As the MIAA state softball tournament kicks into full swing, a familiar name finds itself once again back in the fold.
Courtesy of Louisville-bound outfielder Ara Venturelli and Texas Tech commit Sam Lincoln, No. 3 Taunton finds itself as a premier contender for the Division 1 crown. The Tigers, however, will have plenty of competition.
Top-seeded Central Catholic and No. 2 King Philip both have the pieces to bring home the crown. Peabody is a serious contender behind Northeastern Conference most valuable player Abby Bettencourt.
The Middlesex League has a host of teams that may upset the apple cart with No. 11 Woburn, No. 16 Arlington and No. 17 Reading all serving as sleepers. A great-first round matchup between the Rockets and Spy Ponders is sure to draw plenty of attention.
Division 2 figures to be a battle royale between a bevy of teams who have experience playing deep into June. Defending champion Westfield is the top seed while Merrimack Valley Conference counterparts No. 2 Billerica and No. 3 Tewksbury find themselves once again back in the title discussion. Fifth-seeded North Attleborough has arguably the best pitcher in Massachusetts in Kelly Colleran while No. 6 Walpole has its own impressive arm in Sharlotte Stazinski.
No. 19 Danvers and No. 14 Dartmouth meet in an interesting first-round matchup. If the teams hold serve, a matchup between No. 8 Silver Lake and top-seeded Westfield in the quarterfinals would be worth the drive.
St. Mary’s looks like the favorite in Division 3 courtesy of ace Anna Fringuelli, but a quarterfinal matchup with either No. 8 North Reading or No. 9 Bishop Fenwick would be no cakewalk. Sixth-seeded Middleborough is looking to avenge last year’s state title defeat and has the luxury of home field through the first two rounds. No. 2 Dighton-Rehoboth and No. 3 Hudson appear to be on a final four collision course but either No. 19 Foxborough or No. 14 Medway may have the means to break up the party.
A battle between No. 20 Medfield and No. 13 Gloucester presents an upset possibility early in the tournament.
One division that has a chance to be an adventure is Division 4 as multiple teams look state championship worthy. Along with the top seeds, No. 7 Amesbury has championship pedigree and No. 13 Abington showcased it has plenty of pieces when it knocked off Division 2 contender Walpole.
Turners Falls needs no introduction as the team to beat in Division 5 as it has 10 state championships to its name. Top-seed Greenfield is riding high after knocking off No. 2 Mount Greylock in the Western Mass. Class C title game. MacKenzie Paulin is one of the premier arms in the state. Both No. 22 Bourne and No. 17 Georgetown serve as dangerous lower seeded teams.
DIVISION 1
CHAMPION: No. 3 Taunton
RUNNER-UP: No. 1 Central Catholic
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Central Catholic, No. 2 King Philip, No. 3 Taunton. No. 5 Peabody
SLEEPER: No. 11 Woburn
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP: No. 17 Reading at No. 16 Arlington
UPSET SPECIAL: No. 18 Hingham over No. 15 Chelmsford
DIVISION 2
CHAMPION: No. 1 Westfield
RUNNER-UP: No. 6 Walpole
FINAL FOUR: No.1 Westfield, No. 2 Billerica, No. 5 North Attleborough, No. 6 Walpole
SLEEPER: No. 11 Bedford
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP: No. 19 Danvers at No. 14 Dartmouth
UPSET SPECIAL: No. 17 Wilmington over No. 16 Wakefield
DIVISION 3
CHAMPION: No. 1 St. Mary’s
RUNNER-UP: No. 3 Hudson
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 St. Mary’s, No. 2 Dighton-Rehoboth, No. 3 Hudson, No. 4 Norton
SLEEPER: No. 14 Medway
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP: No. 19 Foxborough at No. 14 Medway
UPSET SPECIAL: No. 20 Medfield over No. 13 Gloucester
DIVISION 4
CHAMPION: No. 1 Joseph Case
RUNNER-UP: No. 3 Clinton
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Joseph Case, No. 3 Clinton, No. 4 Tyngsborough, No. 7 Amesbury
SLEEPER: No. 13 Abington
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP: No. 23 Malden Catholic at No. 10 Millbury
UPSET SPECIAL: None
DIVISION 5
CHAMPION: No. 3 Turners Falls
RUNNER-UP: No. 1 Greenfield
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Greenfield, No. 2 Mount Greylock, No. 3 Turners Falls, No. 5 West Boylston
SLEEPER: No. 13 Hopedale
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP: No. 17 Georgetown at No. 16 Lee
UPSET SPECIAL: No. 22 Bourne over No. 11 Franklin County Tech