CARIBOU, Maine — With last year’s primary pitcher, Rachel Soucy, one of three Vikings who graduated, second-year coach Kayla Richards is trying to patch together a pitching staff that can help get her team back into the postseason.
Richards had been counting on freshman Abby St. Peter to take over Soucy’s role, but a knee injury has St. Peter sidelined indefinitely. Sophomore Heather DeMerchant saw limited action in the circle last year but Richards said she put in plenty of work in the off-season.
Caribou went 5-11 last year, sneaking into the final playoff slot before being eliminated by Medomak Valley in the Class B North preliminary round. Along with Soucy, the Vikings graduated starters Maddie Doucette and Katie Clark.
Senior Jaelynn Doody returns as the starting catcher for the Caribou varsity softball team.
(Kevin Sjoberg)
Caribou is set to open the regular season with a doubleheader at Hermon Saturday.
The Vikings welcome back senior Jaelynn Doody, who will be the catcher, and Kaytlin Waldemarson, another senior who is an excellent infielder. Doody scored a team-high 11 runs and also led Caribou in walks and stolen bases, while Waldemarson was tied for second on the team in hits with 12.
Sophomore Emily Adler (.356 batting average in 2017) is another returning infielder. Junior Hollie McDougal and DeMerchant are others who gained valuable playing time last year and will be in the outfield. McDougal led all regulars in batting average (.405) and also paced the team in home runs (two) and RBIs (nine) and tied for the team lead in runs scored (11), while DeMerchant hit a stout .371.
“I think our biggest strength will be our defense and my hope is that we are able to keep games close by making plays in the field,” Richards said.
Several other positions are up for grabs. Returnees Taylor Devoe, Riley McNeal, Alya Theriault and Alexis Parker and newcomers Taylor LaBreck, Renee Stubbs and Brooke Moir are others who are battling for roles.
Devoe received plenty of playing time last year and she was fifth on the team in at bats. LaBreck, a sophomore, was the starting first baseman for the LCS/MSSM Eagles last year and is the frontrunner to earn that spot for the Vikes.
Victoria Leavitt and Danielle Cyr are the managers and Shane Theriault is the team’s assistant coach.
“We are somewhat young and this inexperience will be our biggest challenge, but we have a lot of talent and have the potential to be competitive this year,” Richards said.
