HOLDEN — If you happen to believe there is strength in numbers, then this year’s Wachusett Regional High varsity softball team may be just the right fit for your spring sports enthusiasm.
With no fewer than two dozen players ready to suit up on game days, head coach Jason Lanpher has a conundrum that any coach would love to have: having so many talented and experienced student-athletes that warrant playing time. For the first time in his lengthy coaching career, Lanpher opens the 2024 campaign with more players than uniforms.
“My senior class and junior class are really big talent-wise, so we’re trying to keep everyone involved, but these are just talented kids,” Lanpher said. “We really have an abundance up here.”
The team had yet to commence with games at press time. Inclement weather had left playing fields drenched and unplayable. Still, the team, which advanced to the state semifinals a season ago, is ready as ever, looking to string together some early season victories.
“It’s important to get off to a fast start,” said senior captain Bella Giaquinto. “We want to show other teams how dominant we are. We have some great new talent this year. Having this team come together is more like setting up a family. The goal up here is to unite us early on in the season, and as long as we can get along off the field, it’s easier to work better on the field when we are working together.”
“Getting off to a strong start sets the tone for the rest of the season and how we’re going to play. It shows how ready we are for the season to start,” said fellow senior captain Taylor Stuart.
“We bring the same intensity on the field whether it’s home or away. We want to show that we’re a strong team working together. We set expectations, and I fully expect that we’ll fulfill those expectations.”
“I think it’s really important for us to get out of the gates strong and keep going,” added senior captain Avery Laitala. “We have a chart that we read off at the beginning of the year, all of us together as a team.”
“I feel like this year we’ve come together as a team more than any before,” said Isabel Moreno, also a senior captain who carries a hot bat and will be counted on to be strong offensively. “We’re all really supportive of one another, working together for a common goal.”
Lanpher will look to his captains for the leadership that will serve the team best. Position-wise, things remain in flux due to weather and decisions on how to best use the plethora of talent of this 2024 group.
“We’ll have Shayna (Bakun) and Taylor (Stuart) pitching, leading us in the pitcher’s circle, with Sophie Moriarty, a sophomore coming up as our third pitcher,” Lanpher said. “Tiegan Walsh, McKenzie Caron and Kendall Grady really lead up that batting order. They’re all younger kids leading off the order with Caitlin Ciccone. Any nine we put on the field can hit the ball.
“Catcher is probably my strongest position. I have five or six players that can catch, but the bulk of it will be McKenzie Caron. I don’t want to leave kids out, but Amanda Roche, Esmee Frohock, Bella Giaquinto, Isabel Moreno will make a difference in the outfield. In the infield, it will be Tiegan Walsh and Caitlin Ciccone will make up the middle. First and third base are unsettled right now. We still have some figuring out to do.
“Our expectation every year is to compete for a state title. It’s a high bar, but we set it high for a reason.”
“We have very high expectations. We want to compete at the highest level,” echoed Giaquinto. “That’s our goal every day. Whether we’re in a game or practicing, we’re always working for our end goal, which is a state championship, and I do believe we have full capabilities to go all the way.”
Members of the 2024 Wachusett Regional High varsity softball team are seniors Laurel Field, Isabella Giaquinto, Avery Laitala, Ruby Lepore, Isabel Moreno, Amanda Roche and Taylor Stuart; and juniors Shayna Bakun, McKenzie Caron, Isobel Connor, Caitlin Ciccone, Esmee Frohock, Kendall Grady, Giana Johanson, Ella Snyder and Tiegan Walsh.
Swing players — players allowed to switch back and forth from varsity and JV — are Avery Kremer, Aubrey Stahli, Gabby Geloso, Teegan Lanpher, Morgan Lucas, Sophia Moriarty, Addison Scoble and Cassandra Wilkins.
Team captains are Stuart, Moreno, Giaquinto and Laitala.
