ASHLAND, Maine — Eight starters return for coach Terry Hunter’s Ashland Hornets, which last year came close to knocking off the No. 1 team in the Class D North softball playoff quarterfinals.
Ashland defeated Central Aroostook in the prelim round before the season ended with a 10-9 loss to Southern Aroostook. The team finished below .500 but lost five games by one run.
Hunter, who begins his 21st year as the Hornets’ head coach, welcomes back junior Cami Deabay, who will be the No. 1 pitcher. Classmate Olivia Tardie, who batted .434 last year, will be the starting catcher but can also play third base if needed.
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- Ashland baserunner Olivia Tardie crosses the plate for one of her team’s nine runs in the 2017 playoff game at Southern Aroostook. Tardie is one of eight returning starters playing for the Hornets. (Staff photo/Joseph Cyr)
Senior Amber Chasse, who carried a .475 batting average last year, is an excellent defensive first baseman. Senior Morgan Doughty led the team with a .509 batting average a year ago and also posted team-leading statistics in home runs, doubles and steals, handles center field. Another senior, Micayla Driscoll, will be in left field and possesses good range and is a solid contact hitter.
Shelby Stolze will move from second base to shortstop. The speedy sophomore is a capable hitter and baserunner.
Jamie Poulin, Willow Hall and Hailee Cunningham all started as eighth-graders and “contributed beyond expectations,” according to Hunter. Poulin batted .570 in the playoffs and has a great arm at third base. Hall has a chance to be the team’s cleanup hitter with her power and she will start in right and back up Tardie behind the plate. Cunningham gets the nod at second base but can play anywhere in the infield.
Senior Briana Harris and junior Mackenzie Hall are power hitters who will be designated hitters and backups on defense. Danni Carter and Alli Kenney are freshmen with good speed and defensive versatility and Kaytlin Ferro, another ninth-grader, is the No. 2 pitcher.
Morgan Stevens is the manager and Hope Carney and Tammy Donovan are assistant coaches.
Hunter expects the Hornets to be able to compete in what is a very deep Class D North division.
“We always have great expectations and this year is no different,” Hunter said. “We have excellent athletes with a will to win and positive attitudes. As a coach, I believe we can win every game we play, but as a realist, I know that is probably not going to happen.
“The challenge is there because there are some excellent teams in our league,” he added, “but I believe in this team.”
