Incredible ride to come to an end for seven Spartan seniors

Whatever happens Saturday, it’ll be the last hurrah for a group of St. Mary’s seniors who have taken the softball program to levels unseen in its history.And, in a couple of cases, it’ll be the closing chapter for a couple of players with amazing championship legacies.”We have seven seniors,” said coach Colleen Newbury, “and some of us (such as Erin McAndrews and Brittney Hanscom) have been with us since junior high. So Saturday’s (when the Spartans try to repeat as state champions in a game at noon against Murdock of Winchendon) going to be bittersweet one way or another.”But,” she said, “it’s good that they have a chance to win their last game ever. For a lot of kids that doesn’t happen. And I’ve reminded them of that every step along the way.”One of those seniors, center fielder Maria Nazzaro, caught the final out at Martin Field in the game that put the Spartans in the state final.”And as it was hit to me,” she said, “it dawned on me that it’s the last time I’ll ever play here.”And if that seemed huge, it’s because St. Mary’s – in the last four years – has played 10 games at Martin Field (which is the site of all the North sectional semifinals, finals and – in odd years – state semifinals), “and that’s incredible, when you think about it.”McAndrews and another senior, Michelle Macchione, have a chance to walk out of St. Mary’s with five rings (three in hockey and two in softball), and can also boast of being on two back-to-back championship teams (the girls hockey team just won its third straight this past March).The seven seniors are McAndrews, Macchione, Hanscom, Nazzaro, Kristina Burri, Sam Kiley and Katie Collins. And while they are certainly the backbone of the team, Newbury says there’s no way the team could be in a position to win it all again without some huge contributions from the underclass.For example, first base is shared by Keri Donovan and Angela Dandreo, and both have made huge contributions on defense, even though they’re generally the flex players (Dandreo is just coming back from being sick). Dandreo, in particular, made a nice catch on a hard line drive in the Case game that squashed a potential rally.Burri and McAndrews, at second and short respectively, are true game-changers, both defensively and offensively. Burri is particularly smart when it comes to running the bases and being two steps ahead of baserunners (several times over the past two seasons, she has caught baserunners napping and made huge plays to stifle opponents’ rallies – including one in the seventh inning of the Case game).McAndrews, who was The Item’s player of the year in 2009, made the move to shortstop this year and has filled in seamlessly after Kristin Mondello graduated. She made a strong relay throw to get a crucial double play in last week’s sectional semifinal win over Weston. She has also continued her hot hitting, knocking in key runs in virtually every game in the tournament.McAndrews was able to make the transition to short because of Collins, the catcher. Quietly (both in actions and temperament), Collins has hit consistently and made plays behind the plate.Brianna Holmes, at third, also made it possible for McAndrews to switch to short. She’s also contributed offensively as well, hitting the very top of the fence at Breed during the John Holland tournament.Nazzaro, in center, is another game-changer. Her strength, outside of her ability to get to – and catch – almost anything, is the way she handles the bat. She is perhaps the best bunter/slap hitter on the team, and hits leadoff because of that.Hanscom, in right, has been another quiet contributor. Consistently over the past two seasons, she’s come up with clutch hits to win games.Sabrina Iannetti and Macchione share left. Both bring a lot to the table. Macchione can also handle the bat, and, when she’s not playing, is usually a courtesy runner for the pitcher (Victoria Viger handles that role for the catcher). Iannetti is also fast, and is generally in the middle of