Following are the 2023 H.S. softball preview capsules:

ECC DIVISION I

East Lyme

Head coach: Judy Deeb (51st season)

Key returnees: Sr. 1B Madi Pfanner, Sr. OF Ava Roach, Sr. C-OF Arleen McKiernan, Jr. P Abby Robinson, Jr. SS Karly Sorrentino, Jr. OF-IF Ava Korineck, So. IF Avery Stadler, So. OF Gracie Lloyd, So. IF Grace DuBrava.

Top newcomers: So. IF Ashley Roach, So. IF Madi Davis, Jr. OF Ava Kelly, Fr. OF Jordyn Skinner.

Outlook: The Vikings must replace a pair of ECC all-stars in catcher Sophia Gannoe and OF Anna Bonelli from a team that went 10-10 a year ago and qualified for the ECC and Class L tournaments, but Deeb welcomes back senior captains Pfanner, Roach and McKiernan, who takes over the catching duties, while Robinson will be the starting pitcher for the third straight season.

Fitch

Head coach: Jackie Lewis (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. P Charlotte Cabral, Sr. SS Grace Jenkins, Sr. 2B Sydney Lyon, Sr. OF Abriel Carey, Jr. 1B Gabby Amaral, So. 3B Maerin Lyon, So. CF Grace Cosmopoulos.

Top newcomers: Fr. C Jaedyn Steffens, Fr. OF Katie MacPherson.

Outlook: Lewis guided the Falcons to a 12-8 record and the Class L quarterfinals in her first season coaching her alma mater. Cabral, a member of The Day’s All-Area team, will provide Lewis comfort on the mound and Jenkins was an ECC all-star. Fitch will lean on its strong senior class but newcomers will also play key roles. “We plan to compete every game and make a run at the ECC division title and also states,” Lewis said.

NFA

Head coach: Athena Jaskiewicz (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. 1B Leah Manke, Sr. P-IF Jillian Dykema, Sr. OF Emma McAvoy, Jr. P Hailey Smith, Jr. SS-INF Melina Graziano, Jr. INF Madisyn Hagberg-Porter.

Top newcomers: Fr. C Aubrey Martin.

Outlook: The Wildcats were 13-7 during the regular season and reached the semifinals of the ECC Division I tournament. Jaskiewicz said NFA is looking to make a strong return behind its junior class and should be able to compete with Fitch, Waterford and East Lyme for the division title. “We are excited to see the improvements and accomplishments our team is going to make this spring season,” Jaskiewicz said.

Waterford

Head coach: Andy Walker (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. P-SS Anna Dziecinny, Jr. 3B-C Emilia Podeszwa, Jr. C Melanie Martin, Jr. 1B-OF Grace Muti, So. P-IF Brielle Kenney.

Top newcomers: So. 3B Lyra DeAngelis, So. OF Paige Jessuck, So. IF Charlotte Jessuck, So. IF Ava Majeski, So. OF Amelia Stoddard. So. UT Katie Dziecinny.

Outlook: The Lancers graduated six seniors, including The Day’s All-Area Player of the Year Maddie Burrows, from a team that won back-to-back ECC tournament titles and reached the 2022 Class L state final. Walker will field a younger team this spring, but believes there is enough talent to be a threat at the conference and state levels again and he will challenge Waterford again with a tough nonconference schedule.

ECC DIVISION II

Bacon Academy

Head coach: Anna Dipierro (28th season)

Key returnees: Jr. SS Jazlyn Small-Yu, Jr. P Sammi D'Atri 11, Sr. C Ava McCarvill, Jr. 3B Natalia Vernali, Sr. 1B Trinity Georgens.

Outlook: The Bobcats went 3-17 a year ago and are still a relatively young team, but Small-Yu was an ECC all-star and Bacon returns some experience that should make it competitive enough to contend for postseason berths.

Ledyard

Head coach: Steve Smith (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. SS Layla Lasisomphone, Sr. C-3B Caylee Cliett, Sr. CF Jen Towne, Jr. P Madison Miller, Jr. OF-3B Teagan Lajoie, So. 1B Maegan Miller.

Key newcomers: Sr. IF Grace Bush, Fr. IF Faith Dalton, Fr. OF Aleesia Helme, Fr. OF Mia Starling.

Outlook: The Colonels won a Division II title and reached the ECC Division I tournament final last season, but graduated three four-year starters in ECC all-stars Aaliyah Amidon, Samantha Money and Paige Perkins. Veterans Lasisomphone, Cliett and Madison Miller return and Smith believes if his young, talented newcomers develop, Ledyard will be a factor in the ECC and states again.

New London

Head coach: Missy Parker (13th season)

Key returnees: Jr. P Alina Skrabacz, Jr. C Gabriella Santiago Cruz, Jr. IF Italia Salls, Jr. IF Jayla Mateo, So. IF Jadelise Garrett, Sr. IF Yomairis Santiago, Jr. OF Nichelle Tucker, Jr. OF Sienna Montaneri, So. OF Raine Boozer.

Top newcomers: So. OF Kayana Reynolds, Fr. OF Jasalyn Sanchez.

Outlook: The Whalers will be rebuilding this spring after losing six starters, including ECC all-star Cassandra Roman. The battery of Skrabacz and Santiago Cruz returns but there will be growing pains. “We are inexperienced but working hard and improving daily,” Parker said.

Note: Division II includes Killingly and Woodstock Academy.

ECC DIVISION III

Griswold

Head coach: Rick Arremony (23rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. CF Makayla Neilson, Sr. 3B Adrianna Morabito, So. SS-P Abby Matheson, So. SS-1B Kierra Neilson, So. 2B-P Summer McLean, So. 1B-UT Arisnaely Diaz, So. LF Arianna Pedraza, So. P-UT Madison Labrecque, So. RF Cameron Williams, Jr. C-UT Katherine Greene.

Top newcomers: Fr. C Ella Cash, Fr. UT Angelina Ware, Fr. UT Elaina Conrad, Fr. 1B-P Shanleigh Taylor.

Outlook: The Wolverines had their struggles last season, finishing 2-16 with an inexperienced pitching staff. Griswold has moved from Division II to III this spring, which should provide relief for a young team that will start six sophomores and a freshman. Matheson, Labrecque and McLean will split the pitching duties, said Arremony, who added the Wolverines will be a much-improved product in 2023.

Montville

Head coach: Baylee Brackett (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. OF Ava Gero, Jr. IF Taryn Feragne, Jr. IF-OF Isabella Mitchell, Jr. P-IF Amanda Corrice, Jr. OF MacKenzie Payne, Jr. OF Madison Taylor.

Top newcomers: Fr. P-IF Madeline Daniels, Fr. IF Savannah Malinowsky, Fr. IF-OF Amelia Smart, Fr. OF Almaz Sklodosky.

Outlook: Brackett takes over a Montville team coming off a 6-13 season. She will field a young team led by a strong junior class with freshmen getting significant varsity playing time. “I am looking forward to building a more competitive and strong program as the season progresses,” Brackett said.

Stonington

Head coach: Ann-Marie Houle (19th season)

Key returnees: Sr. CF Madi Allard, Jr. SS Cami Brown, Sr. C Kelsea Anderson, Jr. 2B Bri Plew.

Top newcomers: So. P Lindsey Houle, So. LF Sophia Dutra, Fr. 1B Melanie Verbridge, Fr. 3B Ariana Scavello, So. UT Emma Diop, Sr. IF Maggie Thomas, Fr. OF Payton Stone, So. IF Gracelyn Smith, Fr. IF Janiya Aleman.

Outlook: The Bears went 15-4 last season, winning the ECC Division III regular season title and the Division II tournament championship, but graduated five ECC all-stars. There will be some growing pains, but Houle expects her experienced players to help the newcomers adjust to varsity softball quickly and keep Stonington competitive again.

Note: Division III includes Plainfield and Windham.

ECC DIVISION IV

Lyman Memorial

Head coach: Ron Vigue (11th season)

Key returnees: Sr. P-UT Kassidy LaTour, Sr. OF Hannah Gendron, Jr. C Rylee Benway, Jr. SS Loretta Svedarsky, Jr. 1B Jr. Kelsey Dunnack, Jr. OF Sadie Seagrave, So. 3B Lena-Maria Byers, So. 2B Erica Arpin, So. OF Morgan Hayes-Donahue.

Top newcomers: Fr. UT Reagan Reid, So. UT Bree Zimnoch.

Outlook: The Bulldogs should be a factor in the ECC and Class S with the return of eight starters, including all-state catcher Benway and ECC all-star pitcher LaTour. Lyman went 18-6 in 2022, losing losing a 2-1, nine-inning decision to Old Lyme in the Class S quarterfinals.

St. Bernard

Head coach: Ray O’Donnell (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. CF Leah Egan, So. C Madison Scribner, Sr. DH-OF Abby Jarrard, So. OF Maeve Surprenaut, Sr. 1B Alyssa Lazarou, Sr. OF Sophia Novak, Sr. DH Alexis Rose, Sr. DH-1B Jorlennys Rosario, Jr. OF Sunshine Rangel, So. 3B Olivia Kane, So. SS Aubree Nygaard, So. P-2B Kaitlyn Scribner.

Top newcomers: Fr. UT Helena Coury, Fr. C-UT Gemma Tonucci, Fr. P-2B Anabelle Wenzel.

Outlook: The Saints went 12-6 last spring and return a pair of ECC all-stars in the battery of Kaitlyn and Madison Scribner. “We are looking to Improve on last season while continuing to stress the fundamentals of the game,” O’Donnell said.

Wheeler

Head coach: Stephen Bailey (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. LF-CF Marissa Perkins, Sr. OF Keelan Groves, Sr. OF-P Val Barajas, Sr. 1B-3B Makayla Delzrer, Jr. P-3B Reese Main, Jr. OF-2B Leah Clearly, Jr. 1B Mackenzie Perkins, So. SS-C Isabella Deledda, So. 2B-P Abby Butremovic, So. 1B Addison Stanley, So. OF Sam Abate.

Top newcomers: Jr. OF Madison Wagner, So. C-IF Chole Sanders, Fr. P-OF Victoria Kleemann, Fr. C-3B-OF Morgyn Perkins, Fr. 2B Kaelin Rose.

Outlook: The Lions return four ECC all-stars in Marissa Perkins, Groves, Main and Deledda, so challenging for the division title and making a strong postseason run following a 13-5 season are very much in play. Bailey expects to have more depth this season with the addition of a talented freshman class.

Note: Division IV includes Putnam and Tourtellotte.

OTHERS

Nowich Tech

Head coach: Pam Pinch (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. P Caitlyn Flynn, Sr. 1B-3B Emily Grant, Jr. OF-C Morgan Cook, So. IF-OF Khaiyanna Maldonado, So. C-IF Autumn Hanks.

Top newcomers: So. IF-P Evelyn Brimmer, Fr. IF Elanis Garcia, Fr. IF-C-OF Nyomi Barboza.

Outlook: The Warriors went 13-4 and won the Connecticut Technical Conference East Division title a year ago. They return four all-conference players in Flynn, Cook, Hanks and Maldonado and have added some young talent that Pinch believes will allow Norwich Tech to make another run at a CTC East crown and compete for the CTC tournament championship.

Old Lyme

Head coach: Tim Gavin (7th season)

Key returnees: Jr. P Emma Bayor, Sr. SS-OF Jamie Bucior, Sr. 3B Jenna Schauder, Jr. CF Ava Roth, Jr. C Grace Phaneuf, So. OF Anna Eichholz.

Top newcomers: So. IF Olivia Kelly, Fr. P-IF Sybil Neary.

Outlook: It’s been a great two-year run for the Wildcats, who have played in back-to-back Shoreline Conference tournament finals and reached the 2022 Class S semifinals, losing to eventual state champion Cromwell, another Shoreline team. They rode the 1-2 pitching punch of Bayor and Victoria Gage, but Gage graduated so freshman Neary can give Bayor a rest now and then. “We look to be competitive in the strong Shoreline Conference,” Gavin said. “We return four of our top six hitters from last season and have great senior leadership.”