Sports

2009 Softball All-Stars


Published: July 4, 2009

Softball All-Stars

Name%School%Year%Pos.

*Britt Hart%Brooks%Sr.%P

Carla Borrelli%Central Catholic%Sr.%1B

Sarah Erlandson%Georgetown%Soph.%P

Lisa Betances%Haverhill%Sr.%SS

Lucy Francisco%Lawrence%Sr.%SS

Daniele Crutcher%Londonderry%Soph.%1B

Becca Armstrong%Methuen%Soph.%1B

Sarra Bergeron%Methuen%Sr.%P

Krissy Whitley%North Andover%Sr.%SS

Candace Waldie%North Andover%Jr.%C

Caitlin Reilly%North Reading%Sr.%LF

Sarah Onorato%Phillips%Soph.%C

Cara Chooljian%Pinkerton%Sr.%P

Erica DePinto%Salem%Sr.%C

Morgan Farmer%Sanborn%Jr.%SS

Kendra Hobbs%Whittier%Sr.%CF

* Eagle-Tribune MVP

Honorable Mention

Andover — Kerry McCarthy, Sr., 1B; Meaghan McCarthy, Sr., SS; Jeanette Doucette, Sr., C

Brooks — Kristen Sullivan, Sr., 1B; Andie Missert, Soph., SS; Jackie DiTroia, Frosh., C

Central Catholic — Tina Eringis, Sr., 2B; Brianna Martin, Soph., CF; Erin Swarbrick, Sr., C

Georgetown — Sarah Osborne, Sr., 3B; Mel Prior, Soph., OF

Greater Lawrence — Trudy Goetchius, Soph., SS; Paola Gutierrez, Jr., 3B

Haverhill — Alicia Briggs, Sr., P; Katelyn Demers, Sr., CF

Lawrence — Luz Brenz, Sr., 3B

Londonderry — Theresa Zwart, Soph., P; Nicole Williams, Soph., LF; Emily Kraytenberg, Jr., SS; Sam Nitso, Soph., 3B

Methuen — Paige Fleming, Jr., C; Becca Caterino, Soph., CF

North Andover — Danielle Fournier, Jr., 1B; Courtney Lynch, Sr., 2B

North Reading — Mikaela Carney, Sr., C; Jen Shields, Jr., 3B; Casey Chapman, Jr., P

Pelham — April Blinn, Sr., CF; Kayla Bailey, Sr., LF

Pentucket — Sam Morrow, Sr., SS; Sarah Dickinson, Soph., 3B; Bernadette Corrado, Sr., 1B

Pinkerton — Shannon Doherty, Jr., C; Katie Miller, Sr., 3B; Shannon Murphy, Jr., 1B

Presentation of Mary — Joelle Bechara, Soph., C

Salem — Julia Gray, Jr., RF; Nora Galvin, Jr., P; Steph Cabral, Soph. SS; Amanda Vaudreuil, Jr., 3B

Sanborn — Krissy Romano, Jr., 3B/P; Cara Carter, Jr., LF; Stacie Blades, Jr., P; Ashley Barker, Soph., CF

Timberlane — Courtney Marchand, Sr., SS

Whittier — Emily Pomer, Jr., 2B; Tiffany Mannion, Jr., 3B

CARLA BORRELLI, Central Catholic Senior, First Base

Defensive whiz at first base. Had more than 80 putouts without making an error. Tremendous at scooping low throws. Terrific contact hitter. All-MVC. Hit .458, led team in on-base percentage and struck out only three times. Captured team's "Best All-Around Player" award. Three-year starter. Former pitcher. Tri-captain for state runner-up volleyball team. Headed to Bentley.

SARAH ERLANDSON, Georgetown Sophomore, Pitcher

Team snapped 30-game losing streak this spring and finished at 8-9. Struck out 199 in 113 innings. Began season with 44 Ks in first three games. Belted a three-run homer and fanned 18 vs. Lynnfield. Threw a one-hitter and a no-hitter. CAL Division 2 MVP. Batted team-high .491. Already a three-year starter. Her sister, Jane, an eighth grader, was star pitcher for the JV team.

LISA BETANCES, Haverhill Senior, Shortstop

Batted .414 with four triples and three homers. Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Two-time All-MVC, two-time MVC All-Star. Hit .419 as a junior. "She's probably the second best player I've had at Haverhill behind only Sara Jewett," said 19-year coach Bob Walsh. Expects to play at UMass Lowell next year. Placed third in shot put at Division 1 States in indoor track.

LUCY FRANCISCO, Lawrence Senior, Shortstop

Four-year starter at shortstop. Repeat All-MVC and Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Batted .432 despite being pitched around consistently. Led team in RBIs (23) and runs scored. Terrific range with strong arm. Two-year Eagle-Tribune All-Star in soccer while playing for Lancers' boys team. Three-year starter in basketball. Headed to New Haven on combined soccer/academic scholarship.

DANIELE CRUTCHER, Londonderry Sophomore, First Baseman

Team MVP for Class L-semifinalist Lancers, who had area-best 18 victories. Named to All-Class L team. Batted .355 despite slow start. At her best in tournament play. "She's a leader who really took charge for us," said coach Wayne MacDougall. Former catcher made effortless transition to first base. Plays varsity basketball. Brother, Chris, is a standout pitcher (1.21 ERA) for the baseball team.

BECCA ARMSTRONG, Methuen Sophomore, First Base

Has recorded a hit in 24 straight regular-season games dating back to last year. Led team with .438 average and 20 runs. Added 19 RBIs, slugged two homers and had nine multi-hit games. Was 3 for 3 in key wins over Billerica and Dracut. Former catcher impressed defensively in first year at first base. Also lettered in field hockey.

SARRA BERGERON, Methuen Senior, Pitcher

MVC Division 1 MVP. MVP of Methuen Tournament. All-Scholastic. Had record of 14-5 with 1.15 ERA, 174 strikeouts and just 28 walks in 128 innings. Started every game for four years. Repeat All-MVC. MVC All-Star as a freshman and sophomore. Didn't commit an error on the mound in two years as starter. Co-captain. Led team with eight sacrifice bunts. Will play at Salem State next year.

KRISSY WHITLEY, North Andover Senior, Shortstop

Only the eighth four-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star in softball in last 23 years. Batted .492, her fourth straight year over .475. Only struck out once in 72 plate appearances and seven times in her career. "She's the best hitter I've ever coached," said Brian Martin. Earned softball scholarship to Southern Connecticut. CAL All-Star in field hockey. Her grandfather is the famed talk show host.

CANDACE WALDIE, North Andover Junior, Catcher

All-CAL selection. Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Batted .393 and led team in doubles (6), triples (4), home runs (3) and runs (23). Tremendous defensive catcher with superior arm. Handles pitchers well. "It's like having another coach on the field with me," said coach Brian Martin. Eagle-Tribune All-Star in field hockey. CAL indoor track shot put champ.

CAITLIN REILLY, North Reading Senior, Left Field

Led Hornets to 16-5 record. Hit an impressive .515. Team leader in RBIs with 23. CAL All-Star. Batted .435 as junior. Clean-up hitter last two years. Younger sister, Tarah, is a promising seventh-grade player. Tri-captain in softball and field hockey. Volunteer CCD teacher and volunteers for parks and recreation. Will play softball at Framingham State next year.

SARAH ONORATO, Phillips Academy Sophomore, Catcher

Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Returned to natural position behind plate. Caught every inning of every game. Led 16-4 team with .449 average and 27 RBIs. Repeat All-New England Prep selection. Won Phillips' Keyes Prize for member of sophomore class who displays character, scholarship and athletic ability. Sports writer for school newspaper. North Reading resident.

CARA CHOOLJIAN, Pinkerton Senior, Pitcher

Keyed turnaround from 5-14 to 15-6. Struck out 155 batters in 137 innings while recording 1.28 ERA. Hurled memorable 16 innings in 1-0 Class L quarterfinal loss to Londonderry, allowing just five hits while striking out 15. Possesses outstanding change-up. Hit .324 with 16 RBIs. "She's an energy giver," said coach Terry Bailey. Daughter of legendary Timberlane wrestling coach.

ERICA DePINTO, Salem Senior, Catcher

Terrific defensive catcher. Called all the pitches for staff of four. Clutch hitter. Batted .403. Led team with 27 RBIs and five doubles. Tri-captain. Eagle-Tribune All-Star in field hockey. Determined athlete who has overcome persistent asthma problems. Headed to Plattsburgh St. to study TV and media and play softball. Father Frank DePinto is a well-known baseball/softball umpire.

MORGAN FARMER, Sanborn Junior, Shortstop

Top all-around player for 18-2 Indians. Led region with a .600 average that included 6 home runs, 8 triples, 31 RBIs. Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Hit .509 as sophomore. "Her bat speed is unbelievable, about as fast as I've ever seen," said 12th-year coach Dan Carbone. Also plays basketball and soccer. Older sister Lindsay was a three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star.

KENDRA HOBBS, Whittier Senior, Center Field

Three-year All-Commonwealth Conference Upper Division. Hit .491. Outstanding fielder. "She gets a good jump on the ball, has great speed and has been my leader in the outfield for two years in a row," said coach Cheryl Begin. Tri-captain. Also a starter in volleyball (All-CAC Upper) and basketball. Will play softball at Mass. College of Liberal Arts. Wants to be a science teacher.

Hart caps off great career

Senioritis was never an issue with Brooks senior Britt Hart, our 2009 Player of the Year.

Hart pitched every inning for the 14-3 Green and White. She finished the season with a 0.76 ERA, striking out 210 batters in 118 innings, while recording six shutouts. The victories included a no-hitter and three one-hitters as well as four games with at least 17 strikeouts.

Including her sophomore season at North Andover High, after which she was named the 2007 Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year, Hart had a brilliant career ERA of 0.65, striking out 652, walking just 57 and holding opponents to a .119 batting average.

But it wasn't just Hart's pitching that carried Brooks. She hit a nifty .392 with 20 RBIs. That boosted her career average to .357 with six home runs and 70 RBIs.

For her two-way contributions, Hart was named the Independent School League MVP, was a Big East all-tourney selection and, for the second time, an Eastern Mass. All-Scholastic pick.

She became only the eighth area softball player in the last 23 years to be named a four-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star.

"Britt just had an outstanding senior season and probably had the best career of anyone in Brooks history," said Brooks coach Andrea Heinze. "She's done so much for our program."

Also a starter in soccer (goalie) and basketball, Hart will attend Division 1 Bryant College on a softball scholarship.

Former Eagle-Tribune MVPs

2008 — Steph Barrett, Timberlane; 2007 — Britt Hart, North Andover; 2006 — Alexis Souhlaris, Pinkerton; 2005 — Ashley Waters, Amesbury; 2004 — Renee Clavette, Timberlane; 2003 — Krista Michalczyk, Salem; 2002 — Karen Harrington, Salem; 2001 — Karen Harrington, Salem; 2000 — Emily Chaput, Amesbury; 1999 — Michelle Ridings, North Reading; 1998 — Michelle Ridings, North Reading; 1997 — Nikki Savastano, Amesbury; 1996 — Lauren Russell, PMA; 1995 — Sara Jewett, Haverhill; 1994 — Jennifer Arrajj, Lawrence; 1993 — Katie King, Salem; 1992 — Katie King, Salem; 1991 — Shawna Currier, Lawrence; 1990 — Sue Habinowski, Salem