Experience should help Swampscott softball

SWAMPSCOTT – The Swampscott High softball team has a couple of openings this season, but overall the Big Blue look to be should be in pretty decent shape thanks to a solid group of returning players.View Photo GallerySwampscott lost its pitcher, Stephanie Collins; first baseman, Bridget Genoversa Wong and centerfielder Emma Walsh to graduation, but the bulk of the team is back in the fold.Coach Frank Kowalski has four senior captains who should go a long way toward easing the transition into a new season. Tessa Beane, who is often the designated hitter, could spend some time in the outfield. Beane is a proven threat at the plate.Danielle Mayblyum will lead the pitching brigade and play some outfield and Sam Rizzo, a junior, will see time in the infield and she’ll get some innings on the mound. Tori Thistle has been solid for Swampscott at both third and shortstop.Mayblyum and Rizzo will have some re-enforcements on the mound courtesy of freshman Hannah Leahy, who played junior varsity last year. Leahy can also play in the infield.Kowalski is counting on a couple of other underclassmen, sophomore catcher Olivia Cook and designated hitter/infielder Christina King to make some noise as well. This will be Cook’s second year behind the plate.”We’re hoping for her to be a lot more comfortable there now that it’s her second year,” Kowalski said.King also played varsity last year. She hit in the middle of the order, so Kowalski will be looking for her to help out with the bat.unior Emma Faulkner, who started in left field and played some second base last year, is also back. Kowalski is also looking for Maddy Dove, who moved up to varsity midway through the season last year, and junior outfielder Julia Potter to figure in the mix.The Big Blue finished 10-10 in 2013, losing to Burlington in the first round of the Division 2 North tournament.”I think we have a lot of experience,” Kowalski said. ‘We have a lot of really smart kids. We’re just hoping to get off to a quicker start, get some momentum going.”Like just about every coach this spring, Kowalski has been chomping at the bit to get the team outside. The Big Blue did manage to get a little fresh air on Thursday with a brief practice on the lower field near the high school, but the regular field is still off limits. Kowalski said he won’t know who’s playing where until they get outside.