Belmont grad McLaughlin lifts Maritime softball

May 2, 2010

By Marvin Pave, Globe Correspondent

Former Belmont High standout Holly McLaughlin didn’t play softball as a freshman at Massachusetts Maritime Academy last spring because a shortage of players forced the season to be suspended.

However, under first-year head coach Ashley Lorance this spring, the Buccaneers are back on the diamond, and although the victories have been scarce, McLaughlin has done her best to bring respectability to the rebuilding program.

In 22 starts, mainly at third base, she was leading Mass. Maritime with a .382 batting average, seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples), and 17 runs batted in.

Her season highlights include six hits in a doubleheader against Becker on April 15, and four RBIs in a season-opening doubleheader sweep of Lyndon State on March 20.

McLaughlin has been selected to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference weekly honor roll three times. For the week ending April 24, she batted .471 ( eight for 17) with two doubles and four RBIs in six games, an outburst that included three hits and two runs knocked in during a 12-5 loss to Fitchburg State.

“It’s been huge to come from absolutely nothing to having fun playing softball again,’’ said McLaughlin, who has been pressed into service as a pitcher in six games, two as a starter, on the 13-member team.

“I never pitched in high school and we only had one pitcher, who was recently injured, and I’d to try it again next season if they need me. We have a couple of women who never played softball before, so helping them with the fundamentals and seeing them improve has been awesome. We’re all going to stick with it.’’

McLaughlin, a two-sport captain at Belmont, has been a leader on and off the field, according to Lorance.

“Holly is a wonderful example of student-athlete balance and she’s done whatever she’s been asked in helping us to reestablish our program,’’ said Lorance. “Her dedication to the program, to her teammates, to her studies and to her regiment is testament to her hard work and toughness.’’

A National Honor Society member at Belmont High who has also volunteered for Special Olympics, McLaughlin has a 3.45 grade-point average as a marine safety and environmental protection major at Mass. Maritime. She was one of 14 student-athletes at the Buzzards Bay school honored as part of a national program, and was also selected to the Massachusetts Maritime Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.