Buccaneer Softball Set for 2019 Season
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – Head softball coach, Kathleen L'Abbe, enters her second season as the program's head coach after a 3-25 finish her first year. The team's 2018 wins included a sweep of Pine Manor, 17-0 and 12-0, and a conference victory, 6-0, against Westfield State. The team's win over Westfield State was the program's first conference victory in 168 games, dating back to 2005 when they beat Westfield State 3-2.
The 2019 team is comprised of 12 players, nine returners and three freshman, prior to spring try-outs. Notable returners for the team are 2019 captains, junior outfielder Jill Corazzini (Paxton, Mass) and junior catcher Madison Ovadek (Greenland, N.H.). Last season, Corazzini led the team with a .347 batting average and .382 on-base percentage, racking up 25 hits in 72 at-bats and four walks while only striking out eight times. Her 12 runs scored were second best on the team behind, now junior, Melissa Cochrane (Walpole, Mass) who came across the plate 14 times. Ovadek finished the year with a .247 average and 10 RBI.
The Buccaneers have their two top pitchers back from 2018 as well as the aforementioned Cochrane and Jenna Nalette (Goffstown, N.H.) are both back for their junior campaigns. Last season, Cochrane started 13 games, threw 10 complete games and earned the victory in one of the two wins against Pine Manor. Nalette was responsible for two wins, one against Pine Manor and the other against Westfield state to break the long MASCAC winless streak. Jenna pitched in 14 games, starting 11 and led the Bucs with a 5.50 earned run average.
The team's schedule is comprised of 38 games, 19 double headers, which will be played in 42 days between the season and home opener against Rhode Island College on March 16th and the regular season finale against Worcester State on April 27th.
They will begin the season with four games at home the weekend of March 16th and 17th against RIC and NVU-Lyndon. Following a week of no weekday games, the team will travel to Northfield, Vermont to take on Norwich in their first road games of the season.
MASCAC play begins on March 30th against Fitchburg State at home at Allison Rollins field. The team will close out the month of March with a trip to western Massachusetts to play Bay Path on the 31st.
April begins with five consecutive home double headers which includes the opponent the team beat twice last year, Pine Manor in the home portion of a home and home with the Gators in 2019. The 10 game stretch also includes conference match ups with Salem State and Bridgewater State.
The team will only host two more sets of games the rest of the regular season, Framingham State in league play on the 15th of April and non-conference opponent Wentworth on the 25th, which will also be senior day for the team's seniors Emily Goodwin (Halifax, Mass) and Rachel Gardner (Bourne, Mass).
The Bucs will close out the regular season with a rip to Worcester State on April 27th.
All times and dates for any scheduled game is subject to change due to weather. For more schedule and roster information go to mmabucs.com.
