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2008 Softball All-Stars
Name%School%Year%Pos.
Britt Hart%Brooks%Jr.%P
Monique Gosselin%Central Catholic%Sr.%SS
Lindsay Martin%Central Catholic%Sr.%CF
Lisa Betances%Haverhill%Jr.%SS
Lucy Francisco%Lawrence%Jr.%SS
Brooke Beaudet%Londonderry%Sr.%P
Andrea Ouellette%Londonderry%Sr.%P
Jessi McCarthy%Methuen%Sr.%SS
Krissy Whitley%North Andover%Jr.%SS
Candace Waldie%North Andover%Soph.%C
Caroline Gattuso%North Reading%Sr.%P
Michelle Hollebeke%Phillips%Sr.%P
Sarah Onorato%Phillips%Frosh.%OF/C
Katie Bettencourt%Salem%Sr.%C
Alex Gallant%Salem%Sr.%P/CF
Morgan Farmer%Sanborn%Soph.%SS
* Steph Barrett%Timberlane%Sr.%P
Annie Hansbury%Timberlane%Sr.%2B
*—Eagle-Tribune MVP
Honorable Mention
Andover — Tricia Martin, Sr., 2B; Nina Yu, Sr., C; Kerry McCarthy, Jr., 1B
Brooks — Monica Berube, Sr., INF; Kristen Sullivan, Jr., OF
Calvary Christian — Kelsey Durant, Soph., P
Central Catholic — Chelsey Guselli, Sr., 3B; Tina Eringis, Sr., 2B; Carla Borrelli, Jr., 1B; Liz Habib, Jr., P
Georgetown — Sarah Erlandson, Frosh., P; Sarah Osborne, Jr., 3B
Greater Lawrence — Angie Gonzalez, Jr., 3B; Paola Gutierrez, Soph., SS
Haverhill — Alicia Briggs, Jr., P; Colleen Whalen, Sr., C
Lawrence — Christine Lozowski, Sr., P; Luz Brenz, Jr., 3B
Londonderry — Molly Rooney, Sr., SS; Cristina Bailey, Sr., 3B
Methuen — Sarra Bergeron, Sr., P; Paige Fleming, Soph., C; Bryanna Giorgio, Soph., DH
North Andover — Alison McCarthy, Sr., OF; Kristin O'Connor, Sr., 1B; Courtney Lynch, Jr., 2B
North Reading — Amanda Poplaski, Sr., CF; Mikaela Carney, Jr., C; Alex Moise, Soph., SS
Pelham — Jennifer Gray, Sr., 2B; Alie Peterson, Sr., C
Pentucket — Paige Sutherland, Sr., SS; Tyne Darke, Jr., OF; Emily Perron, Sr., OF
Pinkerton — Shannon Doherty, Soph., C
Presentation of Mary — Danielle Silva, Frosh., 2B; Alex Noe, Sr., C
Salem — Jen Cabral, Jr., SS; Erica DePinto, Jr., C; Danielle Stoodley, Sr., 1B
Sanborn — Katie Latham, Sr., 2B; Amanda Ross, Sr., CF
Timberlane — Amy Green, Sr., SS; Kristin Crotts, Sr., 1B; Jess Barrett, Soph., C
Whittier — Kendra Hobbs, Jr., CF; Emily Pomer, Soph., OF; Danielle Ryan, Jr., C
BRITT HART, Brooks Junior, Pitcher
Eagle-Tribune Player of Year in 2007 when she led North Andover High to Division 2 state championship game. Not affected by movement of mound back three feet. Struck out 163 batters in 89 innings while compiling an ERA of 1.02. Showed power at plate with three home runs and 13 RBIs. Batted .309. Three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Also starts in soccer (goalie) and basketball (forward).
MONIQUE GOSSELIN, Central Catholic Senior, Shortstop
Batted .424 and led Raiders in runs (25) and on-base percentage (.621). Had three hits against Mass. Gatorade Player of the Year Nicole D'Argento of Ashland in EMass title game. Terrific fielder. All-MVC this year and MVC All-Star previous two years. Three-sport captain. Honorable mention Eagle-Tribune All-Star in volleyball and basketball. Headed to Merrimack College, where she'll play softball.
LINDSAY MARTIN, Central Catholic Senior, Center Fielder
Gets great jump on the ball and boasts tremendous arm. Ideal leadoff hitter. Hit .412 during regular season. Had 10 walks and team high eight stolen bases. All-Scholastic. MVC All-Star as a junior. Three-year starter. Father is North Andover coach Brian Martin. Younger sister Brianna is a promising freshman for Raiders. Played basketball for Division 1 state finalists as a junior. Will play softball at Bryant.
LISA BETANCES, Haverhill Junior, Shortstop
Good contact hitter with impressive power. Finished with .419 average, three triples and four home runs. Repeated as All-MVC. Huge factor in Haverhill tying its highest win total (11) since 1996. "She was far and away our best hitter and she has a great attitude that carried over to the other kids on the team," said coach Bob Walsh. MVC All-Star as a freshman. Shotputter in indoor track.
LUCY FRANCISCO, Lawrence Junior, Shortstop
Three-year starter at shortstop. All-MVC. Fine contact hitter. Batted .453 with on-base percentage of .574. Led team in RBIs and runs scored. Teams often pitched around her. Terrific range with strong arm. Made 55 plays out of 57 balls hit to her. Team's lone captain as a junior. Eagle-Tribune All-Star in soccer playing for Lancers' boys team. Two-year starter in basketball.
BROOKE BEAUDET, Londonderry Senior, Pitcher/Designated Hitter
Two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. One of most feared power hitters and pitchers in New Hampshire. Went 9-1 with 0.73 ERA, striking out 122 batters in 672/3 innings. Led team with six homers and 24 RBIs. Batted .407. Co-captain. Four-year starter. Will play softball while pursuing culinary arts at Johnson & Wales. "She could play Division 1 or at least Division 2," said coach Wayne MacDougall.
ANDREA OUELLETTE, Londonderry Senior, Pitcher
Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Half of Lancers' dynamic two-year 1-2 punch on the mound. Finished season with 1.03 ERA, striking out 64 and walking just five in 61 innings. Batted a team-best .468 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. All-Class L selection. Fanned 16 in 1-0 win over West. Not afraid to play in pain. Three-year starter. Headed to Southern Connecticut, where she will play softball.
JESSI McCARTHY, Methuen Senior, Shortstop
Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Improved on tremendous junior campaign. Batted .532 with 15 extra-base hits, 31 runs and 16 RBIs. Batted .516 in two-year Methuen career after transferring from Everett. MVC Division 1 MVP. All-Scholastic. One of MVC's fastest players. Fabulous fielder with cannon for an arm. Leaning toward Northern Essex. Starter in field hockey and key reserve in basketball.
KRISSY WHITLEY, North Andover Junior, Shortstop
Two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Made smooth transition from third base to shortstop. Superb leadoff batter. Pure hitter. Led Knights in average (.541), doubles (9) and runs (30). Only struck out once in 89 plate appearances and has struck out only six times in three years. "She is clearly one of the top hitters in the state," said North Andover coach Brian Martin. Also a fine field hockey player.
CANDACE WALDIE, North Andover Sophomore, Catcher
Tremendous defensive catcher with superior arm. Made dramatic improvement at the plate. Hit .414 and became one of area's top power hitters with three home runs, eight doubles and two triples. Drove in 37 runs, nearly three times any other Scarlet Knight. At her best in the clutch. CAL Division 1 Player of the Year. Scored 16 goals for Division 1 North finalist field hockey team. Shotputter in indoor track.
CAROLINE GATTUSO, North Reading Senior, Pitcher
Two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Went 17-5 with 0.98 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 152 innings, close to her school record (232 Ks) despite the mound being moved back three feet. Workhorse for third straight year. Batted .425 with nine extra-base hits. Will take post-graduate year at Phillips Academy. "She's such a competitor," said Phillips coach Peter Drench. Helped volleyball team to Division 3 state title.
MICHELLE HOLLEBEKE, Phillips Academy Senior, Pitcher
Went 11-1 with 1.37 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 71 innings. Her lone loss was partially attributed to asthma problems. Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Hit .452 with four home runs, giving her 11 homers in 31 games at Phillips. Played errorless ball in two years. In two years, enjoyed 24-1 record. Will play softball at Colgate. Two-year starter in volleyball. North Reading resident. Began her career at Austin Prep.
SARAH ONORATO, Phillips Academy Freshman, Outfielder
Filled in admirably for graduated Big Blue star Lindsay Maroney. Hit .514 as leadoff hitter, led team in runs with 30, slugged two home runs and had on-base percentage of .575. Struck out only twice all year. Stole five bases in six tries. A natural catcher who also played second base and outfield. "She has a great softball IQ," said coach Peter Drench. North Reading resident.
KATIE BETTENCOURT, Salem Senior, Catcher
Hit .530 with 20 extra-base hits and 23 RBIs as leadoff batter. Scored 34 runs. Outstanding defensive catcher, but can play virtually any position. Three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Salem's female Spring Athlete of the Year. Had a goal and four assists in Blue Devils' run to Class L field hockey title. Daughter of legendary baseball coach Dave Bettencourt. Earned softball scholarship to UMass.
ALEX GALLANT, Salem Senior, Pitcher/Outfielder
Hand injury kept her off mound first month. Went 6-1, striking out 83 in 551/3 innings with five walks and 0.38 ERA. Only loss of her pitching career came in state final. Winning pitcher in title game previous two years. Hit .421 in regular season. Three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Headed to Merrimack on softball scholarship. "We're just really happy to have her," said Warrior coach Elaine Schwager.
MORGAN FARMER, Sanborn Sophomore, Shortstop
Top all-around player for 15-5 Indians. Terrific shortstop. Goes back for balls over her head with the best. Improved hitting from .328 as a freshman to robust .509. Also had team-high 15 RBIs. Capable pitcher when needed. Won middle school title in eighth grade. Very athletic. Also plays basketball. Older sister Lindsay, a former three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star, pitches for UMass Lowell.
ANNIE HANSBURY, Timberlane Senior, Second Base
Rare power-hitting second baseman. Slugged four home runs and had school-record 14 for her career. "And she hit some bombs," said Timberlane coach Mike Sorter. Raised average this year to .433. Tri-captain. Went 2 for 3 in Class L championship game. Four-year letterman, three-year starter. Eagle-Tribune All-Star and four-year starter in field hockey will play that sport at UMass Lowell.
Barrett did it all for champion Owls
When she filled out a preseason information sheet, Timberlane senior pitcher Steph Barrett wanted to make one thing perfectly clear.
"She said, 'Coach, let me bat this year,' " said Owls coach Mike Sorter. "She was pretty emphatic about it."
After leading the Owls to a 20-3 record and their first-ever Class L championship, it's clear that our Player of the Year's confidence was well founded.
Barrett, who was ranked in the top 10 students in a class of 402, batted .429 and had three game-winning hits among her 17 RBIs.
More importantly, the tri-captain hurled eight shutouts while compiling a 1.21 ERA and a 20-3 record. A southpaw with great control, she was at her best in the clutch. She hurled a one-hit gem in the Class L semifinals in a 1-0 win over Concord and came back in the championship game with a two-hit 1-0 shutout over two-time defending champion Salem.
"She did it all for us and there was a lot of pressure on her because she was really our only pitcher," said Sorter. "Many times, I would look over at her and just pray that she stay healthy. We were in trouble if she got hurt."
The All-Class L hurler is headed to Bryant but isn't sure if she'll try out for the team. The Owls are glad they'll return one Barrett, Steph's batterymate and sister Jess.
Former Eagle-Tribune MVPs
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
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