Warriors out to contend for a Middlesex League Freedom division title
EMMA KRAUS, a senior, returns to play third base. Kraus is a two-time Middlesex League Freedom division all-star and was the league MVP a year ago. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
By DAN MARGARITA
WAKEFIELD — With the coming of spring, the Wakefield Memorial High School softball season is upon us, weather and field conditions permitting.
Rich “Coach Q” Quattrocchi hopes to begin the season with a Monday tilt at Bedford.
“The Bedford coach said his field will be ready but we’ll see how that works out,” said Coach Quattrocchi, in his sixth year.
The snow has made playing more of a challenge than usual but not impossible.
“Knock on wood the town did clear off Landrigan Field and we’ve been playing up there. We’ve had two scrimmages against Arlington Catholic and Bishop Fenwick, which we won.”
Scrimmages with North Reading and Central Catholic will, “give us a better feel for where we are,” said the coach.
Wakefield posted a 14-7 overall record and 11-5 record in the Middlesex League Freedom division a year ago. The Warriors lost in the first round of the state tournament to Dracut.
The team will be returning a number of key players, including starting pitcher and captain Amanda Boulter. Now a senior, Boulter was also a captain as a junior.
Middlesex League Freedom division all-star center fielder Nicole Gasdia will return, as will senior Hayley Kaddaras at first base.
Emma Kraus, the Middlesex League MVP and a two-time all-star, will return at third base and sophomore Alexi Truesdale will play shortstop and see some pitching duties.
Junior Julia Derendal, who got some starts in right field last season, will also return.
Along with his veterans, Quattrocchi will also be fielding six freshmen this season.
“I never had six freshmen before. The most I ever had was two and that was Boulter and Kraus four years ago,” said Coach Q. “This year we had an outstanding freshman class. A lot of them played last year as eighth graders because we had the waiver (from the MIAA). So I looked at them as not freshman but more like sophomores and we had several that made it (to varsity).”
Among the ninth graders are Meghan Burnett, a center fielder and pitcher, who has “done everything I asked and right now she’s penciled in as a starting center fielder.”
Nicole Catino, a freshman who has caught “just plays hard and does it,” said Quattrocchi.
Sisters Hannah and Olivia Dziadyk are an infield and outfield combination.
“I can put them any place I want to,” noted the coach.
Meghan Gibbons plays second base and outfield, while Vanessa Kaddaras can play shortstop and second base.
Boulter is expected to be the number one pitcher but Truesdale and Burnett will see some time on the mound.
“I don’t want to burn Boulter out so she and Truesdale might go every other day,” said Quattrocchi. “This is the most pitching I’ve ever had. In past years if I had one or two I was lucky.”
As for which teams he expects to be the strongest in the Middlesex League this season, Quattrocchi pointed to Burlington, Reading, Arlington and “that little team that plays down on North Avenue.” referring to the Warriors.
“I think the last five years we’ve had the best program in the high school. We’ve had three 14 win seasons and been in the tournament four out of five years. I don’t think any other team can say that and we look to be there again,” Quattrocchi said.
Wakefield is scheduled to open up the regular season on Monday with a non-league game against Bedford at 3:45 p.m. at Bedford High School’s E-Field.
