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Centaurs softball
pitchers, catchers
get jump start
It was an early start to the high school softball season this year.
The CIAC allowed teams to do the same as baseball teams do, begin workouts for pitchers and catchers a week before the rest of the team and a week before every other spring sport was allowed to begin.
“One hundred percent,” Woodstock senior pitcher Lexi Thompson said when asked if the rule change was beneficial. “
The other good news for Thompson is that she may not be the only one in the circle for the Centaurs this season.
She was just about that last season as she recorded all but two of the team’s decisions in an 11-11 season and finished by pitching almost 120 innings.
That may change a bit. Sophomores Kaya Nichols and Grace DelSanto may take some of the pressure off. The Centaurs should be strong as a whole.
Woodstock lost only two seniors, Jenna Bankowski and Madison Nichols, from last season.
It means seven of the top eight hitters will return to the lineup this season.
Junior Delaney Anderson, who led the team with a .431 batting average, returns to play first base and in the outfield.
Her classmate, Sarah McArthur (.385) returns at shortstop with senior Maddie Martinez (.380) back behind the plate.
Thompson hit .360 and led the team with 23 runs batted in and will likely see some time in the infield as well as in the circle this season.
Liz Morgis (.339, 20 RBIs) is also back to play first and second base; Ainsley Morse (.333) will see time at the infield corners and Savannah Schley, who came to varsity in the second half of last season and finished with a .308 average, will see more time this season at third and as a designated player.
Mia Pannone, Emily Goodell, Avery Collin and Maddie Bloom will all see time in the outfield while Aubrey Rumrill and Avery Hardacker will spell Martinez behind the plate.
Gerum believes the Centaurs will be competitive in the always tough ECC.
Having the battery of Thompson and Martinez back is also a huge bonus, even if this is their last year.
Martinez is coming off a gymnastics season which saw her incur a couple of typical injuries from that sport. She is looking forward to the break of playing a different sport.
The lack of snow and little, if any, permafrost underneath meant the Centaurs got out to practice on their home field at the Bentley Athletic Complex this past week.
The Centaurs are looking to open the season on that field as they are scheduled to host St. Bernard at noon April 1.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy