Lady Tanners Softballers Looking Forward to New Season

Inconsistent weather has made training and practice tough for the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School softball team, and after an off season of both player turnover and injury turmoil, a new combination of teammates are itching to get back on the field.

After finishing 11-8, good enough for second place behind Lynn Classical last season, head coach Butch Melanaphy lost much of his pitching rotation as well as position players to graduation, including star hurler Nicole Wilson who has gone on to play at Salem State University this season. As if the usual attrition was not enough to deal with, Melanaphy has also lost second baseman and junior captain Katie Burnell for the season thanks to a shoulder injury she suffered playing basketball over the winter.

“That one is tough, we have a couple of girls that can replace her, but she is probably the best second baseman in the league,”  Melanaphy said. “We have lost a lot of players and it is going to be a very young team, but it is just a matter of getting them to work together.”

Joining Burnell as captain is senior shortstop MaryKate Helas.

Melanaphy says he is not concerned about the youth and inexperience on his team, due, in part, to everyone’s eagerness to get on the field and start working together. Due to cold temperatures and bad weather practices have primarily taken place in the gym- something that has helped build chemistry amongst his new players, as well as increase the desire to get outside and play the right way.

In his 15th year as head coach, Melanaphy says it will take consistent pitching and defense to contend in the division, something he is confident his girls can accomplish.

“They are smart kids who are willing to learn,” he said. “They just want to play. Our offense is awesome and if we can avoid making errors in the field we should be ok. We do have a lot of inexperienced pitchers, which is a concern, but they are throwing strikes right now and that is all you can ask of them.”

The Tanners will open up the season Monday in Lynn against St. Mary’s High School.