PEABODY — When you lose five multiple-year starters from your softball team – one that went 15-3, had a four-time Northeastern Conference MVP, and won a conference title in 2024 – you’d probably think a little rebuilding was in order.
Not if you’re Steve Lomasney, head coach of the Peabody Tanners, who had his first chance to assess this year’s talent Monday during spring tryouts.
Lomasney said he sees a lot of “good, young, and veteran talent.
“There are a couple of freshmen who were on the JV team last year that were really good and I expect they will be impact players,” he said. “With the experience we have at the top with our better players, and with the best hitter in the league in Lizzie (Bettencourt), that goes a long way. We need to have a good supporting role around her, but I think it’s going to be a good season for us.”
The Tanners took a huge hit, having graduated six seniors, among them being their ace, Abby Bettencourt, who is now a freshman on the Brown University softball team.
She finished her career with a 1.07 ERA and school-record 732 strikeouts. Her bat wasn’t too shabby, posting a career .567 average with 110 RBI and 26 home runs.
Other starting seniors on the 2024 team included three-time NEC All-Conference All-Star, shortstop, and captain Logan Lomasney; as well as two-time NEC All-Conference All-Star and outfielder/pitcher Avery Grieco, also a captain. The Tanners also lost third baseman Kiley Doolin and left fielder Alanna Sweeney.
“The talent among the three captains is probably irreplaceable,” Steve Lomasney said. “The confidence and leadership they brought to the table is probably more important than their ability to play the game.”
Seniors J.J. Emerson and Jess Steed, as well as junior Lizzie Bettencourt will serve as captains.
“We’ve gone from being an older team to now a really young team, so I think that we, as captains and leaders, really have to step up this year more than any other year to make sure that everyone is going to be a part of the team,” Steed said. “We need everyone to help out where they are needed.”
“I’m expecting a rebuild year, but we will be very competitive this year,” Lizzie Bettencourt said. “I think we will be pretty good again this year. We have the players to be successful.”
Steve Lomasney said he has full confidence in his captains.
“They are going to have to step up with the understanding that this is their turn to lead,” he said. “They’ve been fortunate to have great players around them all these years and I believe they are great players who will lead this team in the right direction.”
Position-wise, Steve Lomasney said he is fortunate to have several catchers, starting with last year’s freshman starter Kaylee DiNicolo and Lizzie Bettencourt, who played first base last year.
The Tanners need to fill holes at second base, third base, left and right fields.
Steve Lomasney said the biggest question is who will step up in the circle.
“It’s too early to talk about who will take over,” he said. “I’m expecting it to be one of the younger players.”
He expects Emerson will likely move from second base, where she played last year, to short and Steed will move from right field to center.
“I believe we have other girls who will slide in just fine,” he said. “I can’t name them yet, and while they’re not at the same level of some of the starters we lost, it’s going to be a good mix this year.”
Other returners in the mix for playing time include center fielder/first baseman Jaslyn Irasola and pitcher/outfielder MacKenzie Landry, who was called up for the tournament last year.
As far as the bats go, Steve Lomasney said it all begins with Lizzie Bettencourt. All she did last year was slug eight home runs, bat .638, and drive in 30 runs.
“She is outstanding and proved that last year,” he said.
Steve Lomasney said one of the team’s goals is to win another NEC title.
“I think we have five straight, so, every year, that’s the goal,” he said.
Peabody opens its season April 2 at Danvers. The Tanners’ non-conference games include Tewksbury, St. Paul of Worcester, Bishop Fenwick, and Greater Lawrence (home and away).
“It’s important, especially for the younger kids, to experience that higher level and see those teams,” Steve Lomasney said. “They need to see the velocity and speed of the game at that level. They need to have that experience to either succeed or fail in those moments, so once they learn from that, they will learn tremendously.”
He expects Beverly and Danvers to be the top contenders in the conference, and that Marblehead will also be tough.
“We have some work to do as there will be more teams that have more experience than us, but I think it’s going to be an exciting run at the end,” he said. “There are a lot of really good teams, but there’s a lot of parity.”
Steed said a key piece of the puzzle is the team’s versatility.
“We have so many players who can play many positions and be moved around, so that is another positive thing for us this year,” she said.
