Division 3-5 softball preview: Dighton-Rehoboth looks for repeat effort

Defending Div state champion Dighton-Rehoboth enters the season with eyes on another deep playoff run as several key players return Edy Latour will retake the pitcher s circle while Villanova commit Cam Cloonan middle infielder St Anselm-bound Haleigh Kelley shortstop Rutgers-bound Isabella Moss third base and Holy Cross-bound Emma Horrocks catcher will round out the infield Skye Harrison is back in the outfield Apponequet reached the state semifinals last year and features six seniors among returners Caleigh Venuti catcher and Sarah DelVecchio pitcher outfielder are back with South Coast Conference All-Star Christina Magnett shortstop second base and Zoe Trinque first base in the infield Arianna Camara and Morgan Saraceno will spend time in the outfield Norton has returning players including All-Scholastic pitcher Liana Danubio strikeouts ERA and Tri-Valley League All-Stars Avery Tinkham pitcher first base and Paige Donahue third base Lucy Perachio catcher Avery Soares second base catcher and Gabby Rodriguez shortstop are set to fill the infield while juniors Addison Portanova Maddie Dufresne and Maddie Medeiros will patrol the outfield Seniors Roma Braid catcher and Ryleigh Williams first base will guide St Mary s Pitcher Aliza Crean-Oviedo and shortstop Olivia DiSessa are also back for the Spartans In the Cape Ann League Triton will be led again by All-Scholastic pitcher outfielder Emma Penniman ERA at the plate All-Star Madison January will cover the outfield and Grace Mchale will be the catcher Jillian Guisto Alyssa Ewell and Ava Johnson will handle infield duties while Izze Turner can play both infield and outfield Fellow quarterfinalist and CAL foe North Reading is expected to contend as well Pentucket maintains eight starters including CAL All-Stars Molly LeBel pitcher and Kayla Murphy shortstop Ciara Pennie will be the catcher while Jocelyn Bickford third base Sara Freitas second base and Michaela Gabardi first base take care of the rest of the infield Caitlin McCoy and Mia Bartholomew are the returning outfielders for the Panthers Arlington Catholic brings back center fielder Kailyn French shortstop Cam Rose and catcher Riley Rose Newburyport has a new coach in Dominik Masi but retains eight players Clara Thompson will be the pitcher with Sophie Lavallee at second base Isla DeVivo playing shortstop and Lilah Thompson covering third base Center fielder Cassidy Bolcome left fielder Ryleigh McCarthy Isabella Gemme and Caroline Mullen will roam the outfield All-Scholastic Bre Fontes RBI six HR will do the catching again for Div state champion Occurrence with fellow SCC All-Star Lila Alvarez pitching Ella Preston first base Skye Dupre second base and Nicole Rebelo third base are the returning infielders and Madilyn Botelho right fielder and Meagan Pereira center field are back in the outfield South Shore League All-Stars Elsie Testa pitcher Brenna Howley shortstop and Madison McDonald catcher will set the tone for Abington while Malia Goldberg will slot in at first base and Riley Agnew will play right field As coach Nikki Savastano Gadsby takes the reins Amesbury s preponderance notable returner is CAL All-Star senior catcher Lexi LeBlanc Alex Donnell and Sofia Le make up the pitching staff with Addy Cooper and Celia Tavares retaking the infield Hope Shanahan will be the center fielder and Harper Walker will be stationed in right field Maddie Blette will be behind the plate for East Bridgewater with Maggie Schlossberg pitching and at first base Mia Holmes will also pitch and play first base while Bella Abrams and Riley Egan take charge of the middle infield Brooke Murphy will be the center fielder Maddie Grant is the pitcher to watch for Div state finalist Georgetown which is bringing back its starting lineup Ava Fair returns at catcher and first base while CAL All-Star Ellie Barbarick will play shortstop and catcher Cora Robinson will be at second base with Gillian Figueroa at third base and Maddie Cirone and Mia Girard in the outfield As for Millis Mia Vasta will pitch Macy Ingraham will be tasked with right field and Isabella Briones first base Zoe Sparks second base Molly Rand shortstop Emilia Leach third base and Alicia Ellis catcher will be returning to the infield