LYNN — The St. Mary’s softball team experienced its share of growing pains during the 2018 season. With a young, inexperienced roster, the Spartans underwent their ups and downs as the season took its course. But when it mattered most, St. Mary’s came to play.
The Spartans finished the regular season 12-8, earned the No. 10 seed in the Division 3 North state tournament and reached the sectional semifinal before a loss to Amesbury ended their season.
“I think things went really well (last season),” Spartans coach Paige Licata, entering her fourth season, said. “We had a lot of the underclassmen from the year before. It was a new team and a new dynamic. We grew into ourselves. We had a lot of obstacles. We had to learn how to play together. I think at the end of the season, the teams competing against us had veteran groups and we played really well.”
Now the Spartans hope to put the lessons they learned on the diamond last spring to use. It starts with a new mindset, which Licata said she has already seen from her players through the preseason.
“Coming in they have a clear focus,” Licata said. “They’re all as one and they’re committed to the bigger picture. They stand behind each other, they’re backing each other up. So far it seems like this team is together.”
St. Mary’s didn’t lose any players from last year’s roster. In the circle, the Spartans return sophomore right-hander Angelia Pepe and freshman right-hander Lily Newhall. Pepe missed the latter stretch of the 2018 season with an injury, opening the door for Newhall to step in and earn valuable varsity experience. Junior left-hander Christina Nowicki pitched in relief last spring and may do so again in 2019.
“This year what I’m looking forward to is having Angelia and Lily healthy and strong, and being able to use them without taking Christina out of her primary position in centerfield,” Licata said. “We have two healthy pitchers ready to go that we’ll be able to use any given day.”
Returning to the batting order are Nowicki, Marina DiBiasio (sophomore outfielder), Alyssa Grossi (sophomore third baseman), Sam Porazinski (sophomore shortstop), Talia Smaller (junior first baseman), Jordan Sullivan (senior catcher) and Taylor Sullivan (senior first baseman).
Licata said scoring runs will be a total team effort.
“We’re not going to be looking for just one person to get it done,” Licata said. “We’re looking to do it in multiple ways. That’s something I’ve seen in teams I’ve coached in the past, the players will step up and fill voids. We’ll keep working hard offensively to get ready for the pitchers we face. I’m excited to see what we’re capable of, for sure.
“As young as we are I think those lumps came last season,” Licata said. “We’ve learned from that. We’re not so worried about who we’re playing or individual goals, we’re just focused on how well we can play. If we can play our absolute best we won’t be worried about what team we’re playing or how many hits we need.”
Licata believes life in the Catholic Central League won’t be easy. The Spartans will be tested and pushed in the CCL, and they’ll have to work for league wins regardless of the opponent.
“The CCL has been a league that’s always competitive,” Licata said. “Playing in the CCL prepares you for the next level, if that’s what girls are looking to do. The pitching is tough. There’s no one you can walk in and expect to beat.”
St. Mary’s opens the season Friday afternoon (4) when the Spartans host Manchester in a non-conference game.
“They’re excited,” Licata said. “It seems like they have a fresh mindset. It felt like last year we couldn’t catch a break at times and there were games we just had tough losses in. I’m glad they happened. It made us the team we are now. The girls have confidence. They’re working hard. They had captain’s practices at 6 a.m. They’re wanting to be there. It’s special to be part of that. I’m grateful that I have a group that’s as committed as they are.”
