ASHLAND, Maine — The Hornets got off to an 0-2 start under veteran softball coach Terry Hunter, who begins his 20th season in charge of the team, but he believes a turnaround is in store despite the youthful roster.
“I am sure as a young team we will have our good days and our bad days and experience many growing pains,” said Hunter, whose team opened by losing close contests to both Hodgdon and Southern Aroostook. “Our goal will be to get better at every position every day and making the playoffs is something we expect and strive for.”
Last year, like they usually do, the Hornets made it into the postseason. As the sixth-seeded team in Class D, Ashland won its prelim game before losing in extra innings in the quarterfinals to No. 3 Madawaska. The team finished with a 12-6 record, but six players graduated, five of them starters. Catcher Caitln Paradis and shortstop Laura Sturgeon will be especially missed as both were All-Aroostook players and Eastern Maine all-stars.
“We have some very dependable players returning, but will be very young with four eighth-graders, two of which will be starters, helping fill our roster,” Hunter said.
Senior Cassidy Pelletier is back and will play shortstop and see some time on the mound. She batted .471 in 2016 and is “an excellent all-around player,” according to Hunter.
Junior Morgan Doughty plays center field and is a defensive standout while also batting .436 a year ago and leading the Hornets in both doubles and triples.
Another junior, Amber Chasse, has battled knee injuries throughout her varsity career but is slated to start at first base. Sophomore Olivia Tardie makes the move from third base to behind the plate as the starting catcher. She hit .391 last season and is one of the team leaders.
Captain Micayla Driscoll, a junior, will play left field. She will aid the offense as she had a .361 batting average a year ago. She also is blessed with speed and is an excellent baserunner.
Freshman Shelby Stoltz is a stellar defensive player and will play both shortstop and second base. Jamie Poulin is one of the team’s eighth-graders and gets the nod at third base. She also will be a backup pitcher and can play other infield positions if needed.
Willow Hall, another eighth-grader, joins senior Gabbie Wortman in a right field platoon, while Hall may see duty as a backup catcher behind Tardie. Hall has rare switch-hitting ability and is solid from both the left and right sides of the plate. Wortman is solid both offensively and defensively.
Senior Carly Fredericks is a first-year varsity player who will compete for playing time. Junior Brianna Harris and sophomore McKenzie Hall, another first-year player, are outfield reserves. Freshman Camryn Curtis and eighth-graders Hailee Cunningham and Ava Cameron are substitutes in the infield.
Kylee Mejia is the manager and Tammy Donovan and Hope Doughty serve as Hunter’s assistant coaches.
“We have some very good hitters and defensive players, but we have just as many that are very young and learning new positions and are first-time starters,” Hunter said.
Sophomore Cami Deabay is lined up as the No. 1 starting pitcher. She has not pitched in two years due to an ACL injury, but Hunter said she is progressing well early on.
Pelletier pitched well last season and joins Poulin as Deabay’s backups.
“Pitching is always a critical part as we progress,” Hunter said. “If you throw strikes and they hit the ball, you have a chance. If not, it will make for a long game.”
Hunter is looking forward to seeing how things unfold as the season moves along.
“We need to put the practice time in and communicate as a team,” Hunter said. “The players will need to work hard at learning their positions and for some, the game in general.
“Hopefully at the end of the season, we can look back and say we learned a lot and got a lot better,” he added.
