Girls High School Spring Sports Preview

In softball, if you have a pitcher, you have a chance.

Both Somers and Ellington have pitchers.

Senior JoJo Meunier, who pitched Somers to the semifinals of the Class S tournament last season, is back, which means Somers is instantly a contender for both the NCCC and state titles. Meunier, who has committed to the University of Rhode Island, finished her junior year with a 0.94 earned run average and 314 strikeouts.

The questions arise elsewhere.

“We are rebuilding our infield this year,” coach Melanie Zamorski said.

The Spartans lost their starting catcher, shortstop and third baseman from a season ago. Senior Kayla Stetson will take over at third base while Samantha Urbon, who played errorless ball at second last year, will move to shortstop. Centerfielder Shelby LaDue anchors the outfield and Allison Dubanoski, who hit .455 last season, is expected to provide the pop for the offense.

All of it adds up to a season of high expectations, though Zamorski is sticking to the one-step at a time approach.

“We are hoping to make it back to the Class S state tournament,” she said.

If Somers’ ambitions grow to include an NCCC title, the Spartans will have to take it from neighboring Ellington and senior Morgan McPartland, who has pitched Ellington to a conference title in each of the past two seasons.

The Knights went 17-5 in 2009 and again in 2010 and reached the second round of the CIAC Class M tournament in both seasons.

McPartland, who in one memorable week last season backed a no-hitter with a perfect game, was a critical factor in Ellington’s success, but much of the surrounding talent has graduated.

Gone are battery mate Alyssa Deland and honorable mention all-stater Kerry Sawamura among others.

The Knights will look to returning players such as MacKenzie Whiting, Christine Spartz, Jessica Malone, Alexandra Larew, Rachel Tshonas and Ann Sawamura, to fill the void under new coach Tom Gordon.

Gordon’s arrival comes during a season of change for the Ellington athletic program.

Tim Bosworth also takes over for Tim McCluskey as Ellington girls lacrosse coach and will attempt to guide the Knights back to the Division II state tournament. The Knights went 9-8 last season and lost in the first round to Ledyard.

On the track, the Knights finished ninth in the Class M tournament a year ago and return senior Claiborne Jones, who was the 100 meter dash champion last season and added the 55 meter championship at the indoor championships in February.

Among the questions are whether sophomore Jennifer Hulstein, who finished seventh as a freshman in the 3,200 meters last season, can move in to the top six.

Hulstein led the Ellington girls to a Class M cross country championship in the fall.

The Ellington/Somers girls tennis team also has a rising tennis star in sophomore Hannah Riley, picked by The Hartford Courant as one of the top players to watch.