Heavy bats could equal success this spring
Published in the March 31, 2017 edition
THE MELROSE Lady Raider softball team will return with plenty of heavy hitters this season and hope to once again return to playoffs in 2017. (file photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ softball team is no stranger to playoffs and in 2017 they hope to replicate their recent success.
Coach Steve Wall returns a core group of fielders and batters who proved to be game changers last spring, when they battled to playoffs and lost in a heartbreaker to Burlington. This year, they hope to avenge that loss; their best chance may be behind the plate.
They return some of their best hitters in Victoria Crovo, Saoirse Connolly, Peri MacDonald, Rachel Pfieffer and Josephine Adruszkiewicz.
“We’re pretty strong in the top of the order,” confirms Wall. “We hope to balance out the bottom with some new players.”
Serving as tri-captains this season are Crovo, Pfieffer and Connolly, three powerful hitters.
Expect battery mates Jill Stone (pitcher) and Sam Farrell (catcher) to take the mound for Melrose. Stone saw action last season on the mound and according to Wall, has improved her game.
“Jill’s worked on the offseason, has a variety of pitches. She’s going to have a large role on the team and I have a lot of confidence in her.” Adruszkiewicz could see some action on the mound as well.
There are plenty of opportunities for newer Melrose players, faces that include Emily Cataldo and Rebecca Dumont. So as pitching remains a top priority for Melrose, expect Red Raider bats to keep Melrose hot this season, when they look to return to playoffs. And if they do, here’s hoping they don’t draw Burlington, a team they’ve faced two straight years (and lost to) in Div. 2 North play.
“Burlington is always though, along with Wilmington and Wakefield,” says Wall. “We’re teams that are all rather hunched together in the league. We’re going to try to get ahead of them.”
Melrose home opener is Saturday, April 8 at noon against Malden at Pine Bank.
