St. Mary’s softball hopes for repeat success

LYNN – The St. Mary’s softball team has a tendency to still be playing long after most teams have packed up their bat bags for the season and coach Colleen Newbury is hoping this year will follow suit.View Photo GalleryThe Spartans took their season to the final game last year, losing to the Assabet Valley Aztecs, 5-2, in the Division 3 state final. Newbury lost quite a few players off that team to graduation, but the returning talent is impressive.Newbury will be looking to fill the holes left by the loss of third baseman Kaleigh Finigan (now playing at Merrimack College); second baseman Victoria Viger (playing soccer at Johnson & Wales); outfielder Alison Butler (playing hockey at St. Anselm); Casey Fanning (playing at Framingham State) Taylor Cash (UNH) and pitcher Brooke L’Abbe, who is helping coach the St. Mary’s freshman team.”We’re strong up the middle,” Newbury said, noting that she has three pitchers, three catchers, her shortstop and centerfielder.Last year Newbury went with three pitchers. L’Abbe would often start with then eighth grader Mia Nowicki and Jordan D’Orsi, now a junior, coming on in relief. Nowicki and D’Orsi are both back, as is senior catcher Tatiana Doucette, junior shortstop Molly Doyle and senior outfielder Alex Fisher.Junior Cassi LaFauci, could find herself in the outfield. Also looking to crack the lineup will be a couple of junior transfers, Katarina Roy of Reading (an infielder) and Mollie Mello of Ipswich (catcher, third, first).Katie Donnelly and Jess Martinello, who came up from the junior varsity last season, could help out in the outfield and sophomore Vanessa van Buskirk, who can play a couple of different positions including catcher, second base and third base, could find herself in the mix.Sophomore Michaela Hamill, who pitched for the junior varsity last year, gives the Spartans added depth in the circle. She can also play infield and outfield. Sophomore Francesca Simon, who played infield and outfield on junior varsity last year, is also in the mix, as are Katie Terban and Casey Carmody, both transfers. Terban, who plays second or third, is from Georgetown and Carmody is from Swampscott. Both are sophomores.Senoir Alexis Mango saw some varsity time last year and could play a role this year. The Spartans also welcomed back Jennie Mucciarone, who played as a freshman (and scored a ton of runs) but spent the next couple of years concentrating on basketball. She was an integral part of the Spartans’ state championship team this winter.Newbury said the team always starts the season with the same expectation and that’s to get to the state title game and win it, don’t lose it. That said, the focus is always on the game at hand.”It’s one game at at time. We focus on the game we’re playing,” Newbury said, adding the goals are always to win the John Holland Tournament, wins some games in the state tournament and get to the state final.”We lost some good kids, but we also replaced them with good kids who want to work hard,” Newbury said, adding that the transfer have fit right in.Newbury’s coaching staff includes assistants Frank Sarro and Emily Day. Erica (Sonia) Richard will work with the junior varsity and L’Abbe with the freshmen. Another former player, Katie Collins, is also helping out as is Don Harp.St. Mary’s opens its season Friday against North Shore Tech.