Plymouth South Spring Sports Preview

April is the month for Plymouth South student athletes to shake off the chill of winter and get back outside in preparation for the spring athletic season. Cleats will replace skates and sunshine will replace snow.  Spring sports are finally upon us.

With season openers slated for the first week in April, let’s take a preseason look at the 2011 Panthers. 

The 2011 Panthers’ baseball team will have a completely new look this spring. After losing close to a dozen seniors from last year’s squad, Coach John Peila will look to younger players to step up and fill in the gaps.

“I am looking at all players in the program to find our best nine,” Peila said.

Despite the youth, Peila is expecting to compete in the very competitive Atlantic Coast League.

Panthers softball will look to defend its 2010 ACL title, and once again make it deep into the MIAA tournament. The softball team will open the season today, April 1, against Sandwich.

The Panthers boys lacrosse team will kick things off against Whitman-Hanson April 2. This will be the second season of Plymouth South lacrosse. Last year head coach Mike McCosh led the Panthers to a 7-13 record. 

Girls lacrosse will open the season April 5 against North Quincy.  Last year, in its inaugural season, the squad posted a record of 10-11. 

Boys track and field is expected to have a large turnout this spring with more than 80 athletes expected to participate. Coach Marc Loranger would like to win the ACL title. Loranger acknowledged that in order to take home the title, the Panthers will have to strengthen its distance teams. Yet the one thing the Panthers have on their side, according to Loranger, is “the depth in numbers” of the Plymouth South program.

Girls track and field head coach Jeremy Adelmann is excited that this year’s team may be the strongest he has had in his four years as a head coach. Great depth combined with a strong upper class should help the Panthers be competitive.

“This year, more than ever, I think we have many of our athletes who will be trying to qualify for state competition,” Adelmann explained. “The qualifying standards are high, but the girls are working hard.”

The Kopp twins, Alessandra and Anastasia, will anchor the distance crew, supported by a lot of younger talent. Field events will be led by Vicky Fitzgerald.

“The throwing events will make or break our teams chances of winning,” Adelmann said.

Boys and girls tennis will open their season against the Blue Knights of Sandwich April 1. Dan Sherill will take over the reigns as head coach of the girls tennis squad.