Although it doesn’t feel like it outside, spring sports are back in action with teams wrapping up tryouts and preparing for regular seasons. Due to graduation, lots of talent left the area last spring, but there are several returning players to watch out for.
Here are some (not all) of them:
Marblehead softball standout Tessa Francis is — without a doubt — one of the most dominant players in Massachusetts. She recorded 21 hits, 23 RBI, four home runs, and batted .381 last spring. In the circle, however, she was even better. Francis led her team in innings pitched (131), strikeouts (239), and ERA (1.01).
Staying in Marblehead, Will Sullivan delivered a strong sophomore campaign on the lacrosse field. He scored 52 goals last spring, providing 28 assists and fueling the Magicians to a Div. 2 state tournament berth.
Over at St. Mary’s, you can’t look past softball pitcher Aliza Crean-Oviedo, who has been with the Spartans since 8th grade. In the circle, she’s one of the best in the Catholic Central League. She finished last season with 109 innings pitched and 99 strikeouts.
At the Frank DeFelice Diamond in Swampscott, Caden Ross is gearing up for his senior season under coach Joe Caponigro. Last year, Ross was an extremely versatile player for the Big Blue and batted .344 with 22 hits and 15 runs scored. When he got on base, he was always a threat to steal and finished with nine swipes.
In Lynnfield, junior Hayden Valiton is ready to take the next step in girls lacrosse. Last year, she registered her 100th career goal and 200th point. Her 86 goals and 22 assists made her one of the top players in the Cape Ann League.
On the tennis courts, Lynn Classical’s Amber Sotomayor was atop the Greater Boston League statistically, despite only being a sophomore. Now, as a junior, Sotomayor is primed to repeat last year’s success, when she went 16-0 during the regular season.
Staying in Lynn, keep an eye on Lynn Tech’s Elmer Duran, who helped power the volleyball team to a 16-5 record after producing 538 assists alongside 105 digs and 58 aces.
And on the track, there are three local athletes who have already found success before their senior years: St. Mary’s Kelsey Kwiatek, Saugus’ Soraya Mathieu, and Swampscott’s Annabelle Averett. The trio typically leads the pack when the gun sounds.
Let’s see what these athletes — and many, many more — have in store for the next few months.
