2008 Varsity Softball Preview
Some important losses to graduation will give the 2008 softball team a new look this spring. Last year, the Lady Hilltoppers finished off the year with a tough, extra-innings loss to eventual state champion Taunton. With that loss, the era of standout pitcher Caitlin Belanger came to an end and with the graduation of her batterymate, Katie Viveiros, the Toppers have some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the entire infield returns intact, which will give this year's pitchers an experienced crew behind them. Also, a new rule this year, which moves the pitching distance back three feet, should be a help to most offenses. "We're going to have to play good defense,'' said head coach Steve Winarski. "Our pitchers have good control and they'll need to keep the ball down. Hopefully, our veteran infield can make the plays. This year's pitching staff is led by senior Caitlyn Carey, along with sophomores Guilia Khoury and Kaitlin Silvester. Another name to look out for is freshman Amanda Cordeiro, who has already impressed the coach. Senior Jahnna Khoury and sophomore Ariel Hallisey will look to fill the void created by the loss of Viveiros. The infield crew is led by senior shortstop Michaela Ferreira, who was also the team's most consistent hitter a year ago. Guilia Khoury returns at third base, while senior second baseman Ashley Motta and Carey at first base, will cover the right side of the infield. The outfield is another area where the Toppers need to make a fresh start. Sophomore Katelyn Almeida, who has shown a solid bat in the early going, looks like a strong possibility for the starting center field job. Others vying for outfield positions are junior Vanessa Vasconcellos, freshman Sara Pereira and seniors Shana Gonsalves and Brianna Simao. Coach Winarski also has some other options to go to. Sophomore Hillary Cabral may see time at first base, sophomore Candace Pacheco can play either infield or outfield, while junior Kayla Cabral will also add to the team's outfield depth. Last year, the team struggled at times offensively. That's going to have to change this time around, as the new pitching distance could lead to higher scoring games. "We've got to score more runs this year. It's going to be different. There's going to be a lot more hitting," said Coach Winarski. "It's going to be a whole new philosophy. I don't think three or four runs will be enough any more." |