Following are the 2024 high school softball preview capsules:

ECC

Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Judy Deeb (52nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. P Abby Robinson, Sr. CF Ava Korineck, Sr. SS Karly Sorrentino, Sr. OF Ava Kelly, Jr. 2B Avery Stadler, Jr. 1B Grace DuBrava, Jr. Madi Davis IF/OF, Jr. IF Ashley Roach.

Top newcomers: Fr. C Kinzie Donahue, Fr. C-OF Mia Lloyd, Fr. OF Emma Van Dusen, Fr. IF Natalie Knowlton, Fr. P Lauryn Drago.

Outlook: Robinson, a Springfield College signee and one of the top pitchers in the ECC, earned all-league honors last season and was a selection to The Day’s All-Area team. The Vikings (9-12, 0-6) also return the core of their infield in DuBrava (1B), Stadler (2B) and Sorrentino (SS), while Korineck and Kelly provide experience in the outfield. Deeb said keys to East Lyme’s success will be in the development of a talented freshman class and the ability of the team to remain healthy.

Fitch

Coach: Jackie Lewis (3rd season)

Key returnees: Jr. 3B Maerin Lyon, Sr. 1B Gabby Amaral, Jr. Util Grace Cosmopolous, Jr. Util. Zoe Cosmopolous, Jr. P Hailey Merrill, So. C Jaedyn Steffens, So. Util. Katie MacPherson.

Top newcomers: Fr. Util. Jillian Fugere, Jr. OF Emma Robinson, Jr. OF Lauren Pelletier.

Outlook: Lewis sees the Falcons (12-11, 2-4) picking up where they left off last season, but they will have to do so without Charlotte Cabral, their mainstay on the mound the last few seasons, with Cabral’s graduation. Underclassmen dominate the Falcons’ infield and outfield spots, however, with MacPherson (a freshman) and Grace Cosmopolous both earning All-ECC Division I all-star and All-Area honors last season, and Lewis likes the additions to the roster. Fitch will test itself immediately, opening Saturday against five-time defending Class L champion Masuk.

NFA

Coach: Athena Jaskiewicz (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. P Hailey Smith, Sr. IF-3B Madison Waltke, Sr. IF/SS Melina Graziano, Sr. OF Melainey Tackling, So. IF-C Aubrey Martin.

Top newcomers: So. C-Util. Amelia Driscoll, Fr. P-Util. Dakota Bourdon.

Outlook: Jaskiewicz refers to winning an ECC championship the “golden ticket.” The Wildcats (17-7, 4-2) came close last year, reaching the ECC Division I tournament championship game before falling 3-1 against Waterford. This year, NFA returns four talented seniors, including Graziano, a Class LL all-state selection, as it inches closer to its end goal. Graziano and Smith were also ECC all-stars and members of The Day’s All-Area team. “Our strengths are talent, depth and team chemistry,” the coach said. “These four seniors know how to guide the young skilled players (Martin and Driscoll) through our tough schedule and help mold them into the players we will need going into the postseason.” Jaskiewicz said that playing in the talent-laden ECC Division I requires a championship mindset every game and the ability to grind out wins.

Waterford

Coach: Andy Walker (8th season)

Key returnees: Sr. 1B Grace Muti, Sr. SS Emilia Podeszwa, Sr. C Melanie Martin, Jr. P-Util. Brielle Kenney, Jr. OF Paige Jessuck, Jr. OF Charlotte Jessuck, Jr. 2B-OF Ava Majeski, Jr. 3B Lyra DeAngelis, So. OF-1B Ava Waddington.

Top newcomers: So. C-1B Isabel Henry, So. P-Util. Audra Fiano, Fr. IF-P Gabby Fontaine, Fr. Util. Mia Majeski.

Outlook: The Lancers (16-8, 6-0) are the defending ECC Division I regular-season and tournament champs and return Muti, an All-ECC and Class L all-state pick, and additional all-league selections in Martin and Paige Jessuck. Walker’s team defeated NFA 3-1 in the ECC tournament final, earning its third straight title, with Kenney earning Most Outstanding Player honors. The Lancers lost to eventual champ Masuk in the second round of the Class L state tournament. Muti, Podeszwa and Martin will serve as captains for Waterford, which will play another competitive regular-season schedule this year featuring four of the top six teams in last year’s final state coaches’ poll. Waterford returns four members of The Day’s All-Area team.

(Woodstock Academy also competes in Division I.)

Division II

Bacon Academy

Coach: Anna Dipierro (29th season)

Key returnees: Sr. SS Jazlyn Small-Yu, Sr. P Sammi D'Atri, Sr. 3B Natalia Vernali, Sr. 1B Meghan Walsh.

Top newcomers: Fr. Riley Stolzman, Fr. Reina Hill, Fr. Talia Ramos, Fr. Kellen Conley.

Outlook: Small-Yu was one of the top infielders in ECC Division II last season, earning all-league honors for the Bobcats (6-13, 2-6). Dipierro hopes that with a strong nucleus and a talented freshman class that Bacon can be competitive throughout the season.

Ledyard

Coach: Steve Smith (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. C Teagan Lajoie, Jr. OF-P Kyra Manning, Jr. 1B Maegan Miller, So. SS Faith Dalton, So. Aleecia Helme, So. Mia Starling.

Top newcomers: Fr. P Lexi Lemmon.

Outlook: Smith has a strong core of returning players, including All-ECC selections in Miller and Starling, and speed and experience at the top of the lineup. But this will be a young team, with only one senior and three juniors. In addition to Lemmon, five freshmen are competing for positions. Ledyard (11-11, 6-2) should be competitive in Division II and the team will improve throughout the season as the freshmen develop.

New London

Coach: Missy Parker (14th season)

Key returnees: Sr. P Alina Skrabacz, Sr. CF Gabriela Santiago Cruz, Sr. 1B Nichelle Tucker, Sr. 2B Italia Salls, Sr. C Jayla Mateo, Jr. 3B Jadelise Garrett.

Top newcomers: So. UT Alanna Noonan.

Outlook: Thanks to a solid group of returnees Parker expects the Whalers to be competitive and improve as the season progresses. Skrabacz was an All-ECC honorable mention selection.

(Killingly also competes in Division II.)

Division III

Griswold

Coach: Rick Arremony (18th season)

Key returnees: Jr. P-SS Abby Matheson, Jr. 1B Kierra Neilson, Jr. 2B Summer McLean, Jr. 3B Arisnaely Diaz, Jr. OF Arianna Pedraza, Jr. P Madison Labrecque, Jr. OF Cameron Williams, Sr. Util.-C Katherine Greene, So. C Ella Cash, So. OF Elaina Conrad, So. 1B Shanleigh Taylor.

Top newcomers: Fr. SS Bella Bruno, Fr. Util. Madelyn Ryan, Fr. Util. Lanah Holeman, Fr. Util. Alexandra Crowley, Fr. Util. Emma Martin.

Outlook: Arremony thought his team showed improvement last season, going 6-13, 4-4 — after a rare 2-16 mark in 2022 after winning the ECC title in 2021— and he would like to see the Wolverines continue that trend with seven returning starters, including pitcher Abby Matheson, an ECC all-star a year ago.

Montville

Coach: Baylee Brackett (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. P-2B Amanda Corrice, Sr. 1B Isabella Mitchell, Sr. CF Ava Gero, Sr. 3B Taryn Feragne, Sr. LF Maddie Taylor.

Top newcomers: Fr. Freshman P-IF Abby Daniewicz, Fr. C-IF Kayla Terni, Fr. P-Util. Payton Jones.

Outlook: Montville (5-15, 3-5) lost no one to graduation, with Brackett calling her team a “strong group of coachable and talented athletes.” Gero was an All-ECC Division III pick in the outfield, while Mitchell and Taylor were honorable mention all-stars. The coach predicts the Wolves will be much improved and more competitive than ever, vying for a division title.

St. Bernard

Coach: Ray O’Donnell (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. LF Sunshine Rangel, Sr. CF Angelica Tompkins, Jr. Olivia Kane, Jr. SS Aubree Nygaard, Jr. P-1B Kaitlyn Scribner, Jr. C Madison Scribner, Jr. DH-IF Kailani Wiggins, So. 2B Helena Coury, So. P-1B Anabelle Wenzel.

Top newcomers: Jr. RF Alyssa Hernandez, Jr. IF Jordon Bellinger, Jr. OF Ava Russell, Jr. IF Karina Sanchez, So. IF Imaley Arbieto.

Outlook: St. Bernard (12-10, 6-2) move voluntarily from Division IV to Division III within the ECC and should fare well, with a solid cast returning, including a pair of all-conference picks in Kaitlyn and Madison Scribner. The Saints lose a trio of four-year starters in Leah Egan (CF), Alyssa Lazarou (1B) and Alexis Rose (DH). Said O’Donnell: “We are looking to improve upon last year by daily work on the fundamentals and knowledge of the game.”

Stonington

Coach: Ann-Marie Houle (20th season)

Key returnees: Sr. 2B Bri Plew, Sr. SS Cami Brown, Jr. P Lindsey Houle, Jr. LF Sophia Dutra, So. CF Melanie Verbridge, So. 3B Ariana Scavello, So. OF Payton Stone, Jr. IF Gracelyn Smith.

Top newcomers: Jr. OF Hannah Reams, Sr. OF Courtney Wise, So. Util. Janiya Aleman, So. 1B Breaa Gilruth, So. P Maddie Oliverio, So. C Mason Zagol, Fr. C Michaela Miner, Jr. OF Hannah Reams, So. IF Chloee Miner.

Outlook: A scrappy Stonington team scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat top-seeded Lyman Memorial in the ECC Division II tournament championship game last year, but loses catcher Kelsea Anderson, the Most Outstanding Player in that game, to graduation. Stonington returns ECC all-stars in Lindsey Houle, Brown and Plew. Coach Ann-Marie Houle hopes the returnees will help the newcomers to varsity adjust quickly and that her team looks to continue a tradition of playing hard and competing. “The work ethic and energy has been amazing and we are hoping to continue that throughout the season to compete in every game,” Houle said.

(Plainfield also competes in Division III.)

Division IV

Lyman Memorial

Coach: Ron Vigue (12th season)

Key returnees: Sr. C Rylee Benway, Sr. SS Loretta Svedarsky, Sr. OF Sadie Seagrave, Jr . Lena-Maria Byers, Jr. 1B Natani Spears, Jr. 2B Erica Arpin.

Top newcomers: Sr. P-OF Aniela Piaseczny, Jr. UT Rowan LaFleur, Jr. UT Bree Zimnoch, So. IF Abby Laws, So. UT Casey Gigliotti, Fr. UT Morgan Batista, Fr. IF Rachel Cone.

Outlook: Vigue expects the Bulldogs to make a run at the Division IV and ECC Division II tournament titles. Replacing graduated pitcher Kassidy LaTour, an All-ECC, all-state and All-Area pick, will be the combination of Byers and Piaseczny. Lyman has good depth this season. Benway is a three-year starter, three-time all-league selection and two-time all-state catcher and will serve as co-captain along with Svedarsky.

Wheeler

Coach: Stephen Bailey (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. P-3B Reese Main, Sr. OF-2B Leah Clearly, Sr. OF Madison Wagner, Sr. 1B Mackenzie Perkins, Jr. SS-C Isabella Deledda, Jr. 2B-P Abby Butremovic, Jr. 1B Addison Stanley, Jr. C-IF Chole Sanders, Jr. OF Sam Abate, So. P-OF Victoria Kleemann, So. C-3B-OF Morgyn Perkins, So. 2B-OF Kaelin Rose.

Top newcomers: Fr. 3B-OF Shay Deary, Fr. 2B-OF Valentina Corrigan, Fr. OF Ayva Haase, Fr. 2B Emmalee Hoelck, Fr. OF Nicole Abate.

Outlook: The Lions (11-10, 4-4) lose four key pieces to graduation but return several players with experience, including All-ECC selections Main and Stanley. Bailey, fresh off coaching the Wheeler boys’ basketball team to the ECC Division II tournament championship, will gain depth from the incoming freshman and hopes the team can build on last year’s success of having qualified for the ECC Division II and Class S state tournaments. Said Bailey: “Excited to compete with this group of ladies and continue our culture of hard work and passion for the game.”

(Putnam, Tourtellotte and Windham compete in Division IV.)

Others

Norwich Tech

Coach: Pam Pinch (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. C Morgan Cook, Jr. IF Khaiyanna Maldonado, Jr. IF-OF Autumn Hanks, Jr. OF Evelyn Brimmer, So. OF-P Nyomi Barboza, So IF Elanis Garcia, So. IF-OF Diana Kozerefski, So. OF Sirena Cormier, So. IF-OF Brooke Ostrowski.

Top newcomers: Fr. P-IF-OF Maya Stimson, Fr. IF-OF Lillian Luurtsema, Fr. IF-OF Cardin Stimson, Fr. IF-OF Kivannys Diaz-Ruiz, So. IF-OF Marli Colby.

Outlook: Norwich Tech is the defending Connecticut Technical Conference East Division champion and is looking to contend once again despite the loss of Class S all-state pitcher Caity Flynn to graduation. Pinch says the team has some promising young players working to take on the challenge of filling Flynn’s shoes, as well as a strong core of returning players who the Warriors will look to for leadership in their attempt for a CTC repeat.

Old Lyme

Coach: Tim Gavin (8th season)

Key returnees: Sr. P Emma Bayor, Sr. CF Ava Roth, Sr. C Grace Phaneuf, So. 1B Sybil Neary, Jr. RF Anna Eichholz.

Top newcomers: Fr. IF Kaylyn Vernon, Fr. IF Olivia Lovendale.

Outlook: Bayor was the Shoreline Conference Pitcher of the Year, The Day’s All-Area Player of the Year and a Class S all-state pick, finishing 17-4 last year with a 0.58 earned run average for the Wildcats (19-4), with three-no hitters and 261 strikeouts in 132.1 innings. Bayor, who has committed to Division I Marist, also hit .431 and five homers. The Wildcats return the top of their order, which should allow them to score some runs behind Bayor, but Gavin said the key to the season will come on the defensive side as Old Lyme tries to fill the holes left by graduation. Said Gavin: “A great group of players returning with some athletic talented freshmen in the mix should make for a fun competitive season.” Roth was also named to the Class S all-state team.