Three defending North regional large college softball champions would like to go a phase further this period and are amid the 5 groups to observe in the North this coming time.
Oxford Hills of South Paris was the A North champ, Nokomis of Newport was the B winner and Bucksport triumphed in C but all endured near losses in the state championship online games.
Windham edged Oxford Hills 3-1 even though Nokomis and Bucksport missing 2-1 to York and Hall-Dale of Farmingdale, respectively.
Hermon and Skowhegan are the other groups to maintain an eye on.
Here is a look at the 5 teams in alphabetical purchase with their ultimate information from a year ago.
Bucksport (19-1)
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Mike Carrier’s Bucks missing Penobscot Valley Meeting Pitcher and Player of the 12 months Ella Hosford to graduation.
But Hosford skipped six game titles thanks to injuries a calendar year ago and junior Natalie Simpson took her place in the pitching circle and created a 6- history.
That really should demonstrate to be helpful simply because Simpson is much more geared up to presume the role of the team’s ace this year and she is complemented by 4 All-PVC Course C alternatives in 1st teamers Jetta Shook, Sam Cyr and Lily Chiavelli and third-teamer Alivia Shute.
Provider mentioned Simpson has a lot more velocity this period “and her breaking balls are improved.”
Shook is an fantastic catcher and the complete infield returns such as sophomore initial baseman Allie Hanscom and seniors Chiavelli, Cyr and Jayden Tripp at 2nd, shortstop and 3rd, respectively.
All-PVC very first workforce outfielder Allie Pickering graduated but Shute and Lexi Raymond are returning starters with Raymond in heart and Shute shifting from remaining subject to correct field.
“We should hit actually properly this year,” explained reigning PVC Class C Coach of the Calendar year Carrier who has led his Golden Bucks to 6 C North titles and four state championships around the previous 11 seasons.
Bucksport begins its time by web hosting Course B Ellsworth at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Hermon (15-4)
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Steph Biberstein’s Hawks attained the B North title video game a yr ago, losing to Nokomis, 6-2.
The Hawks have dropped shortstop-pitcher and PVC Class B Player of the Yr Lyndsee Reed to graduation but just about every person else is again including All-PVC B initially staff catcher Molly Simcox and second staff picks Braelynn Wilcox and Addy Waning.
“We’ve returned functional, knowledgeable gamers at each and every situation who have been performing true challenging and are inspired for the time,” said PVC Mentor of the Calendar year Biberstein.
Biberstein has the luxurious of acquiring two pitchers with experience, a righty in Wilcox and a lefty in Mikelle Verrill. Verrill was a freshman past season and pitched a 3-strike shutout to conquer Lawrence of Fairfield 3- in the semifinals.
Biberstein also has a promising freshman pitcher in Becca Balmas.
The infield will have Waning at third, Wilcox at shortstop, Olivia Johnston at second and Sophie Peterson at to start with.
Biberstein claimed Peterson has experienced a “phenomenal preseason” and she is expected to be one of the offensive catalysts together with Waning, Johnston and infielder Norra Idano.
Ava Dean, Kenzie Gallant and Taylor Sherrard offer Hermon with a seasoned outfield.
Dean is the only senior on the team and is a “great leader” in accordance to Biberstein.
Hermon will be searching for its regional championship due to the fact back again-to-back appearances in 2014 and ‘15. Hermon gained the condition in 2014.
Hermon opens at Lawrence at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Nokomis (19-1)
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The Warriors have just one of the state’s finest pitchers in senior Mia Coots, the two-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Convention Course B Player of the Calendar year who is closing in on 700 career strikeouts.
Nokomis graduated foremost hitter Megan Watson but her place as the catcher has been taken over by Hallie Coots, Mia’s freshman sister.
“Those two get the job done genuinely properly collectively,” explained Nokomis head coach J.D. McLellan. “I graduated (most of) my offense. Ten household operates. But Mia will preserve us in each individual recreation.”
McLellan will be relying on the Coots sisters and juniors Addie Hawthorne, the very first baseman, and third baseman Jenna Sawtelle to give offense. He will also be searching for seasoned outfielders Raegan King and Sydney King to chip in.
“Our goal is to win a single additional activity than we did previous calendar year but it’s likely to be hard. Our program isn’t uncomplicated,” claimed McLellan, who guided his crew to its to start with ever regional title a yr ago.
He feels he does have 3 outstandng leaders in Mia Coots, Sawtelle and Hawthorne and they will aid the 1st-12 months starters adapt.
Nokomis entertains Oceanside of Rockland at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday in its opener.
Oxford Hills (18-2)
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The Vikings received their second regional crown in 5 several years many thanks to the Morse sisters, freshman pitcher Kyeria and senior catcher Kaydence.
The two have been on the All-KVAC 1st team and Kaydence was the Participant of the Calendar year.
Coach Cindy Goddard has the luxurious of depth in the circle simply because two other sophomores, Cameron Mayhan and Charlotte McGreevey, also have high-quality arms but both of those had been confined thanks to accidents very last time.
“Our pitching workers will be stronger this 12 months and we have 3 unique types of pitchers,” explained Goddard.
Morse, Mayhan and McGreevey are also good hitters, according to Goddard, so the two of them who are not pitching will be in the lineup. McGreevey is the starting off very first baseman.
Maddy Miller will be an offensive weapon and is coming off an All-KVAC to start with group eason. She can engage in shortstop or 3rd foundation.
It was Miller’s walk-off base hit that gave the Vikings a 4-3 gain more than Skowhegan in the A North last.
Second baseman Gigi DeVivo gives them some quickness and Attie Campbell is a veteran who can catch or perform quick.
Outfielder Tristen Derenburger provides Goddard with another residence run threat.
The Vikings did reduce All-KVAC 2nd group outfielder Miah Gallan to graduation in addition to Kaydence Morse.
“The a person element we’re lacking is we do not have as significantly velocity as we have had in the past,” explained Goddard, whose Oxford Hills groups haven’t shed far more than three standard time video games in a year given that 2017.
“I’m a bunt-and-run form of man or woman but we’re heading to have to count extra on ability hitting this calendar year.”
Oxford Hills kicks off its year at household in opposition to Brunswick at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
Skowhegan (16-3)
You will be challenging-pressed to locate a softball team in the condition that has been more productive than the River Hawks the earlier six seasons.
The River Hawks have posted a common period history of 89-7 over that span.
Final calendar year could have been a difficult one for the River Hawks since ace righthander Sierra Carey decided not to engage in.
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But the River Hawks did not pass up a conquer as Lily Noyes stepped in and gained All-KVAC initial-group honors for her functionality in the circle.
“She took benefit of her possibility. She threw extremely properly final calendar year,” explained coach Lee Johnson who expects her to be even superior this season.
“She is a single of the toughest-operating young ones I have at any time coached,” explained Johnson, the league’s Coach of the Yr very last season.
He has an All-KVAC 1st team middle fielder in Annabelle Morris and her twin sister Madelyn is a prime-notch shortstop.
Johnson also has some successful veterans at third in Natalie Gilman, behind the plate in Carlie Jarvais and in appropriate area in Arabel Linkletter.
They did get rid of All-KVAC first workforce first baseman Callaway LePage and second-group left fielder Jackie Dodge.
“There’s no query we have the opportunity to be even more robust this 12 months. Callaway and Jackie went previously mentioned and further than what we expected from them and we require more gamers to do that this calendar year,” claimed Johnson who has led his River Hawks to four regional titles in 7 decades and six in 10.
They captured state titles in 2014 and ‘21.
Skowhegan performs its opener at household from Camden Hills of Rockport at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20.