Optimism Abounds For TMHS Girls Softball Team

No one in his right mind would argue that the team doesn't have two huge holes to fill this spring.

With All-Conference and off to college, the Redmen must replace two of the top players in the Merrimack Valley Conference from last spring.

But with seven of the nine starters returning to a team that won 16 games and advanced to the MIAA Division 2 North semifinals in 2011, the outlook for this year's squad is as bright as it's ever been in 24-year legacy as the TMHS softball coach.

"We lost some great talent with Greenie and Kayla graduating last year, but when you look at who we've got coming back, you have to feel good about our chances this year," DiRocco said as his team got in an early workout Tuesday afternoon at sun-splashed Memorial Field. "We had a lot of young talent on last year's team and most of it is coming back."

Most prominent among the list of returners is senior captain Sheri Liggiero and sophomore second baseman Brooke Hardy, both of whom earned MVC all-conference honors last spring. Liggiero, who is also an all-conference field hockey player and a starter on the TMHS girls basketball team, hit .421 last season. Hardy, who has already drawn interest from several Division 1 college programs, burst onto the MVC softball scene as a freshman last year, leading TMHS in on-base percentage while hitting at a  .420 clip.

"We've had a number of Division 1 (college) prospects over the years, but this year we might have two of them," said DiRocco in reference to Hardy and Liggiero. "Hardy was probably the biggest surprise of the league last year, coming in and doing what she did as a freshman. And Liggiero is probably one of the best center fielders in the state. She just plays 110 miles-an-hour no matter what. There's no halfway with her."

Junior shortstop Tiffanie Marsh also returns bearing some lofty statistics from her sophomore year, having batted .442 last season. Senior captains Katie Doherty (thid base) and Lauren Texeira (catcher) also return as third year starters at their respective positions.

"Tex is a good leader," DiRocco said. "She's got the perfect personality for a catcher. And Tewksbury has always been known in this league for having tough third baseman. We come in and we try to intimidate you and try to take away the bunt and (Doherty) has done a great job of that."

Junior right fielder Sam Laferriere and junior first baseman Missy Cordwell, who both hit over .400 as sophomores, are the likely starters on the right side of the line-up, and sophomore Chelsee Porcaro will see playing time at first base and catcher as DiRocco will try to find a way to get Porcaro's big bat into the line-up often.

But the two biggest keys to TMHS's success will be replacing Greene and Benvenuto, and DiRocco called on just one Tewksbury family to get both of those jobs done. Sisters Meghan and Shannon McLaughlin are the likely replacements for Greene and Benvenuto this year, and DiRocco has high hopes for both of them. Meghan, a junior who saw spot duty in the outfield as a sophomore last year, brings speed and a strong arm to the position.

Shannon McLaughlin, a sophomore, is Benevenuto's heir apparent as the team's starting pitcher. McLaughlin was the team's starting first baseman when she wasn't serving as Benevenuto's back-up as a freshman last year. She's a year-round softball player who has impressed DiRocco with her velocity so far this spring.

"A lot of times you see kids throw indoors and they look fast, but when they get outdoors you say 'Where's the speed gone?'" DiRocco said. "But Shannon is looking very fast so far, which should really set up her change-up.

"Her sister (Meghan) has all the tools to be a solid starter for us (in left field)," DiRocco added. "At this point it's her job to lose."

As usual, the Redmen will face an incredibly tough schedule this spring, competing in Division 1 in the MVC. Central Catholic and Chelmsford will once again be the teams to beat, while Dracut and Andover (both play in the small school division) return strong squads.

"I think it's going to be a three-team race with us, Central and Chelmsford," DiRocco said. "They've both got a ton of kids coming back, but so do we. My wife usually tells me I'm pessimistic about the team, but I think I'm careful not to expect too much. But this year, I'm pretty confident we're gonna be good."

Tewksbury launches its pre-season schedule this weekend against Division 2 powers Mansfield and Norwood at the King Phillip jamboree in Plainville. The Redmen will also scrimmage Concord-Carlisle and Bishop Fenwick before they open the season at Andover on April 3rd.

"I'm not scheduling any easy pre-season games this year on purpose," DiRocco said. "By the time we get to the season opener against Andover, we'll have a pretty good idea of what we're made of."