Sprint Season Preview: LHS Softball

Last year, the Lexingotn High School softball team was in the precarious position of being a Cinderella team with a target on its back. The Minutemen entered the postseason as two-time defending state champion, but were also the No. 12 seed after an up-and-down spring.

But Lexington showed the low seed wasn’t a problem. It knocked off the Nos. 5, 4 and 1 seed en route to the North Division 1 final where the run ended with a 5-0 loss to No. 2 Concord-Carlisle.

While the improbable run made for another action-packed spring for Lexington in 2010, coach Frank Pagliuca said the Minutemen have moved on.

“You know, not really. Every season is unique,” the coach said when asked how much the end of last year has played into how the Minutemen will enter this season. “I will say, the kids are very excited and very enthused about getting the season going.”

That’s because expectations are high once again for the Minutemen. They’ll have six returning starters back in the lineup to open this season, which is more than half that saw firsthand what it’s like to overcome adversity in the postseason.

“It is good to have that experience to have those kids that have been through those types of games under that type of intensity, it’s a positive thing,” Pagliuca said. “It helps set the tone and set the environment for the kids that haven’t been there before. It’s a good thing to have on a team, to have those kids that have been there and mentor those (that haven’t).”

And all that experience should play well for the Minutemen in a Middlesex League that is once again stocked with talented teams. While shying away from anointing his team the one to beat, Pagliuca said Burlington has also returned a lot of players, and one can never count out Reading.

LEXINGTON SOFTBALL SEASON PREVIEW CAPSULE

Coach: Frank Pagliuca (fifth season)

League: Middlesex League

Last Year: 15-9 (Lost to Concord-Carlisle in the North Division 1 final)

Returning Players: Six returning starters

Key to Success: With so many returners starters coming back the Minutemen will have few holes to plug. But how quickly those few newcomers get acclimated with be important.

Game to Watch: Like the Minutemen, Burlington High School has a lot of experience coming back, and Pagliuca expects the Red Devils to compete near the top of the Middlesex League. The two teams meet May 2 at Lexington and May 23 at Burlington.

Coach’s Take: “I think the kids always have high expectations coming in. We like to set our expectations high going into the season, but realistic. But we won’t know anything until we get out onto the field and see how it goes. Expectations are great, but it’s what you do on the field that’s going to make the difference.”