FAIR HAVEN

When you ’ ve got Olivia Bowen in the circle , that is a great piece to build around .

Coach Bill Jones has another player he terms a “ potential pitcher ” in Cass Lanfear .

The Slaters graduated four players but there are some other solid returning players .

Allie McIntire will be an infielder along with Rhiana Carr , last year ’ s shortstop .

Katrina Bean is an outfielder and Cassidy Mack can play in the infield or outfield .

Zoe Cole and Sam Barker are a couple freshmen who have already made a big splash and will be starting , likely in the infield .

Syd Rathbun , Kelsey Lafaso and Sydney Bennett willalso figure prominently someplace .

Carrigan Disorda made the team in her first time out for the sport .

Last year , the Slaters went through the regular season at 10-5 before putting together a run that landed them in the semifinal game at Mount Abraham . One more step and they will find themselves on the big stage at Castleton in June .

MILL RIVER

There is experience in the circle . McKenna Ludden returns with a couple years of varsity pitching under her belt .

Sadira Majorell will be at first base and could get some innings in the circle .

Kelsey Sheehe and Tessa Badgley are second basemen and Britney Blanchard has good range and experience at shortstop .

Grace Gilman and Jess Roberts are

trying out at third base .

Paige St . Lawrence and Emma Baker could both do some catching and Baker will be in the outfield when not behind the plate .

Morgan Nemeth is an outfielder who could also get a look as a catcher with coach Mary Colvin considering alloptions to nail down that important position after a four-year run with Melissa Fay as the backstop .

One exciting surprise was that senior Olivia McPhee came out for softball for the first time after being a state champion in the sprints on the track and field team .

She will give the Minutemen speed on the bases and could help cover plenty of ground in the outfield .

“ I envision her as a pretty decent center fielder ,” Colvin said .

The schedule is tough this year with Mill River moving up in the Marble Valley League where the Division II Minutemen will play more Division I and II teams .

“ We will be playing more teams like Fair Haven , Otter Valley and Springfield ,” Colvin said . “ It will be a tough road .”

MSJ

Softball is back at Mount St . Joseph for the first time in six years but Lyndsey Elms , Tori Tracy and Mary Babb bring that experience from Proctor last year .

“ I ’ m super excited softball is back at the school ,” coach Keleigh LaBlanc said .

Elms will be a catcher and could see time at third base . Babb is an outfielder .

Sophie Markowski presents the infielders with a good target at first base . She brings softballexperience from Otter Valley and Ella Paquin

adds more from West Rutland .

Others include Selena Wilbur , Abi Farrow , Ann Bowery , Nicole Lawyer , Rachel Gregory , Savannah Perry and Athena Euber .

LaBlanc has former Proctor and Castleton pitcher Carly Trombley working with the pitchers .

A number of the softball players were members of the MSJ state championship basketballteam and will be trying to bring that winning mentality to the school ’ s return to softball .

OTTER VALLEY

When you have a few hundred victories and the field is named for you , maybe there is a feeling you can ’ t do much more .

Pattie Candon doesn ’ t feel that way at all and she ’ d love to see the latest edition of Otter Valleysoftballleave its mark . But it will take some time . “ We ’ ve got a lot of learning to do ,” she said . “ We ’ ve just got to keep improving .”

She is happy with the numbers . There are 13 on the varsity squad with enough other players for a full JV team .

Here ’ s what else she has : Experience returning at the corner infield positions . Third baseman Gabby Poalino provides plenty of sock in the middle of the order and Christa Wood gives the infielders confidence when throwing to first base .

Katie Coolidge returns to one of the outfield positions and Livia Bernhardt is back at shortstop .

Shayla Phillips will likely be in left field . Jordan Laraway is another outfielder .

Isabelle Falco ’ s primary position will be second base but she could move around elsewhere in the infield .

There are two catchers : Madison French and Stephanie Palmer .

Freshman Mia Politano is a pitcher , but also gives the Otters versatility .

“ I can see her fitting into almost any slot ,” Candon said .

Carolynn Lafountain is another utility player . She could find herself anywhere in the infield or outfield .

Renee O ’ Connell is another outfielder .

POULTNEY

Poultney has boasted a proud softball program for years . Last season , the Blue Devils slipped to 3-12 .

“ We ’ re trying to get the tradition back ,” coach Tony Lamberton said .

He isn ’ t talking about a complete turn-around this spring . But he is bent on the start of one .

“ I think we will surprise some people by the end of the year ,” he said .

The building process began last summer . The Blue Devils got back into a summer league after a brief hiatus .

It will be a young team with the roster listing three eighth-graders .

Seniors on the team are Tomi Beayon , Kerah Book and Taylor Jordan .

Then there is a gap — the Devils have one junior and no sophomores .

“ We only have 11 players . We didn ’ t know if we were going to have a team ,” Lamberton said .

But that doesn ’ t mean Lamberton is discouraged . He is excited about the potential .

He has a couple of pitchers ; Julia Bruno worked with a pitching coach over the summer and will be the primary starter but freshman Kylie Davis will be worked in for some innings .

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