Defending North champion Spartans ready for another ride

Despite 30-degree weather and a chilling wind in the air, Colleen Newbury?s Spartans are focused on softball.
?The girls are already fired up, and I love that,” said Newbury, who is in her 15th season as head coach at St. Mary?s. “We were disappointed to lose last year, and the girls are super committed coming back this year.”
St. Mary?s went 17-7 last season and captured the Division III North title, but lost to Greater New Bedford, 3-0, in the state semifinals. Newbury has 15 of last season?s 20 players returning this spring.
?Optimism has been really high and the kids have been great,” she said. “We have six seniors, and they have really brought leadership to the team.”
The Spartans feature a good mix with six seniors, four juniors, and six sophomores. The seniors include pitcher Jordan D?Orsi, outfielder Jessica Martinello, shortstop Molly Doyle, Cassandra LaFauci, Mollie Mello, and Katarina Roy.
?We?re lucky to have all of these girls,” said Newbury. “Molly is a quiet leader, but she?s been more vocal this season and is such a great kid to have around. Cassandra is the leader of the group and keeps the team loose. And Mollie lives, eats, and breathes softball.”
St. Mary?s also has a dynamic pitching staff. Along with D?Orsi, junior Michaela Hamill and sophomore Mia Nowicki all have different pitching styles, but all three are effective.
?We have three legitimate high school pitchers,” said Newbury. “That?s going to benefit us this year, particularly if the schedule is backed up to start the season or we?re playing a bunch of games in a row.”
Though there is still much work to prepare for the first game, Newbury is clear about her goal for the season.?Our goal is always to win our last game,” she said. “Win your next one, win the last one.”