HANOVER

Coach: Megan Sobel (first season).

Last year: 1-14, missed playoffs.

League: NHIAA Division II.

Returners: Juniors — Abby Campfield (OF/P), Emma Campfield (SS/1B), Bella Hunt (P/IF/OF), Jess Lobb (P/3B), Rhea Veerareddy (IF/OF). Sophomores — Zabava Halchenko (OF), Clancy Killebrew (OF/2B), Lily Smith (C/IF), Kit Tullar (2B/SS/3B).

Newcomers: Junior — Sophie Wise (C/IF/OF). Sophomore — Shade Timmons (OF/3B/P). Freshmen — Ellenora Cary (2B/OF), Kinnie Melamut (OF).

Outlook: The Bears may not have any seniors, but seven starters are back as Sobel, Hanover’s athletic director and a former college softball player at Lafayette, takes over as head coach. Wise switched over from track and field this spring, and Cary, a former baseball player, is also a top newcomer.

“We have a solid junior class and look forward to seeing them continue to develop,” Sobel said. “With more players committing to playing softball in the offseason, we hope this translates to being a more competitive team.”

HARTFORD

Coach: Danielle Tenney (third season).

Last year: 11-7, lost in quarterfinals to Middlebury.

League: VPA Division II.

Returners: Senior — Marina Grassi (P). Juniors — Rebecca Keelty (2B), Miranda Rogers (P), Madison Willey (SS), Logan Evans (1B), Harper Robinson (C). Sophomore — Paige Vielleux (OF).

Newcomers: Freshmen — Faith Brown (C), Madylyn Matheson (OF), Serenitee Martel (P).

Outlook: Tenney has already orchestrated a remarkable program turnaround with the Hurricanes, and they feel they are ready to take that next step even with a small varsity roster. Grassi will once again carry the pitching staff, and the experienced junior class will lead the way offensively.

“We have the talent and the girls are smart,” Tenney said. “Hartford was the team no one took seriously, it was the program that was dying, and now we are going to be the team to beat.”

LEBANON

Coach: Bethany Robinson (second season).

Last year: 2-14, missed playoffs.

League: NHIAA Division II.

Returnees: Senior — Ashlee Blashock (INF). Juniors — Aylah Salls (OF), Abby Braley (P/INF), Emma Allen (OF), Nitara Murray (P/INF), Olivia Pollard (INF). Sophomores — Rya Wykes (P/INF).

Newcomers: Senior — Natalia Somoff (INF). Sophomore — Laura Hines (OF). Freshmen — Ava Kaercher (P/INF), Andy Lindquist (C), Savannah Therriault (OF), Colbie Fratzel (OF).

Outlook: The Raiders have won 10 games total during their past seven seasons. Despite this, the NHIAA required the program to move back up to Division II because its three-year petition to play down a level has expired. Three seniors graduated after last season and two of the better players who remained transferred to Mascoma.

On a bright note, Kaercher is a talented transfer pitcher from Arizona and Somoff started last season for Hanover. The Raiders issued roughly a dozen walks per game last season and committed hundreds of wild pitches, including 47 during their opener.

MASCOMA

Coach: Christine Labore (second season).

Last year: 1-15, missed playoffs.

League: NHIAA Division III.

Returners: Junior — Alyssa Webster (P/IF). Sophomores — Anna Sullivan (C/IF), Abigail Waugh (OF/IF/P).

Newcomers: Senior — Piper Morgan (IF/OF). Juniors — Madison Jansch, Natalee Pettersen (P/IF), Sophia Taylor (C/OF). Sophomore — Jilliane Ballou (OF). Freshmen — Aaralyn Chiasson (OF), Makenna Houston (IF/P/OF), Sara McKinney (IF/OF), Aubrey Meyveagaci (C/IF).

Outlook: “I am excited to see the girls play this season,” Labore said. “We have the makings of a solid infield, and have some depth in our pitching. I am also excited to see how our offense comes together. With the pre-season being so short it will be interesting to see how quickly everything comes together, but I am pretty optimistic with what I am seeing so far.”

STEVENS

Coach: Melissa Nichols (22nd season).

Last year: 13-4, lost in Division II quarterfinals to Kingswood.

League: NHIAA Division III.

Returners: Seniors — Josephine Aiken (3B), Summer Barrette (OF). Juniors — Kiley Bundy (SS), Elise Smith (OF). Sophomores — Zoie Stevens (C), Mia Herbert (P), Brianna Marsh (OF/2B), Rhea Quick (1B).

Newcomers: Juniors — Alana O’Connell (OF), Eva Sarapin (OF). Sophomore — Sarah Wheeler (3B). Freshmen — Bailee St. Sauveur (1B/OF), Anna Aiken (P/IF), Mariah O’Connell (OF).

Outlook: The Cardinals were a top-four seed in Division II last year, and now drop back to D-III with plenty of versatility at their disposal. Three pitchers will give opponents different looks from the circle, and Bundy, Aiken and Stevens should again pace the offense.

THETFORD

Coach: Michelle Morgan (second season).

Last year: 5-8, lost in first round to Windsor.

League: VPA Division III.

Returners: Seniors — Taylor West (1B), Madi Mousley (3B). Junior — Kelsey Bogie (SS). Sophomores — Ashlyn Osgood (CF), Rebecca Osgood (2B), Eiea Morgan (C), Makayla Stanley (P), Paige Tremblay (P), Grace Elmer (RF), Elizabeth Waterman (RF).

Newcomer: Freshman — Natalie Perry (LF).

Outlook: The Panthers are still young, but they are experienced — six of their seven sophomores were on the team as eighth-graders. This means everyone is pretty much set into her position, with Stanley leading the way in the pitcher’s circle.

“This team works hard and has incredible chemistry,” Michelle Morgan said. “In practice thus far I have seen significant improvement at the plate and in the field. We’re hoping to develop our young sophomore pitchers and become a top contender.”

WHITE RIVER VALLEY

Coach: John Rhoades (third season).

Last year: 1-16, lost in first round to BFA-Fairfax.

League: VPA Division III.

Returners: Seniors — Carleigh Robinson (P/3B), Liyah Fisk Turkvan (1B), Rachel Puopolo (OF). Juniors — Tanner Drury (SS/P), Madisin Kill (2B/SS), Sadie Kinsley (OF), Joss Ray (SS), Abigail Rainville (OF), Isabella Ashley (3B/P).

Newcomers: Sophomore — Natalie Irish (1B). Freshmen — Ava Patch (1B), Dani Flint (2B), Max Tuller (OF/C), Tess Ballou (SS/P), Abigail Jarvis (OF/P), Mackenzie Vesper (C), Olivia Wheeler (2B), Julia Bowen (OF/P), Vanessa Crawford (OF/P), June Brown (OF), Olivia Tuller (3B), Aubrey Mackenzie (2B).

Outlook: After a perfect regular season in 2021, the Wildcats won just one game last spring with a very different roster. This year’s team is among the deepest in the Upper Valley and likely one of the deepest in Vermont Division III, with a strong crop of juniors joined by a huge influx of freshmen.

WINDSOR

Coach: Wendy Moody (first season).

Last year: 4-13, lost in quarterfinals to Vergennes.

League: VPA Division III.

Returners: Seniors — Ash LaVanway (OF), Lisa Todd (OF). Juniors — Fern Day (OF), Sydney Perry (IF), Amber Simonds (IF). Sophomores — Brianna Barton (IF), Gianna Felice (UT), Matteson Tenney (OF), Piper Vivian (P/UT).

Newcomers: Senior — Helen Ennis (OF). Freshmen — Molly Burke (P/IF), Cassie Clark (C/P/UT), Mackenzie Daniels (OF), Mackenzie Kleefisch (C/IF), Hannah Tenney (UT).

Outlook: Moody, previously the junior varsity coach, takes over the varsity Yellowjackets this year after just one season under Kelsey Mason.

Pitcher Peyton Richardson will be hard to replace, and several players will be moving to new positions, but this is an athletic group with multi-sport athletes all over the field.

WOODSTOCK

Coach: Angela Allard (second season).

Last year: 6-6, lost in Division II first round to Otter Valley.

League: VPA Division III.

Returners: Seniors — Jordan Allard (IF), Dillon Moss (C). Juniors — Charley Crowley (IF), Laura Hendee (OF). Sophomores — Anna Robidoux (UT), Lucia Rullo (OF).

Newcomers: Freshmen — Mimi Kanda-Olmstead (UT), Paige Stone (OF), Cameron Allard (IF), Kaitlyn Burres (OF), Caleigh Webb (OF). Eighth graders: Makayla Gibson (IF), Chevy Wetherby (OF), Amelia Hurd (UT).

Outlook: Among the youngest squads in the area, the Wasps return just three starters and bring in five freshmen and three eighth graders. Dropping from D-II to D-III should help Woodstock stay afloat as Angela Allard continues to rebuild the program.

Benjamin Rosenberg can be reached at brosenberg@vnews.com or 603-727-3302.

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