Michaela Bowen will be a key once again for Bishop Guertin this season. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

It was a hot June Saturday in 2017, and really the last day that local high school softball was in its big heyday.

No offense to the Campbell Cougars, who have appeared in their title games with success. Or Wilton-Lyndeborough, which won a title in 2019.

But that day eight years ago, Bishop Guertin won the Division I crown and Milford the Division II title right after at Southern New Hampshire University. The year before, Alvirne made the finals and Milford also won. The Spartans reached the 2021 Finals in Division II, but haven’t been contenders since.

Will the bigger schools finally come around? We’ll see, they all look to have improved seasons. Six schools have new coaches; in a couple of cases some have simply switched teams:

DIVISION I

The Cardinals have a new coach, as Dakota Bilodeau has moved over from Alvirne, where she had the Broncos as basically the area’s best Division I team a year ago. BG has six key players led by: Pitcher-infielder Michaela Bowen. Then there’s junior center fielder Kennedy Fitzimmons, junior of/ss Meara McDevitt, junior second baseman Sophia Bilodeau, junior infielder Isabella Nutting and sophomore pitcher-outfielder Avery Zaponas.

“This season we have a solid core group of leaders steering the ship,” Bilodeau said. “The team exudes an abundance of energy and determination, promising an exciting journey ahead.”

Nashua South only graduated two, and the key returnees are three-year varsity starters Morgan Gillis (shortstop) and pitcher Jillian Daley, she staff ace who can also play the outfield.

Other Panther keys are junior first baseman Emily Richard, athletic sophomore outfielder Brooke Berger and two transfer sophomores who have a lot of softball experience: Maliyah-Richer-Valentin and Nicki Gates, both catchers.

“The experience these (returning) players received last season will really help our team this season,” South coach Kevin Handy said. “I see our team being more competitive in the outfield and running the bases. We have a lot of speed.”

North has a new coach, Jen Hall, and some numbers, which is what the program has needed. The Titans have a roster of 19, 10 being freshmen, but that’s a good thing as they need an eventual JV team.

“We’re confident this will happen,” noted Hall, who has three returning seniors in Aaralyn Lopez, Kayla Redman and Samantha Hall, plus two key juniors in Hope Blondin and slugger Taylor Joyal.

“We look to grow the program moving forward,” Hall said. “The main goal this season is to focus on the basics and fundamental techniques.”

At Alvirne, The Broncos have a young team and a new coach, but Becky Radziewicz isn’t all that new, as she has been coaching at the middle school level in Hudson for nine years, so she knows her players already.

The starting battery will be the sophomore-duo of Kenzy Pooler and Cori Sevigny. Sevigny will be a catcher and hitter to watch.

The Broncos are led by just three seniors, including shortstop and hitter Alyssa Abbott, a Southern New Hampshire University commit. Junior Avery Willard and senior Jenna Kulick (alternating between third and second) will add to a very solid infield.

“I’ve coached almost all of these players before, so I’m really looking forward to this season and the future,” Radziewicz said.

Merrimack has had a coaching change but lost just one senior, so the Tomahawks, who have been led by pitcher Avery Hui the last three years, could be a contender. Junior pitcher-infielder Lily Dionne and sophomore pitcher-infielder Marissa Nelson join Hui as Telegraph All-Area players who will be huge if back.

DIVISION II

Hollis Brookline, which made the semis a year ago, also has a new coach in Greg Cochrane, who has moved over from Merrimack. It’s senior pitcher-infielder Kailey Disco’s team now after former co-ace Austyn Kump graduated, with four other seniors also leading the way: infielder Mechan Park, infielder-catcher Savannah Duquette, outfielder Katrina Lee, infielder-catcher Oliia Colantuonio, and infielder Emily Tebbetts.

“The players have been very committed and working hard this preseason, adapting to new standards, structure and new systems of play,” Cochrane said. “Our focus is to continue to build, unite, and get stronger as a complete and well-rounded team.”

Milford has a new coach, Bill Draper, who has been an assistant coach in the area but also is known for being the former Wilton-Lyndeborough girls soccer coach. The Spartans are hoping to get back into the tourney after missing it last year and not being quite the same since getting to the finals in 2021.

Key players include senior catcher-shortstop Hannah Harrington, senior second baseman Anna Philbrick, junior first baseman Milly Miles, sophomore catcher-third baseman Mya Coombs and sophomore pitcher-shortstop Alvia Mazzeo.

“Thinks are looking positive this season,” Draper said. “We have most of last year’s team returning and adding three very talented freshmen. We hope to build on what we did last year and incorporate the new players into our system.”

Hollis Brookline’s Katrina Lee, shown arriving safely into second ahead of the throw in a game last year vs. Campbell, is back for the Cavaliers this season. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

Souhegan is hoping to also make strides.

“We’re expecting a very competitive season after three long years of building the program back up,” Sabers coach Hannah Cochran said.

And why shouldn’t they? They’re led by two All-State junior captains, catcher-shortstop Isabelle Brandt and first base-pitcher Gabby Torres, while two freshmen, catcher/third baseman Eva York and catcher/infielder Violet Quesnel, bring up the talent level.

“We have many power hitters, lots of sped, and comfortable depth to all positions,” Cochran said.

Remember, Campbell is now a Division II team, having moved up last year, falling in the quarterfinals. The Cougars have four starters back, led by Leann Ramos, Julianna Pinciaro, Haley Hebert and Theresa Ivas. They also feel that led by junior Ivas, there’s pitching depth with freshmen Katie Fluet and Izzy LaRose.

“Overall we’re very excited,” second year head coach Rick Gamache said, “as we will have a very solid squad this year.”

DIVISION IV

The Warriors of Wilton-Lyndeborough graduated five seniors from a tourney team, but had two current seniors eligible to return in infielder-outfielder Savannah Dubois and pitcher Kay Miller (also infielder-outfielder). It will be a young team, but the Warriors are usually up to the task.

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