Warriors hope to contend for M.L. Freedom division title

ALEXIS TRUESDALE, a junior captain, returns to play shortstop and pitch for the Warriors this spring. Truesdale is a returning Middlesex League Freedom division all-star. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

ALEXIS TRUESDALE, a junior captain, returns to play shortstop and pitch for the Warriors this spring. Truesdale is a returning Middlesex League Freedom division all-star. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

Published in the April 7, 2016 edition.

By DAN MARGARITA

WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High softball team is preparing to begin a new season (weather and field conditions permitting) on Friday and Coach Rick Quattrocchi will be sending a talented but young squad out to the field.

Though there are players from last year’s squad returning for this season, “Coach Q” insists that every season, tryouts are for all players and no one is guaranteed a spot on the roster.

“We do it that they’ve got to try out all over again. Some coaches say, ‘Well, I have seven returning starters, but I don’t do it that way.’ It’s, ‘What you did last year was good but you’ve got to try out all over again,’” said Coach Q.

“We’re very young (and) we have no seniors. We have eight sophomores and three juniors.”

That’s because the Warriors lost starting pitcher Amanda Boulter, third baseman Emma Kraus, outfielder Nicole Gasdia and first baseman Hayley Kaddaras.

With no seniors on the team, junior Alexi Truesdale and sophomore Nicole Catino are the team captains, selected by their peers.

The mound duties will be handled by Meghan Burnett, a sophomore. She will take over for Boulter, who was Wakefield’s number one hurler a year ago.

“She’s really worked hard this year,” said Quattrocchi.

Truesdale also saw ample time on the mound last season. Julia Purcell and Emma Hickey, a sophomore and a junior, may also see some time on the mound.

Here is how the roster is shaping up, with some positions likely determined by who has mound duties.

Catino will be the catcher and returns to a position she started a freshman.

First base will be manned by Hickey and sophomore Olivia Dziadyk.

Meg Gibbons and Mia Romano, a sophomore and a junior, are the candidates to play second base, while Truesale and Burnett will take turns at shortstop depending on who pitches. Those four will shore up the middle infield.

The “hot corner,” third base, will have sophomores Vanessa Kaddaras and Hannah Dziadyk playing that position. They have big shoes to fill with Kraus being a two-time M.L. Freedom MVP and all-scholastic a year ago.

Olivia Dziadyk could also play left field when not at first base, while Hannah Dziadyk and Burnett are candidates to patrol center field when not pitching or playing in the infield.

Purcell will play in right field for the Warriors.

Sophomore Marissa Patti will be a jack-of-all trades and could be used virtually anywhere on the diamond.

“She can play all infield positions and all outfield positions,” said the coach.

The coach feels that in the Middlesex League Freedom division defending champion Burlington looks to be one of the stronger teams, while Wilmington may surprise some people.

Not that the coach is conceding anything to anyone.

“I think we have as good a shot as anybody. I think we have a very good shot, actually.”

Quattrocchi has a reason to feel confident since the Warriors finished with a 14-7 overall record and 11-5 mark in the league. It was the third straight year that Wakefield posted a 14-win season.

Wakefield lost in the first round of the state tournament to Swampscott by a run, 8-7, a year ago. So a young Warrior team does have some tourney experience should Wakefield return to the postseason.

Coach Stephanie Martin will be returning as well and the squad will have a new assistant coach, Tom Purcell. Veteran coach Kevin Barry will not start the season with the team as he battles an illness but Coach Q was quick to give a “shout out”  of support to Coach Barry and in the hope for a speedy recovery.

Wakefield is scheduled to open up the season tomorrow afternoon when it plays Billerica in a non-league game at 3:45 p.m. at the Marshall Simonds Middle School