By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — For the first time in 40 years, the Wakefield High softball team has a league title to defend.
The Warriors finished last season with a 9-12 overall record and 9-5 league record, earning a share of the Middlesex League Freedom Division title by tying for first with Wilmington and Burlington. It was the first league title for Wakefield since 1982. The Warriors earned the No. 23 seed in the Div. 2 state tournament and fell to No. 10 Plymouth South on the road, 5-0 in the first round.
“We are looking to build off of the momentum that we put together last year,” said head coach Chris Tolios who is beginning his 7th year at the helm. “Though I told them last year is over and we have to look ahead and focus one game at a time this season, we do know that last year set the expectation. We want it to be the norm year in and year out where we are in the conversation for the league title and working to get as high of a ranking as possible in the state tournament.”
The Warriors have a great foundation of returning players to help accomplish those goals. All four All-Stars from last season will return to Meghan Burnett Field at Blatz Park: senior captain Jade Waterhouse, junior Kathryn Sliski, junior Jackie Sullivan and sophomore Molly Burns.
Waterhouse, an outfielder, has been Wakefield’s leadoff hitter since her freshman year.
Sliski will serve as Wakefield’s ace for the third season in a row. She will be joined in the rotation by sophomore Kayla Shaw.
Waterhouse and Sliski will be joined in the middle of the batting order by Sullivan (1B) and Burns (SS) along with sophomores Chloe Seto (C) and Caroline Burns (RF) who are coming off of strong freshman seasons and will be important pieces for the Warriors offensively and defensively.
With plenty of talent and experience, Wakefield will go to work on defending their title while also hoping to accomplish even more this season. The team had multiple close games slip away last year, losing six by just one run, all of which they were leading going into the later innings.
“The focus this year is to finish games and it starts with having a resilient mentality,” said Tolios. The Warriors did well to even be in those games against some top-notch teams including Arlington, Lexington, Reading and Newton North. This year, they want to finish strong. “The next step is to close those games out and hopefully flip our season and be in a spot that we can be proud of.”
For that continued progress, the Warriors will lean on captains Gmelch and Waterhouse.
“They are two girls who have earned the role; both four-year varsity players and consistent starters and key players for the program,” said Tolios. “Since I first met them, they’ve always been kids that I go to and talk with about anything as it relates to the program. They have qualities that you don’t see in most high school athletes and I couldn’t be more fortunate to have them in my program.”
Unfortunately, Wakefield will be without Gmelch on the field this year as she suffered a torn ACL in the fall. She will continue to be there for her teammates and help lead them more as a coach this season.
“She is still the awesome presence and leader that I knew she would be – she isn’t letting her injury deter her and she is a team-first kid which is something I always have and always will admire about her,” said the coach.
Meanwhile, Waterhouse will lead by example on the field.
“She has already shown that she is going to be the leader on the field and I think many girls look to her and follow her because they know that she’s been there and has done it,” said Tolios. “She’s very steady and consistent, both production wise and emotionally – she sets the tone for us as a team and is the glue that holds us together.”
Wakefield started their season with an impressive, 15-3 win over Arlington at home. The Spy Ponders beat Wakefield 6-5 last year. Sliski got the win on the mound and the Warriors were led offensively by Molly Burns (2-for-3, HR, 4RBI), Seto (2-for-4, 5RBI) and sophomore Bella Burns (3-for-4).
Wakefield fell to North Andover — one of multiple tough non-league matchups they scheduled for this season — 9-1 on Friday and will bring a 1-1 record into their matchup with Belmont (2-0) today, 4:15 p.m. at home. The Marauders also beat Wakefield 6-5 last year, creating another opportunity for the Warriors to seek some revenge.
“Overall, we’re just really looking forward to the season,” said Tolios. “We have a big team but it’s a group of kids I wouldn’t trade. We enjoy being together and they put in the work day in and day out – I think we are all hungry, coaches included, for the weather to turn and for us to get in the flow of the season and hopefully have the girls’ hard work pay off and allow us to make a little noise.”