Peabody softball looks to fill the gaps

Peabody High softball coach Butch Melanaphy will has some holes to fill with six starters lost to graduation, but the well is far from dry.Starting pitcher Nicole Wilson will provide the Tanners will a good foundation. The team finished 17-5 last year and Wilson was in the circle for most of those games, going 16-4. The junior pitcher is a double threat – if her speed doesn’t get the job done, her assortment of pitches should do the trick.”She’s like a machine,” Melanaphy said. “I think she got faster (in the off season).”The Tanners will have to adjust to the loss of infielder Michelle Grifoni, who has been tearing it up for Salem State in the early going. Tawny Palmieri is at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and catcher Sam Terenzoni is behind the plate for Eastern Pennsylvania College. Melanaphy also lost center fielder Stephanie Fodera, Samantha Lerner and Jennifer Leavitt, all starters.The good news for the Tanners is that there are plenty of experienced players returning including Emily Milewska, a backup pitcher who’ll be starting at first base. Senior Kenia McKeon will be in left field; junior Amanda Smith at third base and senior Lauren Tucker in right field. Sophomore Mary Kate Helas was the designated hitter last year, but will likely be at short this year. Senior Erica Ricci played a few games at second last year and could find a home there this season, while three girls are vying for a catching job.Junior Emily Scolaro will be in center field and freshman Katie Burnell will be available wherever she’s needed.”We have a good nucleus,” Melanaphy said. “We just have to take it one game at at time. We had a great season (last year). They know it’s going to tough to duplicate.”Last year, Peabody and Classical duked it out for the Northeastern Conference North title with the Rams just edging out the Tanners. Both teams have returning pitchers, but both were also hit hard by the graduation of key players.”We have some talented kids coming up,” Melanaphy said.