Spring is always a season of renewal, and that sense of a new beginning is bringing both excitement and enthusiasm to the Massachusetts Maritime softball program.

The Buccaneers are back on the diamond for the first time in two years under the tutelage of first year Head Coach Ashley Lorance, who also serves as the Academy’s Head Volleyball Coach, and the former three-sport standout at Colby-Sawyer is building her squad to climb the ladder of success in the always-competitive Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference race.

Two letterwinners for the 2008 team are back in the fold for Massachusetts Maritime this spring, as senior captain Jess O’Meara (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) is the lone member of the Buccaneer Class of 2010 to dot the roster and will provide valuable leadership and experience at shortstop, as she batted .253 with 19 hits (including a double, triple and homer) and 15 RBI during her sophomore campaign.  Lorance describes O'Meara as "a standout two-sport athlete throughout her career who has been both a leader on the field and in the regiment.  Having that kind of leadership is what will take this season from rebuilding to being something great."

Junior Katie Maynard (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) is the other returning letterwinner for Massachusetts Maritime this spring, as she lends experience to the Buccaneer lineup at second base after appearing in 27 contests as a freshman and chipping in with nine hits and a pair of runs.

Sophomore Holly McLaughlin (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) is the only other upperclassmen for Lorance’s crew this season, as she will serve in a valuable utility role for Massachusetts Maritime.  The rest of the Buccaneer roster is comprised of freshmen, as a total of 11 rookies will be looking to make an impact on the squad’s fortunes this spring.  Freshmen Suzanne Marino (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park), Laura Basile (Cambridge, Mass./Mount Saint Joseph) and Megan Thibeault (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) will be vying for spots and first, second and third base, respectively, for Lorance this spring, while the trio of freshmen Erin Eastman (Harwich, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth), Adely Castaneda (South Bay, Fla./Glades Central) and Alex Burgess-Chrost (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) will comprise the Buccaneer outfield.  Freshman Rachel Johnson (South Chatham, Mass./Chatham) will handle the catching duties for Massachusetts Maritime, and the freshman tandem of Janelle Beaulieu (Buzzards Bay, Mass./Mount St. Charles), Sarah Click (Buzzards Bay, Mass./Bourne), Stephanie Saulenas (Tolland, Mass./Southwick-Tolland) and Anna Whittemore (Weatogue, Conn./Simsbury) will comprise Lorance’s staff inside the circle this spring.

Massachusetts Maritime begins the 2010 season on Saturday, March 20^th by hosting Lyndon State in a non-league doubleheader at Allison Rollins Field beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT.