By Ryan Rumrill

Town Crier Sportswriter

Killingly Redgals, coached by Lance Leduc in his second year of the program, looks to continue the great success from last season where they went 7-13 on the year and 3-7 in ECC Medium. The team has plans to make it to the state tournament where they missed out by one game, but doubled their wins from the season before.  The team will look to their three captains, Morgan Harriott, Reilly Allen, and Ashley Veillette to lead the team with leadership as they lost a lot of seniors. The core of the team has a talented freshmen class that will come in and compete for wins. 

The chemistry is there and Redgals welcome newcomers Jill Sharpe, Julia Trafaconda, Sedona Pratt, Sophia Leonetti, and freshmen class of Mackenzie Jackson, Lexie Brunet, Brianna Caffrey, Lauren Kirkconnell, and Hannah Mason. The Redgals kicked off the season April 3, against Putnam at Owen Bell Park. They play Griswold April 8. Griswold is a recent rivalry as they went 10 innings last time they played and lost in the last at bat by the Wolverines. 

 

Woodstock Academy

Woodstock Centaurs, coached by Jason Gerum, looks to pick up where they left off last year, coming off of an 11-10 record and 4-6 in the ECC large bringing back six starters who will contribute a lot offensively and defensively. The Centaurs are looking to replace some of their pitching rotation. Woodstock had both of their ace pitchers graduate last year and go on to play college ball, Angela Caponi and Rylee Hehir, who now plays for St. Bonaventure.

 The key returners for Woodstock are seniors Clara Sarantopolous, Jordyn Staveski, and Mackenzie Stewart; juniors Haley Armstrong, Hannah Reynolds, Cassidhe Hoyt, Naomi Rivard, and Ciri Miller, and then sophomore Heather Converse. They welcome newcomers junior Natalie Cross and sophomore Hannah Wotten to the squad. Woodstock will use its final practices before the season starts developing some more pitching as only two of the players who tried out for the team have pitched before but lack varsity experience. Despite that the Centaurs are once again going to be a powerhouse in the ECC large. 

 

Tourtellotte Tigers 

Thompson Tigers are looking to continue their success from last year as they went to the second round of the Class S state tournament finishing the year with a 14-8 record and went 6-4 in ECC Small. But this year they are facing a rebuilding year under first-year coach Dawn Menoche. The Tigers graduated seven starters and now consist of a young roster of eight sophomores and four freshmen.

 The Tigers will be led by captains Emily Vincent, Michaela Godzik, Lauren Ramos, and sophomore pitcher Amanda Bogoslofski. The Tigers welcome newcomers Steph Daly, and Emily Angelo to the team. Although with the youth of the roster, coach Menoche believes that the Tigers will be able to use their speed to be aggressive on the bases trying to stretch singles to doubles and hit and runs, and maybe some small ball.

 

Putnam Clippers

The Putnam Clippers look to continue the great success from last year, as they finished the season with a 14-10 record and 10-2 in the CSC East as Jon Miller looks to replicate the results as they bring back senior catcher Lindsay Roberts, junior shortstop Ashley Burke and junior pitcher Aiceya Labonte. They also welcome Morgan Foucault back to the squad . She will help out pitching and will play infield.  Freshmen Jillian Gray will be a utility player for the Clippers. Putnam will depend on their captains Lindsay Roberts, and Ashley Burke and Morgan Foucault will also be important, as they look to chase the division title once again. 

 

Marianapolis Golden Knights

Marianapolis is optimistic that they can reach the NEPSAC playoffs after failing to reach the past two years, as they bring back many players starting with seniors Madison Bodreau, Taylor Pacheco, Jordan Buell, Olivia Gould, juniors Gwen Gould, Danielle Mahlert, Isabelle Boria, Jordan Desaulnier, and Emma Sarantopolous. The Golden Knights are also welcoming senior Jordan Frye, sophomores Lily Madden, Kelley Haney, Gabrielle Hopkins, Jocelyn Madden, and freshmen Karly Seiffert. Senior co-captains Taylor Pacheco and Olivia Gould will be looked at to lead the team defensively and at the plate, while pitchers Gwen Gould and Danielle Mahlert will lead from the pitching circle. 

 

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