Updates after press time:
Melrose defeats Watertown 19-7 (April 4)
Melrose falls to Belmont 16-0 (April 2)
Melrose falls to Wayland 19-5 (April 1)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MELROSE—Last season was a rough one for the Melrose High softball team as they went 0-19 overall and 0-14 in the Middlesex League. It was a young team that had no seniors.
When practice opened back on March 17, second-year head coach Stephen Turner welcomed back 11 veterans.
Two of them are this year’s senior captains, center fielder Maggie Turner and first baseman Ava Viola.
Viola, who was also a captain last year, was Melrose’s lone Middlesex League Freedom Division All-Star last year.
She led the team in several offensive categories as she had a batting average of .446 with eight runs batted. She had a slugging percentage of .667 and an on-base percentage of .483
The two other seniors back are Riley Jones (pitcher- first baseman) and Lucy O’Neill (utility). Sophie Brown (catcher), Emi Judge (pitcher), Brynn Baker (outfielder), Sydney Bowles (left fielder), and Anna Scalfano (second baseman) are the five juniors back. The two tenth-graders returning are outfielder Kate Stratford and third baseman Penny Schultz.
During the two-week pre-season Melrose had four scrimmages as they took on Lynnfield, Andover, Malden and Lynn English.
“We did a lot of experimenting,” pointed out assistant coach Frank Sorrenti, as the coaches tried the girls are different positions. “We did compete in most of those games.”
This season, Melrose will play 18 total games with 15 league games and three non-league contests. Wayland, Danvers, and Lynn Classical are the three non-league opponents.
On Tuesday, Melrose fell, 19-5, to guest Wayland in the season opener at Pine Banks.
“They have a very good team,” said coach Turner.
Viola led he offense, going 2 for 3 with a walk. Scalfano had a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“Our goal is to be more competitive this year,” said Turner. “We have both of our pitchers back and several veterans in the field. On offense, we have to put more balls in play and take advantage of our opponents mistakes.”
On Apr. 4, Melrose will host Wakefield at 4:15 pm. They then visit Reading on Apr. 7 and welcome Winchester on Apr. 9.
Both of those games will also start at 4:15 pm.