effort to snag a bunt for an out, quickly firing to first to double up the runner in the bottom of the second.
The Bombardiers carried that momentum into the top of the third where Meghan Gordon drove a solo shot over the center field fence to tie the game. Gabby Bosh drew a one-out walk and advanced to second during the next at-bat. Lindsey Perry smacked a hard-hit ground ball up the middle to bring in a run to put the visitors ahead 2-1 in the top of the third.
King Philip softball Attleboro softball
It looked like Attleboro would put a runner on with two outs in the top of the fourth but an incredible stretch at first by Bradley took away the infield hit. King Philip picked up a lot of momentum from the play and that translated to the offensive side of the ball.
Cullen was hit by a pitch again and two pitches later, Raymond drilled a home run over the fence and the Warriors were back ahead. On the next pitch, Meg Sherwood connected for a solo home run and KP’s lead grew to 4-2.
Freshman Maddie Paschke had a one-out single, freshman Jordan Bennett connected for a two-out single and took second on the throw, and Berdos drew a walk to load the bases. Lanza singled through the left side to bring in one run for a 5-2 advantage through four innings.
“I think those big plays on defense kind of carried us,” Fallon-Comeau said. “We got a lot of momentum from those plays, it just fired everybody up and we had the right bats coming to the plate at the right time. And we used that momentum to get some runs.”
Attleboro put two on to start the sixth with freshman Kayla Goldrick drawing a leadoff walk and Gordon followed with a single. Both runners advanced on a ground out to the pitcher, and Jordan Bennett (7IP, 7H, 2BB, 5ER, 5K) induced an infield pop up to get the second out.
Hailey Perry came through in the clutch, driving a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run as Attleboro quickly erased the deficit to knot the score at 5-5.
In the bottom of the sixth, junior DP Lauren Hooper got things started with a one-out single. Berdos worked a long at-bat into a single into right field, but KP’s courtesy runner was thrown out at third on the relay. Lanza came through with another clutch two-out hit, this time bringing in Berdos, who had advanced to second on the throw, to take a 6-5 lead.
“She’s really stepped up in a big way for us,” Fallon-Comeau said of Lanza, who was recently inserted into the lineup. “We had an injury, losing our starting shortstop (Libby Walsh). I had intentions of getting her bat in the lineup at some point but it just came at the right time. And she’s proven her bat belongs in the lineup and when you can do that, you’re going to keep playing.”
Cullen reached for the third time, this time on a walk, and Raymond drew a walk as well to load the bases with two outs. Sherwood’s patience at the plate resulted in a third walk and the Warriors brought in an insurance run.
King Philip had one more big defensive play left to make. Attleboro put the leadoff runner on a bloop single to right and the next batter made a lot of contact but the ball was driven hard right to Berdos in center field and without hesitation, the junior fired to first and Bradley was in position to double up the runner. Bennett induced a grounder to the circle for the final out.
While Attleboro softball came away from the series with a pair of losses, there were plenty of positives for the Bombardiers.
“Now we have to make it so we’re not staying with them, that teams are trying to stay with us. And it’s coming. We’re at the level where we go into these games against top teams knowing that we have a chance We feel like we’re peaking at the right time too. We’re not just doing it with one or two girls either, it’s a group effort. We’ve got a great mix of veterans and younger players. It’s a great team, they get along. And they have short memories, we’re already talking about Franklin for the next game.”
Attleboro softball (7-5) will travel to Franklin on Monday for the first of two games against the Panthers. Meanwhile, King Philip (12-0) sets up a Kelley-Rex division title showdown with Taunton, who is also undefeated. The winner of the first game will clinch at least a share of the crown. The Tigers host KP in the first game on Monday at 6:30.
King Philip softball Attleboro softball
Girls Lacrosse Photos: Attleboro vs. Foxboro
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Hockomock Girls Lacrosse Preview
EDITOR’S NOTE: Only teams that responded to HockomockSports.com with information regarding their team and the upcoming season are listed in this year’s preview.
Attleboro
2019 Record: 3-16
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Chrissy Quinn
A program that is still developing, Attleboro will be looking for its first league win since 2018 when things get started this spring and the Bombardiers are looking to combine returning players with exciting newcomers to compete with the teams in the Kelley-Rex.
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Senior Hannah Webster and Isabella Salviati are the most experienced attackers on the roster and the Bombardiers will hope that the addition of sophomore Jordan Mooney and freshman Molly Moore will add a different dimension to the offense. Mooney and Moore have already scored half the team’s goals this season. Defensively, senior Carlie Jamieson and juniors Avery Vieira and Ally Haigh are the returning players who give Attleboro a good foundation. Sophomore Ella Stromfors is a newcomer that will give Attleboro depth in defense. Senior Maggie Porecca is back between the pipes this spring and has been busy in the early going with 35 saves in the opening three games.
“We have a lot of potential that we need to work hard to build on this season,” said Attleboro coach Chrissy Quinn. “It is very important that we set our own goals as a team, rather than worry so much about the score at the end of the game. The most important thing is that we continue to stay healthy, remain positive, and celebrate small victories!”
Canton
2019 Record: 5-11
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Dani Aquino
Canton struggled in 2019, missing out on the postseason, but it was a season of transition with a lot of young players getting their first taste of varsity action. Although they’ve had to wait two years to use that experience, those players are now the core of a Bulldogs team that is looking to make a push up the standings under first-year head coach Dani Aquino.
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Junior midfielder Allie McCabe is a leader on both ends of the field and will be a key part of Canton’s transition game. Junior Tess Khoury will step into a bigger role in the defensive unit with sophomore Erin Beatty making her debut as the starting goalie. Juniors Fay (attack) and Sydney Gallery (defense) will also play more prominent roles this spring with sophomore Emily McCabe stepping in to add energy in the midfield. Senior Kayla Albert is a versatile attacker, who can take advantage of her size to give defenders issues near the cage, and junior Carly Fitzgerald can create scoring chances with her athleticism and tenacity. Sophomore Ella Yeaton and freshman Devan Spinale are exciting additions to the midfield, adding extra speed and creativity in the attack.
“Our outlook this season is to be competitive,” said Aquino. “I want to put up a fight for those crossover Kelly-Rex teams that we play, while taking away necessary lessons and walk off the field better than we walked on. My focus as a coach with this program to conquer the basics and ‘Master the things we can control.’”
Foxboro
2019 Record: 16-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 State Semifinal
Coach: Kathleen McCullough
The defending Div. 2 East champions have a lot of new faces, including on the bench where former Medfield coach Kathleen McCullough has taken over from (new Mansfield coach) Brittany Sherry, but the expectations don’t change for a program that has dominated the Davenport division, winning the league title in each of the past eight seasons. While the Warriors get to know each other and their new coach, they will still be looking to keep the run of title going this season.
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Foxboro is going to lean on several returning players who had key roles in winning the program’s first sectional title two years ago. Senior midfielder Ella Waryas can control things on both ends of the field and senior attacker Lilly Vey had a breakout sophomore season and is the team’s top returning scorer. Junior Kate Collins joins Vey and Waryas as captains this season and can play as either a midfielder or defender. The Warriors are reloading with a strong sophomore class as well. There are seven sophomores on the roster this season (and also four freshmen), including Paige Curran, Mia Dinunzio, Jenny Gallagher, Maddie Maher, Dylan Rappoli, Grace Riley, and Mya Waryas.
“We are going in with a clean slate and looking at each team as a new team and opportunity to grow and learn,” said McCullough. “We will focus on our game and daily improvement. I look forward to working with this group and having a great season.”
Franklin
2019 Record: 20-3
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 East Semifinal
Coach: Kristin Igoe Guarino
It may have been two years since Franklin last took the field, but the Panthers will have a lot of familiar names on the roster this season and the same set of expectations. Franklin has not lost a league game since 2012 and won the last eight Kelley-Rex division titles (sharing the title with King Philip in 2012). Heading into this spring, even with only three seniors on the roster, the Panthers will be favorites to bring home the league crown yet again.
After missing a lot of 2019 with an injury, senior Katie Jones is ready to lead the attack, while classmate Sydney Hawkins will be the leader in the defensive zone. Junior midfielders Kenzie Baker, Kate O’Rourke, Jackie O’Neil, and Stella Regan were all part of an impressive freshman group that stepped right into the lineup two years ago and are part of a dynamic group that could score a lot of goals this season. Newcomers include sophomores Kaitlyn Carney, Katie Peterson, Lindsay Atkinson, and Jamie Tanner, who just add to the abundance of attacking and midfield options that Franklin boasts. Junior Brigid Earley has taken over in goal and impressed with her athleticism.
“Once we start meshing, I think we will be a very strong team,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igo Guarino. “Offensively, any group of seven players who is in has the potential to be a threat, either as a dodger, feeder or cutter. This group is very dynamic in their stick skill and game sense. Defensively, we are athletic and have some solid leadership.”
King Philip
2019 Record: 12-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 East Quarterfinal
Coach: Kourtnie Wilder
King Philip is the last team other than Franklin to win a Kelley-Rex division title and the Warriors enter this spring hoping to end the seven-year reign for the Panthers. After two years off, KP returns an experienced group, especially on the defensive side, as it gets ready to challenge for a league championship.
Seniors Peyton Mellman and Caroline Pasquantonio will provide leadership for the Warriors this season and will be counting on a strong junior class to live up to the potential it showed in 2019. Julia Marsden, Lily Brown, Haley Izydorczak, and Colleen Crowther all saw ample playing time as freshmen and will now be expected to take the step up to be regular contributors. Head coach Kourtnie Wilder is hoping that the experience in the defensive end will make the Warriors tough to score against and has three goalies vying for the starting role. On offense, Wilder thinks the Warriors will be “crafty and aggressive.”
Wilder said, “We are excited to be back out on the field and finally playing together again. We have a great group of hard-working student-athletes that are dedicated and eager to get the season started.”
Mansfield
2019 Record: 11-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 East First Round
Coach: Brittany Sherry
Former Foxboro coach Brittany Sherry will finally get her first season on the sideline at Mansfield and will be getting her first chance to work with a Hornets roster that saw a lot of turnover from two years ago. A couple of exciting newcomers and experience along the back line have Sherry confident that the Hornets can get back to the level that saw them win 11 games in 2019.
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
The defensive side will be bolstered by senior Melissa Shanteler, who adds aggression to the back line. Juniors Gabriella Geminiani, Grace Bertolino, and Kayla Doherty will provide depth in defense, while sophomore Caitlin Zajac will get the start in goal in her first varsity season. Seniors Grace Danehy and AnnMarie McCoy provide size on the draws and versatility in the attack. A couple of newcomers will give Mansfield an added boost of playmaking, as sophomore attacker Ava Adam and freshman midfielder Lola Varrichione have the potential to create a lot of goals this spring.
“We’re definitely rusty but the girls are putting in the work to get back to where they were two years ago,” said Sherry.
Milford
2019 Record: 6-12
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Nicole Culhane
Milford is making the move to the Kelley-Rex division this spring and the Hawks will be hoping that its returning players will be up to the challenge of a new season. There were positive signs in the opening game of the spring, as the Hawks were right in the game with Sharon.
Defense has the potential to be a strength for the Hawks this year with an experienced and athletic group coming back from the 2019 season. Seniors Jillian Michelson, Eva Parsons, and Katie Maietta will lead the team from the back and push the team into the transition as well. Junior midfielder Aislinn Bennett got playing time as a freshman two years ago and now she is looking to step into a bigger role on both ends of the field. Sophomore midfielders Emily Croteau and Carly Haley are newcomers to the varsity roster and will give an added boost of energy and creativity in the attack.
“Our team is growing stronger and stronger every day and it is a truly wonderful thing to witness as their coach,” said Milford coach Nicole Culhane. “I have so much faith in them and I know they are capable of surprising themselves with how much they can accomplish.”
Oliver Ames
2019 Record: 5-13
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Gen Rogan
Oliver Ames is making the move to the Davenport division this season and will be looking to jump right into the mix and be competitive with the top teams. The Tigers will hope to make a leap under first-year head coach Gen Rogan, who is very familiar with the league and the competition having been an all-star at Foxboro.
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
The Tigers enter the season with nine seniors and six juniors on the roster, so experience shouldn’t be an issue. Seniors Emilee Nuss and Liliana Lozano will be the leaders on the defensive end, locking the opposition down in front of senior Emma O’Donnell or junior Jess Widdop, two vocal and quick goalies that OA can count on. Senior Emma Pereira will patrol the midfield, helping out on the defensive side and then pushing the Tigers forward into the attack. Freshman Taylor McAndrew is a newcomer who could make an instant impact this spring and provide a scoring boost. Versatility and balance will be important as Rogan is hoping that a lot of players will be able to chip in and add to the OA attack.
“I think this season will be a good test to our ability to stay tough and fight through some hard battles,” Rogan said. “We play in a very competitive league, but I have no doubt that this team is up to the challenge and will be exciting to watch this season.”
Sharon
2019 Record: 12-9
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 East First Round
Coach: Shara Ginthwain
Sharon has developed into a program that consistently gets into playoff contention, battling for the second spot in the Davenport division and looking to take the next step to put pressure on perennial league power Foxboro. The Eagles will a few seasoned veterans coming back this spring, but also a lot of newcomers and building that connection on the field will be a key early in this shortened season.
Senior Jenna Goldstein has been a standout in each of her first two seasons on varsity and will have a much bigger role this year, as the team’s primary playmaker. Senior Cass Barbera will lead the attacking unit and her combination with Goldstein will be a key to Sharon’s offensive output. Junior Athena Merck and freshman Anna Hertzel are newcomers that will add a different dimension to the attack. Senior Molly McAlevey is moving into the midfield this season to provide extra speed and athleticism. At the back, seniors Abby Hoffman, Amelia Scappaticci, and Carly Romanow give Sharon an experienced defensive unit in front of new goalie sophomore Tess Letendre.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to play together this season,” said Sharon coach Shara Ginthwain. “We really look forward to developing team chemistry as the season progresses, as this is the first time many of these girls have played together at this level.”
Taunton
2019 Record: 8-9
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Kerry Northup
Taunton was on the brink of a playoff spot in 2019, coming up just one win shy of qualifying for the postseason and have several players returning, especially in the midfield, to compete with the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division.
Senior Alana Tavares is the centerpiece of the Taunton midfield. The reigning league MVP and HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year has put up big numbers in her first three seasons and the Marist-commit will be counted on to produce a lot of offense again this spring. Senior Anastasia Lajoie joins Tavares in the midfield. Committed to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Lajoie is another dynamic attacker who gives the Tigers a lot of energy at both ends of the field. Other seniors returning this season include Madison Vigliotti, Rosemary McGrath, Rebecca Berry, and Tori DaRosa. Junior Emily Gannon is back in goal and will be a vocal presence on the defensive side of the ball.
“We are very excited to be back out on the lacrosse field,” said Taunton coach Kerry Northup. “However successful we are with our record this year, we are just happy to be able to get out there again and play the game we love.”
2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Preview
EDITOR’S NOTE: Only teams that responded to HockomockSports.com with information regarding their team and the upcoming season are listed in this year’s preview.
Attleboro
2019 Record: 4-14
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Kevin Patton
Attleboro is a young program and, after the two-year break, also has a young roster, but the Bombardiers have a group of experienced players to lean on at both ends of the field to try and build on the four wins from 2019.
Senior Michael Strachan will lead the Attleboro attack and he’s joined up top by junior Keigan Conley, who played two years ago as a freshman, and sophomore Carter Shelton. In the midfield, senior Dan White and Matt Perry will be joined by junior Ryan Betts. Attleboro has a lot of depth in the midfield with juniors Chad Beaupin and Seth LaPlaca and senior Elijah Turner, who has transferred in from Xaverian. Junior Freddy Wheaton and senior goalie William Runey will be the leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Wheaton’s brother John and freshman Bobby Sawyer will also jump in on defense. Senior Jack Nagy and freshmen Ethan Lyons and Shane Evans will also see action in defense this season. Freshman Harry Wheaton will be the backup goalie this year.
2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
“After missing last season due to pandemic, our team (like all others in the league) is young,” said Attleboro coach Kevin Patton. “However, we do have a lot of varsity experience on the team from returning players. This coupled with leadership from our captains has me excited for the season.”
Canton
2019 Record: 12-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Interim Coach: Tommy Galvin
Canton came close to winning its third league title in program history in 2019, finishing just a game back of Foxboro, and now the Bulldogs return a veteran spine for the new coaching staff to build around. With a few exciting newcomers, especially in attack, Canton could be ready to challenge for its third title in the past eight seasons.
Experience will be key for the defensive unit. Senior goalie Dylan Coyne provides a big frame and a tough, physical presence in goal. In front of him, senior Jack Albert is a strong on-the-ball defender and freshman LSM Colin Blake should be able to step right in and make an impact. Canton is hoping to limit the transition game and use its strength to keep the opposition away from goal. Senior midfielder Jeff Fitzpatrick is strong on the faceoff ‘X’ and can jump into the attack. Junior Sam Carlino has been explosive through the first two games, with 12 goals already, and he leads a relatively young attacking crew. Sophomore attacker Jeff Chaput and freshman midfielder Brendan Tourgee should contribute to Canton’s offense right away.
“We have a mix of veteran players and new players and I am very excited to see what this group can accomplish this year,” said Canton interim coach Tommy Galvin. “We have great leadership and are a gritty team who plays until the final whistle.”
Foxboro
2019 Record: 12-7
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal
Coach: Matt Noone
Foxboro is in search of a three-peat of Davenport division titles, but the Warriors will also be looking to the future with a relatively young and inexperienced roster. There are only three seniors on the roster this season, so underclassmen will be getting the chance to contribute right away at both ends of the field.
Senior Nick Penders has been on varsity since his freshman season and will be an important contributor both at the faceoff ‘X’ and in the attack. He will be joined in the midfield by classmate Max Biegel, whose athleticism makes him a factor on offense and defense. Junior Tommy Sharkey, sophomore Finn Stapleton, and freshman Tony Sulham will round out the midfield unit. At the back, senior Paul Andrews will add leadership once he returns from a football injury. Junior Jack Avery saw some time as a freshman and he’ll get help in the attack from sophomore Conor Noone and freshman Lincoln Moore. Juniors Dylan Kerrigan and Ben Ricketts will lead the defensive corps until Andrews returns and freshman Adam Addeche will continue a family legacy as he steps in at goal.
2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
“Right now we are shaking a lot of rust off,” said Foxboro coach Matt Noone. “We are young, but we will be tough! I look forward to this young team as they grow and come together.”
Franklin
2019 Record: 18-3
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Lou Verrochi
Franklin has developed not only into a league power, having won the outright Kelley-Rex division title in each of the past five seasons, but is showing that it can compete with the top programs in the state. In 2019, the Panthers reached the South semifinal and lost by just one to perennial power Duxbury. This year’s team expects to be just as skilled and athletic as usual with sights set on another league crown.
The centerpiece of the Franklin attack will be senior Matt Lazzaro, an All-American in 2019, and he will be partnered up top by sophomore Luke Davis, whose brothers Will (goalie) and Jake (attacker) are both playing college, and sophomore Jayden Consigli, who moved from Northbridge. The midfield is loaded with athletes, including Owen Kielty, Joe Consigli, Tim Walsh, and Mike Griffin. Zach Harvey will lead the defensive unit along with Ben Harvey and Kyle Palmieri. Senior Jack Maguire will step in between the pipes with freshman Matt Corvi also ready to jump in and play goal when needed. Justin Alexander will be taking faceoffs, following in the footsteps of his brother Jacob who was the league MVP in 2019.
“We have a very competitive group of lacrosse athletes this year,” said Franklin coach Lou Verrochi. “We are looking forward to see what this group can do during our Hock schedule and hopefully advance in the state tournament.”
Mansfield
2019 Record: 8-10
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Tim Frias
Mansfield reached the postseason in 2019 only to have to face Franklin in the first round. With 10 seniors returning this spring, the Hornets will be hoping to lean on their experience to challenge the Panthers in the race for the Kelley-Rex division crown and get playing time for a large and talented sophomore class getting its first taste of varsity action.
The Hornets should have the speed to burn and plenty of aggressive play in the middle of the field with seniors Nico Holmes, Ethan Bruce, and Joe Gormley. Seniors Thomas Norton, Jake Quirk, and Dylan Morris will give Mansfield some versatility and dynamism in the attacking zone. Seniors Ben Johnston, Frankie Kennedy, and Ben Tatusko will be the leaders in the defensive corps. Sophomore Ryan DeGirolamo will step into the cage and anchor the defense.
“There are a number of key young players we look at to play an integral part in this year’s team,” said Mansfield coach Tim Frias. “Our strength will be speed and size.”
North Attleboro
2019 Record: 10-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal
Coach: Kevin Young
North Attleboro finished a game out of first in 2019 and now two years later the Rocketeers will be looking to take that next step and snatch back the Davenport division title from Foxboro. North has a good blend of experience and new faces, strength in defense, and dynamic attackers to challenge for the league title this year.
2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
Defense is going to be a key for the Rocketeers. Senior Tyler Sarro has been a starter since his freshman year and the St. Michael’s-commit is going to be the leader in the defensive end of the field. Senior LSM Sam Gugliotta will add more experience at the back, while Eric Hobbs and James Brennan look ready to step into bigger roles. In the attack, juniors Matt Antonetti, Connor Rupert, and Clayton Billingkoff will try to build on the experience they had as freshmen to shoulder the scoring load this season. Midfielder Jared Vacher is going to step in at the faceoff ‘X’ and North has a pair of new goalies, Ethan McGrath and JT Gallagher, who have had solid preseasons and look ready to compete at this level.
“COVID has hit all sports hard,” said North coach Kevin Young. “We are focusing on getting all players ready to step into any role. It will be a challenging year but, we’re glad to be back.”
Oliver Ames
2019 Record: 14-5
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Ben Devlin
Oliver Ames won 14 games in 2019 and finished tied with King Philip for second in the Kelley-Rex division, but two years later only one player from that team is back as the Tigers look to make noise in the Davenport. Despite its inexperience, the Tigers will be hoping that the underclassmen can step in and help OA challenge for a league title.
The lone player with varsity experience is senior attacker Remi Creighton. One of the league’s most creative players, Creighton had 60 points as a sophomore and will be the spearhead of OA’s attack. Seniors Doug Oliveira and Ross Carroll will also add to the offensive punch and sophomore attacker Ben Reardon will make his varsity debut this season. Juniors Wyatt Frichtman and Wes Tower will both step in after a year with JV in 2019. Senior Brendan Cross and Michael Branagan will be joined on defense by sophomore Jake Manthous and freshman LSM Landon Grothe. Sophomore Noah Isleib and junior Cam Tower will battle for the starting goalie spot.
“It’s tough to replace what OA lax graduated last year,” said OA coach Ben Devlin. “We now have a lot of kids that haven’t played together before and many who haven’t played a lacrosse game in over two years. We’ll be focused on getting these guys on the same page and working off some rust while incorporating a lot of young players.”
Sharon
2019 Record: 7-11
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jon Shocket
Sharon has a team loaded with upperclassmen this season and, despite missing last spring, the Eagles are hoping that experience will carry them up the standings to challenge Foxboro at the top of the Davenport division.
The Eagles will be hoping to bolster the attack this season, led by senior Drew Litner, who played a part in more than half of the team’s goals as a sophomore. Junior Brady Daylor will be taking on a bigger role in the midfield this season and his classmate Ben Shocket could be ready for a breakout season on the faceoff ‘X’ after being third in the league in faceoff wins as a freshman. Defensively, senior Shea Letendre will be the vocal leader and senior Adam Rabb is back in goal to anchor things at that end of the field.
“We’re very excited about the upcoming season,” said Sharon coach Jon Shocket. “We have several returning starters with a majority of our team seniors and juniors.”
2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
Softball Photos: Attleboro vs. Taunton
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Attleboro
2019 Record: 14-10
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final
Coach: Steve Dunlea
Two years ago, Attleboro made a run to the Div. 1 South final, only to run into league rival and eventual state champ Taunton. While the Bombardiers only return three players with varsity experience, Attleboro will be looking to replicate some of that momentum and challenge the top teams for the Kelley-Rex division title this spring.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Senior catcher Bailey Camacho caught half the innings during his sophomore season and will be the starter this spring, as well as an important presence in the lineup. Seniors Jake Gorman and Matt McMahon will both be part of the rotation and play corner infield spots when they’re not on the mound building off the experience they got two years ago. Senior Cam Foster adds speed at short and will be the closer, while juniors Billy Saltmarsh and Cian Kelleher, and sophomores Dillon James and Danny Johnson are part of what should be a deep staff for the Bombardiers. Speed should also be a strength for Attleboro, including outfielders Ben Hochwarter, Nate George, Hayden Hegarty, and Packer Sackett, and middle infielders Owen Taber and Evan Houle. Junior Christian Dame is a versatile player who can step in at multiple positions.
“We’re excited to get our players out there to see what we can accomplish,” said Attleboro coach Steve Dunlea. “Our guys have worked very hard during the off-season and have come a long way in the past few years. We are particularly proud of our senior leadership. It’s been a tough year and we are so grateful to the MIAA and ADs for making this season happen for our seniors.”
Canton
2019 Record: 6-14
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Ben Shuffain
Canton had a great start to the 2019 season under then first-year head coach Ben Shuffain, including an impressive win over Wellesley. But almost all of the Bulldogs’ wins came in the first half of the season. Now Canton will look to start strong and continue that throughout the year as they look to challenge for the Davenport division title.
The Bulldogs are one of the teams that have a good number of players that played back in 2019 so there is a lot of optimism surrounding the experience on the roster this season. Canton has four starters back for this year’s campaign: shortstop/right-handed pitcher Steve Burbank, outfielder Cam Sanchez, catcher/outfielder Sawyer Julier-Albert, and right-handed pitcher Nate Hewit. Both Burbank (0.328) and Julier-Albert (0.395) were among the league leaders in batting average as sophomores so they will be key pieces for the offense this year. Shuffain will also look for contributions from outfielders Andy Butler and Zach Peters, infielder Nico Bonanno, and utility option Matt Quan — all four could also see time pitching.
Burbank will also see time on the mound and Hewit will be an important piece of the pitching staff this year. Junior Andrew Middleton, who tossed a perfect game in the season-opener, will obviously be a major part of the rotation as well, giving the Bulldogs solid depth. Behind the pitching staff, there will be a lot of players who have experience at the varsity level so Shuffain hopes mistakes will be at a minimum.
“We are lucky to have a good number of players who have varsity experience from 2018 and 2019,” Shuffain said. “They have been preparing for 18 months for this season and this group has tremendous leadership and a ton of talent. I am excited to see what they can do on the field.”
Foxboro
2019 Record: 6-14
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Derek Suess
For the 2021 season, it all starts with pitching for the Foxboro Warriors. The 2019 squad graduated six players, and there were nine juniors on that team that missed out on their senior season a year ago. That means Foxboro has four players coming back for this spring, and almost all picked up a lot of valuable experience the last time out.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Seniors Cam Prescott and Sean Yoest will headline the Warriors’ rotation, bringing a lot of experience to the staff. Prescott logged over 26 innings as a sophomore, allowing just four walks with a 1.86 ERA. Yoest had a lot of success at the plate as a sophomore and will be looking to replicate that on the mound this year. Sophomore Sean O’Leary will likely be a key piece on the mound when fully healthy and the Warriors will look to seniors Dylan Quinn, Mike O’Toole, Ryan Jacobs, and Sebastian Ortiz, as well as juniors Liam Mulkern and Tom Marcucella to provide pitching depth.
Yoest will patrol the outfield when he’s not on the mound and will be a key piece offensively after hitting 0.346 as a sophomore with 11 runs scored and 11 RBI. Yoest will be joined in the outfield by junior Jack Watts, a three-sport athlete who has excelled in golf and hockey, and sophomore Kenny Mello. Marcucella will also see time in the outfield while senior Griffin Morse is a solid depth piece that can play all three spots in the outfield.
Prescott will see time at either third or shortstop when he’s not pitching. Beyond Prescott, the Warriors will have some inexperience around the infield with freshman Tyler Prescott (second base) and sophomore Ryan LeClair (shortstop) impressing early on. Mulkern and O’Toole will provide the infield with some senior leadership from first while Marcucella and Ortiz providing depth. Mulkern will also be an option behind the plate while junior Mike LaVita will step into the starting role at catcher.
“We are excited for the opportunity to get back on the field and compete every day,” head coach Derek Suess said. “Having our top two arms still here is comforting, but we will need contributions from many different guys. We have a good mix of seniors and underclassmen who have bought in to our vision for the season.”
Franklin
2019 Record: 22-3
2019 Finish: Reached Super 8
Coach: Zach Brown
While Franklin won’t be able to make it three straight appearances in the Super 8 with the tournament not happening this year (and possibly for a couple of years), there is something the Panthers can do: defend their Kelley-Rex division title.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
The Panthers were nearly perfect in league action during the 2019 season (15-1) and will be one of the favorites for the title again this year. But it will be almost an entirely new cast of players doing so. Franklin had 10 seniors on that team plus another seven juniors that graduated last year, meaning just a handful of players from the roster are back. Of that group, just one starter is back in senior Jake Fitzgibbons, who played second base at the time.
Now Fitzgibbons moves behind the plate and will be in charge of handling a pitching staff that is new to the varsity level. Having him behind the plate should make it easier for the likes of junior Jacob Jette and sophomore Alfred Mucciarone, who figure to be two of the key components of Franklin’s rotation this season. And when needed, Fitzgibbons will switch out from behind the plate and take the mound himself.
Seniors Nate Cooke and CJ Jette serve as captains alongside Fitzgibbons and will provide leadership both on and off the field. Cooke is slated to start at first base and will bring a big bat to the lineup while Jette will see time both in the outfield and at designated hitter. Seniors Luc Boudreau (outfielder) and Nick Quinn (right-handed pitcher) have impressed early on as well.
“As always the cornerstone of our program is pitching and defense,” said head coach Zach Brown. “We believe we have the right mix of athletes and arms to compete daily this season. Offensively, we believe that our line-up can be pretty athletic. Obviously, we are all in the same boat missing last season so it will be an exciting season to get back out onto the field. I know the players and our coaching staff are really excited for the games to start up.”
King Philip
2019 Record: 8-12
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jeff Plympton
There will be a lot of new faces on the mound, in the field, in the batter’s box, and even on the bench for the King Philip Warriors this season. Looking back at the 2019 season, only one name is back in action for the Warriors this season. And on top of that, there’s a new coach in the dugout in Jeff Plympton.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Both Conor Cooke and Jack Silveria saw plenty of action during their sophomore seasons but Silveria will miss his senior campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. That means that Plympton and the rest of the Warriors will lean heavily on Cooke, a three-year starter who will guide KP from behind the plate. Cooke, who is committed to play at Brown University, is a rock behind the plate and that will be important as KP deploys a pitching staff that is new to the varsity level. That rotation will feature junior Nick Viscusi and sophomore Rudy Gately, with seniors Jack Mullen, Grayden Lawrence, Harry Brown, and Jake Burns all providing depth.
Cooke will be a key part of the offense as well, slated to hit from the clean up spot. Viscusi will set the tone from the leadoff spot and can cause some damage on the base paths with his speed. Junior Shawn Lagere will start at shortstop and bat third in the lineup, providing the Warriors with some power while Gately will see time at third when he isn’t on the mound. Seniors Ethan Hurwitz and Mikey Malatesta provide outfield depth and Plympton has 10 juniors on the roster to help fill out the lineup.
“Looking forward to getting the season going and watching the team play together,” Plympton said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had high school baseball and most of our guys, like many teams, are new to the varsity level. We have some good talent on our team. Plenty of good throwing arms to get us through the new pitching restrictions. The infield is solid with very dependable fielders around the diamond. The outfield is fast and does a great job tracking fly balls. I believe defense will be our best strength this season. The players have been putting in a lot of hard work during practices.”
Mansfield
2019 Record: 18-7
2019 Finish: Reached Super 8
Coach: Chris Hall
Joe Breen had a very successful run at the helm of the Hornets, and his successor is one that the program is very familiar with. Chris Hall, who served as Breen’s assistant, takes over and is aiming to continue the success that Mansfield has had in recent seasons.
Coming off one of their best seasons in program history that culminated in a second straight Super 8 appearance, the Hornets will try to rebuild their lineup with a strong core of seniors. Eric Sullivan will move into the starting role behind the plate and will be a vocal leader both on and off the field for the Hornets. Three-sport athlete Jack Colby is slated to take over at first base, Luke Urban looks to take over at second base, Ben Mintz can slot into a variety of roles, including in the field or on the mound, and Greg Coyle, the lone returner from the 2019 team, will be an option on the mound for the Hornets. Juniors Jared Fraone and Liam Anastasia will help round out the lineup.
Coyle will be joined by juniors Aaron Blinn, Anthony Sacchetti, and Jimmy Gilleran on the Hornets’ staff. That group brings a lot of baseball experience and a range of knowledge, and Hall is hoping all of that will translate to the varsity level. Mintz, Colby Geddis, and Brayden Purtell will look to provide additional innings in relief.
“With two years off due to COVID-19, and few players having varsity experience, I expected tryouts to be exciting,” Hall said. “Our players knew they had to come in and earn everything to gain a spot in the starting lineup. There continues to be daily position battles daily and it pushes players to improve. The talent we have in the program is consistent from top to bottom. The team brings energy and enthusiasm to everything they do and it truly makes the atmosphere on the field second to none. We cannot wait to get out on the field and compete against some of the best competition in the Hockomock League.”
Milford
2019 Record: 11-11
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Alex Dion
Milford will be the new kids on the block this season in their first year apart of the Kelley-Rex division, which features two teams that went to the Super 8 last time out and another that won the D1 State title.
The Hawks are going to rely on their pitching as they compete for the division title. Senior right-hander Mario Lee and classmate Wes Solomon, another righty, both picked up valuable experience as sophomores during the 2019 season and will anchor the Milford pitching rotation. Lee, who is committed to playing both football and baseball at Wesleyan, pitched in 10 games out of the bullpen in 2019 while Solomon appeared in five games with a 2.33 ERA.
Sophomore Evan Cornelius is a “big, physical kid” according to head coach Alex Dion, and he will round out the Hawks’ rotation this season. When he isn’t on the mound, Cornelius will be behind the plate and the same goes for Solomon, who could also see him in the middle infield. Lee will also be in the lineup when he’s not on the mound, playing at either first or third. Senior Carter Scudo burst onto the scene as a sophomore, hitting 0.352, and will be the catalyst to the offense this year, batting in the leadoff spot. He will anchor the outfield defense from center field.
“I’m excited to start our 2021 season,” Dion said. “It has been great to get back out on Fino Field for the first time since 2019. I have a good group of young men this year with players from all four classes making the varsity roster. This is a great league with quality teams, players, and coaches throughout. We will go out and compete to the best of our ability on a daily basis. I am optimistic about what this group has to offer this year and in the future.”
North Attleboro
2019 Record: 11-10
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Mike Hart
North Attleboro head coach Mike Hart has the best arm in the Hockomock League in senior Dennis Colleran and the 2019 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Jared Penta as the catalyst for the offense so the Rocketeers will certainly be in the mix for the Davenport title this season.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Colleran, who is committed to pitch at Northeastern, has been a member of the Rocketeers since his freshman year, making his first appearance in North’s D2 South Semifinal win over Dartmouth back in 2018. He logged 37.1 innings as a sophomore, posting a 3-4 record with a 2.63 ERA during the 2019 season. Since then, Colleran has honed his skills on the club scene and is poised to lead the Rocketeers this year. Senior Joe Hartnett and junior Danny Curran look to fill out the rotation while the Rocketeers have plenty of depth pieces including Tyler Bannon, Dan Pedro, Derek Maceda, and Aidan Weir.
Penta will hit from the leadoff spot and set the tone for the offense. Weir and classmate Justin Vecchiarelli will anchor the infield Maceda, a sophomore, could be poised for a breakout season at shortstop. Curran will also see time in the outfield when he isn’t pitching while senior Evan Vigorito, and juniors Brody Rosenberg, and Gavin Wells will be in the outfield mix. Bannon and Nik Kojoian will be options behind the dish for the Rocketeers.
“Just like other teams in the league, we are curious how our players will make the jump to varsity baseball,” Hart said. “We will do our best to be fundamentally sound and keep things simple. Our pitching staff has a handful of competitive guys who are looking for an opportunity to help the team. The boys are excited about the season and hope we can bring a consistent approach to all our opportunities this year.”
Oliver Ames
2019 Record: 12-13
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal
Coach: Joe Abarr
After reaching the D2 South Sectional Final in 2018, the Tigers fielded basically an entirely new squad during the 2019 campaign. Two years later, Oliver Ames looks to be in the same boat as there minimal varsity experience on the roaster.
Senior Nate Fulford is one of the few players that did see varsity action two years ago, emerging as a go-to option offensively as a pinch-hitter as a sophomore. Now Fulford will be a key piece in the lineup each game, manning third base and bringing a big bat to the heart of the lineup. Senior Jadon Ricci will take over at shortstop and is slated to hit near the top of the lineup.
Junior Jack Richardson was a part of the Tigers’ varsity squad as a freshman and is now in position to anchor the rotation. He’ll be in the lineup even when he’s not on the mound, patrolling the always tricky outfield at Frothingham Park for the Tigers. When it comes to new faces on the squad this year, junior Jake Waxman brings a big bat to the lineup and can bring some pop to the offense; he will start at first base defensively. Junior Joe Cicchetti has impressed early on in tryouts and the preseason both offensively and defensively, and he is slated to start in center for the Tigers.
“We should have a solid lineup,” said OA head coach Joe Abarr. “We have depth at most positions and decent options on the mound. With so little practice time prior to the first game, there are still a lot of questions to be answered, but we have a great group of guys that are really looking to compete this year.”
Sharon
2019 Record: 2-18
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Andrew Poliferno
The last time the Eagles hit the field, they had one of the youngest teams in the Hockomock League. Now that means there is a lot of returning players back in the dugout this year and Sharon should be one of the most experienced groups in terms of baseball played.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Sharon has a new head coach in alum Andrew Poliferno, who is no stranger to the program after coaching at each level over the past few seasons. Poliferno takes over for Kee Arguimbau, who had been with the program as a coach for nearly 20 years including the last four as head coach. Poliferno has 10 seniors at his disposal this year including two of the most experienced players in JD Rittenberg and Justin Brown, who both started as sophomores in 2019. Playing at second and short, respectively, the Eagles will have solid defense up the middle of the field. Sharon expects strong defense to come with the experience it has.
Junior Dylan Labbe pitched some innings as a freshman so the Eagles will lean on him as one of the anchors of the pitching staff. Senior Justin Nault and junior Ryan Baker will also see time on the mound while freshman Luke Meixel is slated to be a part of the starting rotation right away. Offensively, Rittenberg and Brown will lead the way once again. Baker and classmate Nate Yaffe should slot into the lineup in their first year on varsity, playing third and outfield, respectively. Poliferno is also looking for contributions from Damien Bonner and Daniel Zagoren offensively.
“After a missed season, it’s wonderful to see our players back out on the field,” Poliferno said. “Despite the year off, I was impressed with the growth and progress our players made since they last played high school baseball. It was clear to me we have a program of players who work hard during the off-season and I look forward to seeing their hard work translate to wins this season.”
Stoughton
2019 Record: 14-9
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal
Coach: Mike Armour
Like most schools, Stoughton has a limited number of players with varsity experience on the roster this season. It will be baptism by fire for a lot of new faces as head coach Mike Armour will look to get the most out of his lineup to try and compete for the Davenport division title.
The players that do have any varsity experience will be key, especially early on in the season as the rest of the Black Knights get used to the varsity level. Senior Brady Conlin will anchor the Stoughton staff on the mound this year and also hit in the heart of the lineup. Conlin has experience both pitching and at the plate and could be one of the most dangerous all-around players in the league. Senior captain Kyle Doolin will anchor the infield and is an option to pitch as well. He is slated to hit near the top of the lineup and could also see time behind the plate defensively.
Jake Queeney, another senior captain, will patrol center field for the Black Knights and hit from the leadoff spot. Queeney’s speed has been on display on both the basketball court and football field, so his legs could cause some damage on the base paths. Senior captain Brandon Mantilla-Mercado will take care of the pitching staff this year as the starting catcher and will bring some power to the plate offensively. Junior infielder Anthony Tilton has impressed early and figures to be a top bat in the lineup, juniors Jonah Ly and James Price will both see innings in the infield and on the mound, and junior Brad Franey is slated to take over at second. Seniors Joe McNulty, Colby Andrews, Andrew Scardina, and junior Colin Alessi provide lineup depth. Freshmen Hunter Malkin and Ben Zola will likely make an immediate impact for Stoughton.
“The kids are excited to play baseball,” Armour said. “They have brought a positive attitude and willingness to work to practice, which is all I can ask for as a coach. We are excited to get a little bit better every day, and put ourselves in a position to win some ballgames this season.”
Taunton
2019 Record: 21-7
2019 Finish: Won Div. 1 State Championship
Coach: Blair Bourque
It seems like just yesterday the Tigers were celebrating their Division 1 State Championship at LeLacheur Park in Lowell. Yet at the same time, it somehow also feels like a lifetime ago.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
The Tigers are one of the teams that will “what if” when it comes to the 2019 season, as they were set to have eight starters back to try and defend their first-ever state championship. Now for the 2021 season, there is just one Tiger starter back from that regular season. That is senior pitcher/infielder Danny MacDougall, who will anchor the pitching staff and also return to his shortstop position. Ty Cali, who took over for MacDougall after an injury sidelined him for the postseason, is also back to give Taunton a solid 1-2 punch up the middle of the field. Cali can also slide over and play short when MacDougall, who is committed to playing at the University of Hartford next year, is on the mound.
Sophomore Ryan MacDougall is set to finally make his varsity debut this year. A verbal commit to the University of Dayton, Ryan MacDougall was on the playoff roster for the state championship team as an eighth-grader. Not only does he bring a big bat and power to the lineup, head coach Blair Bourque described his plate discipline as “well beyond his years.” If the Tigers want to compete at a high level, Bourque noted the importance of senior pitchers Conor Quinlan, Bretton Heggs, and Matthew Ferrara. In total, Taunton boasts a dozen seniors on the roster.
“My expectation for this season is for us to compete as a team and individually every day as best we can, but ultimately, I will be grateful I get to spend time on the field with my players,” Bourque said. “It is always about the relationships formed with your players throughout the course of a year, you don’t always appreciate how good you have it until it’s gone. Losing last season really made me appreciate my role as the head coach for the Taunton High baseball program.”
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Attleboro
2019 Record: 11-11
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Mark Homer
The Bombardiers will be fielding one of the most balanced lineups the program has seen in recent memory. Head coach Mark Homer believes his group of enthusiastic, hard-working, and motivated players can compete for the division title in what is always a very competitive division.
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
It will start with a strong group of returners that picked up valuable experience two years ago during the 2019 season. Senior captains Brenna Morse and Lora Woyton have been leaders both on and off the field during the offseason and so far during the preseason. Homer credits their commitment for setting the tone for the entire program. Juniors Lindsey Perry, Hailey Perry, and Meghan Gordon all burst onto the scene as freshmen during the 2019 season and will be key pieces this year.
Homer is going to lean heavily on his senior class, which also features Natalie Mansur, Gabby Bosh, Nina Campbell, and Janie Hillman. The Bombardiers are set to get a boost from a strong core of underclassmen as well, including sophomores Lauren Eby and Sarah Mayer as well as freshmen Rylie Camacho and Kayla Goldrick.
“This year’s team represents one of the most balanced groups we’ve had here at AHS in a while,” Homer said. “Win, lose, or draw this year’s team is about working hard and having fun doing it.”
Canton
2019 Record: 6-14
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Dave Bohane
With four seniors returning and five sophomore and freshmen making their varsity debuts, Canton has a good mix of youth and experience to build on this season. It will be the senior class that the Bulldogs hope will provide the leadership to make a move up the standings and maybe challenge the top teams in the Davenport.
Senior center fielder Liz Bickett has been a star for the Bulldogs, earning all-star honors as a sophomore, and is a power bat in the middle of the lineup. Senior Steph Trendell can play both corner infield positions or jump behind the plate and senior Sarah Kelly can step in at either middle infield spot. Both will be setting the table at the top of the order. Senior Amanda Vrabel will start at catcher and work with Canton’s younger pitchers including juniors Gillian Gordon and Sophia Santos and freshman Jess Wright.
Foxboro
2019 Record: 8-13
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Mark Maguire
Youth will be the story for Foxboro this season, as the Warriors will be relying on players seeing their first varsity action in several positions, including a pair of eighth-graders who have been called up for the spring. Still, confidence is high that the Warriors have the talent to compete with the top teams in the Davenport and make a push up the standings.
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Senior shortstop Morgan Sylvestre gives the Warriors a good foundation to build on, batting third and giving them a strong arm at short. Junior Peyton Feldman will see time at both third and second and will bat leadoff. Senior Nicole Theriault will play second and center, one of the few outfielders on the roster with any varsity experience, and Fiona Dunn can also jump in at second as well. Eighth-grader Ava Hill has impressed in preseason and will play first. Junior Alexandra Willis will be behind the plate and working with a young pitching staff led by eighth-grader Emma Callahan. The Warriors will also count on Dunn, Juliana Pettigrew, and Lucy Mulkern as pitchers. Andrea and Jill Slattery, Sadie Calabrese, Kaylee Bruce, Ellie Smith, and Grace Pisarczyk will all get the chance in the outfield this season.
Foxboro coach Mark Maguire said, “I’m expecting the girls to compete hard, and really feed off the energy that Peyton and Morgan bring to the top of our order. With strong leadership from our captains, we’re looking for this team to come together quickly and, hopefully compete for the Davenport.”
Franklin
2019 Record: 16-7
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Katie Holbrook
After coming within a game of sharing the league title with Taunton in 2019 (and within one run of facing the Tigers in the South semifinal), Franklin returns only two players and has a new coaching staff with Katie Holbrook taking over this season. Despite all the new faces, the Panthers expect to be in the mix for the league title again this year.
Senior Gabby Colace is the lone player on the roster with significant varsity experience and she will be counted on to be a run producer. Fellow senior Molly Collins will join Colace in the middle infield positions and the Panthers have players who are versatile to play multiple positions. Franklin has a potentially strong lineup with Libby Carter, Georgia Harvey, and Lauren Cote all capable of coming up with big hits and driving in a lot of runs. Juniors Julia White and Aislinn Lavery, and senior Jenny Maciel give Franklin good pitching depth and will try to keep the opposition off-balance and allow the defense to make plays behind them. Sophomore Hailey Fales will get the call behind the plate.
“They have already shown in just one scrimmage and a couple of practices great strides in gelling as a team and their commitment to team unity,” said Holbrook. “What we lack in experience we are making up for in determination and commitment to growth. I am impressed with the depth and solid foundation of all the players and it will give us a lot of options with lineups.”
King Philip
2019 Record: 13-9
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Kate Fallon-Comeau
The Warriors will have a new coach this season with former Mansfield standout player and former Franklin coach Kate Fallon-Comeau takes over at the helm.
King Philip will have a relatively young and inexperienced group at the varsity level so Fallon-Comeau will lean on her four seniors to lead the way. Paige Berdos is a three-year starter and a captain for the Warriors, a member of the varsity team since her freshman season. She’s joined by classmate Anna Bradley as captain and that duo will look to provide excellent leadership to the young Warriors. Seniors Libby Curran and Rubi Butler round out the class of 2021.
Berdos will anchor the outfield from center field and will be the spark for the offense from the leadoff spot. Bradley returns to her spot at first base and provides some pop to the lineup. From there, the Warriors will feature a lot of faces new to the varsity level. Junior Meg Sherwood and sophomore Charlotte Raymond will round out the outside for KP while junior Mia Bennett takes over at second base. Sophomore Libby Walsh brings a big bat to the lineup and will be a reliable option defensively at shortstop while freshman Maddie Paschke is slated to start at the hot corner. Junior Lauren Hooper provides depth and can fit into multiple spots in the lineup.
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Junior Emma Sheehan and freshman Jordan Bennett are both options to start in the circle for Fallon-Comeau. Both will be new to the varsity level this season so the Warriors will look to play strong defense to help out the pitchers. Sophomore Sarah Cullen will do the bulk of the catching for KP.
“We’re excited to be back out on the field and looking forward to having a successful season,” Fallon-Comeau said.
Mansfield
2019 Record: 12-9
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Lori Letendre
Mansfield has consistently been a playoff team and competitive in the Kelley-Rex division but, with only two players returning from 2019, the Hornets enter the spring as a little bit of a mystery. With four freshmen and a sophomore on the roster, and only two seniors, Mansfield will be looking to put talented players in the right spots to keep battling the league’s top teams.
Senior pitcher Ashlyn Conley is one of the few players with any varsity experience and will be back in the circle this year. Junior first baseman Casey Moussette is the other returning player, after a strong freshman season at the plate in 2019. Abby DeCoste is the only other senior on varsity this season, while Jill Koppy, Molly Kucharski, Callie Lake, and Liv Madeira are all rookies who could step in and make instant impacts. Sophomore Olivia Harnden is another underclassman stepping right into the varsity team this year.
“We have a lot of talent but are still trying to learn to work together at new positions,” said Mansfield coach Lori Letendre. “It has been great to be on the field playing again and we are looking forward to the season.”
Milford
2019 Record: 2-18
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Steve DiVitto
Milford is turning the page on a tough 2019. The Hawks have been a powerhouse since joining the Hock but have gone through a transition period after graduating the core of the last state title-winning team. That transition won’t be helped by moving into the Kelley-Rex division this season, but head coach Steve DiVitto is hoping his seniors can build a foundation for several talented underclassmen that are excited about their first opportunity on varsity.
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
The Hawks return five players from the 2019 team. Junior Olivia Morelli will be in the circle this season and can also play shortstop. Seniors Erin McEvoy and Carly Ferreira will be at the corner infield spots and senior Natalie Casilli will be back in the outfield. Senior Elise Fauerbach can play behind the plate or in the outfield. Junior Gianna Cacciola is a new face to watch at third base. Freshman Maeve Driscoll could see time at pitcher or at short and her classmate Camille Bonina will see time at first and in the outfield.
“This year’s team is focused on the here and now and not the past,” said DiVitto. “Keeping our awesome team chemistry will be an important part of this season. We’re excited for the challenges of playing in the Hock!”
North Attleboro
2019 Record: 16-6
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro ended a two-decade wait for a league title in 2019 and had the potential to be even better last season, but the Rocketeers will come into this spring having graduated seven starters, with only three players returning with varsity experience, and looking for a new crop of players to search for a second straight Davenport crown.
Senior second baseman Emily Nardelli has been a starter since her freshman year and will be an impact player in the lineup and in the field. Senior Belle Clarkin adds versatility with her ability to play catcher, outfield, and first base, and junior Mandi Hanewich will step into center field. Pitching should remain a strength for North with a pair of promising sophomores, Kelly Colleran and Zoey McDonough, jumping into the circle. Colleran will also see time at shortstop and McDonough at first. Junior Ally Levine will be the new starter at catcher and juniors Chloe Mearn and Shaelyn Burns can play corner infield spots. Emma Bailey and Grace Simmons will add to the outfield, while there are a host of young players, including the lone freshman on the roster, Aubrey Amado, who can play multiple positions and add useful depth.
“I feel like a new coach this year after missing last year,” said North coach Bill Wallace, who also notched his 200th career win in 2019. “Since the last time we had softball I have graduated seven starters.”
Oliver Ames
2019 Record: 4-16
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Lindsey Allison
Oliver Ames is back in the Davenport division and has a small roster, but it is one that has coach Lindsey Allison excited about its potential and versatility. The Tigers will hope that a change of scenery and a speedy, athletic lineup will see a jump up the standings to put pressure on the top teams in the division this season.
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview
The Tigers will have a pair of pitchers this season as senior Emma Varella will be joined by sophomore Katie Melendy. Both have multiple pitches to keep batters off-balance and both can play other positions when they’re not in the circle. Senior Grace Simone will provide leadership for the pitching staff and a big bat in the middle of the lineup. Her leadership will be important as the Tigers will be carrying four sophomores and a freshman along with its five seniors.
Allison said, “As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to a season with a versatile team that works together and picks each other up. These kids work hard every day, strive for greatness, and are hungry for wins. Looking forward to a great season.”
Sharon
2019 Record: 5-15
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Heather Poliferno
Sharon is filled with upperclassman so experience will be key as the Eagles look to compete in a wide-open Davenport division. The three captains this year are shortstop Julia Earley, second baseman Sneha Kini, — both seniors — and junior pitcher Trinity Payne so the Eagles will lean on their strength up the middle of the field.
Payne picked up plenty of experience during her freshman year so will be battle-tested for the 2021 season. Earley and Kini give the Eagles a strong defensive foundation and will provide leadership both in the field and at the plate. Of the 11 players on the roster, 10 are upperclassman so head coach Heather Poliferno has an experienced group at her disposal. Poliferno believes her team has a strong mix of power and contact hitters so versatility throughout the lineup will be key.
The one underclassman on the roster is sophomore Ally Foulsham, who could make an immediate impact in her first season with the program. Foulsham can also toe the rubber in the pitcher’s circle so the Eagles have options to work with in the pitching department. After missing out on last season, the Eagles are eager to get back on the field and compete for a division title.
“My high school coach always used to say ‘why not us?’ and I would say the same thing – Why not us? Our players work hard to be the best they can be,” Poliferno said. “They can compete in any setting. We are hungry to play and we have the skill set to do it. So, why not us?”
Stoughton
2019 Record: 15-7
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Deb Parker
Stoughton had an impressive 2019, finishing in second place in the Davenport behind North Attleboro and winning its opening playoff game on a walk-off against Somerset-Berkley. With five returning starters, the Black Knights will be looking to carry momentum into this spring and make another push for a league title.
One of the keys for Stoughton’s high hopes for the season is the return of senior pitcher Nicole Baker, who had a breakout sophomore campaign and emerged as one of the top arms in the league. Baker is the lone infielder returning but senior Julia Driscoll will take over at third and senior Sarah McGrath will be behind the plate. Junior Sydney Menz, who batted over .400 as a freshman, will start in center, while junior Melody Casna takes over at short. Junior Kate Bulger will get the nod in left and senior Lauren Turner starts in right. Sophomore Kerry Driscoll adds depth in the circle and Stoughton has a crop of freshmen who could contribute right away, including Alyssa Edwards, Maddie Hinds, and Julie Powers.
“It’s a little surreal coming back to the field after losing an entire season,” said Stoughton coach Deb Parker. “If we’ve learned anything from last year it’s that nothing is promised, and we have to take advantage of every opportunity we have on and off the field. These young women work hard, and I believe we have the depth, drive, and talent this year to have a great showing in this very competitive league.”
Taunton
2019 Record: 22-3
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Carrie Consalvi
Taunton is one of the few teams that is coming back from the two-year layoff with a lineup that looks pretty similar to the one from 2019. The biggest change for the Tigers will be on the bench with long-time coach Dave Lewry retiring at the end of the 2019 season and Carrie Consalvi taking over. Consalvi goes into her first spring with a team loaded with talent that looks ready to defend its Kelley-Rex title.
Senior pitcher Kelsey White is back healthy following an injury that would’ve kept her out of last season. The reigning league MVP looks back to the form that helped Taunton win a state title three years ago. Reigning HockomockSports.com Hanna Aldrich is back for her senior season at shortstop and as one of the top power hitters in the Hock. Aldrich is joined up the middle by senior second baseman McKenzie McAloon. All three will be playing DI softball next year. Senior Skylar Rheaume and Tayah Decosta add to the leadership on the team and Taunton will have enviable depth with sophomore Olivia Mendonca back after playing as an eighth-grader and freshman Sam Lincoln looking like Taunton’s next pitching prospect.
“These players have had just about every challenge thrown at them over the past year, but if there was one group that could take all of this and rise to the occasion it is this group,” said Consalvi. “They are hungry to win, and I am hopeful my senior leadership will recall what it took to win that state championship back in 2018 and impart their wisdom with this group of younger players, as it will take every single one of them to make something so special to happen again.”
2021 Hockomock League Softball Preview