EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Phillips Academy senior Lindsay Maroney of Bradford becomes the second local player to commit to the Minutemen, joining North Reading's Stephanie Mayne. They'll join Salem's Whitney Mollica, who was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year as a freshman in 2006.

Maroney, like Mayne, will officially sign with UMass Nov. 8 during the NCAA's early signing period. Maroney said she will receive a partial scholarship the first two years and a full scholarship the last two years. She also received an offer from UConn and was considering Holy Cross and Bowdoin College as well, but UMass had too much in its favor to turn down.

"I like their exercise science department, which I wanted to get into, and I really like the coach (Elaine Sortino)," said Maroney. "It was a combination of academics and softball that was better than the other schools."

There are definitely few schools who can match Sortino's record at UMass. In 26 years, her teams have won 17 Atlantic 10 titles and accumulated a stellar 895-388-4 record. Last year's team, led by Mollica (.394, 12 homers, 61 RBIs), was 41-16 and advanced to the College World Series Super-Regional.

The 5-foot-8 Maroney, like Mollica and Mayne, has a reputation for hitting, finishing with batting averages of .537 and .566 as an Eagle-Tribune All-Star the last two years. Unlike the other two local players, she also possesses great speed and has swiped 20 out of 21 bases during her three-year career with Phillips.

That is what separates Maroney from the other top players Phillips coach Peter Drench has had in his 30-year coaching career.

"She's as good a combination of power and speed as I've ever had," said Drench. "I've had Division 1 players before, but no one has gone on to a level as high as this (UMass). It's pretty exciting."

Maroney played centerfield for the Big Blue as a freshman before moving to shortstop the last two years. UMass coaches have her tentatively slated to play centerfield.

A fine middle hitter for the undefeated Phillips Academy volleyball team, Maroney was an outstanding basketball player for Hunking Middle School in Haverhill, and played basketball for Phillips as a freshman and sophomore, before turning her focus to softball.

This summer Maroney will tune up for her first season at UMass by playing for the New Hampshire Elite 18U team that is coached by Salem coach Harold Sachs.

M&M&M at UMass

In another year, the powerful UMass Amherst softball team will have three local players on its squad.

Name%Hometown%Position&2006 highlights

Whitney Mollica%Windham, N.H.%Third base%Batted .394, Atlantic 10 Player of Year as a freshman

Stephanie Mayne%North Reading%Catcher%Batted .512, Eastern Mass. Div. 3 Player of Year

Lindsay Maroney%Bradford%Centerfield/Shortstop%Batted .566, repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star