The Johnston softball team finished above .500 for the first time since going 10-6 in 2011, and it won’t lose much of its veteran roster when it looks to repeat its success next year.
Johnston tore a path into the Division II playoffs with three consecutive shutout wins to close out the season, including a 3-0 victory over previously undefeated North Providence. Despite their hot streak, the Panthers’ playoff run was quick after an opening-round, walk-off loss to D-II North champ Davies, 6-5.
However, unlike Davies which will lose eight of its 13 players in the offseason, the Panthers will remain almost intact for manager Steven Day’s third season at the helm.
The 8-8 Panthers will retain 15 of the 18 players off their varsity roster this season, including Cox Softball Player of the Year and junior captain Jordan McHale at third base. Fellow junior captain and second baseman Jennifer Cioffi will also be returning, along with the entire infield.
First baseman/catcher Haley Hohlmaier comes back for her senior year while fellow backstop Gianna Vizzacco will return after a solid sophomore campaign. Freshman shortstop Jordan Moretti will only keep getting better when she comes back next spring, too. All four of the team’s outfielders will return as well.
Though eight of nine starting position players return, one of the couple everyday players graduating may hurt the Panthers the most. Ace and senior captain Alicia Carvalho was the hurler responsible for those three straight shutouts (all complete games) to end the year, propelling her team into the postseason. In her 7-0 defeat of Central on May 18, she was a soft infield single away from tossing a no-hitter.
Day said that Madison Plouffe will be taking over pitching duties next year for the Panthers, which will give them longevity as she will only be entering her sophomore season.
Johnston should be set to make a leap in D-II West next season as top team North Providence could stumble. The Cougars lose six of their 15 players this season, including all four captains. While fellow foe Cranston East will not lose too much of its roster, the subtraction of senior ace Paula Frost could maintain the division’s pitching parity.
North Providence and Davies are joined by West Warwick as top competitors who stand to take potential steps back. Six of the 16 Wizards that led the squad to a D-II South-best 14-2 won’t return in 2016, including top pitcher Briana Gough and speedy centerfielder Dana Barclay.
The road will get easier, but the Panthers will have to pick up big wins in their next campaign to make the jump to an elite squad. They defeated West Warwick as well as the Cougars this year, but faltered against other divisional opponents. Johnston was a combined 0-4 against East and Pilgrim in 2015, both of which will remain mostly unchanged next season.
Against D-II East winner Moses Brown, which has a predominantly returning roster as well, the Panthers fell 12-0 this past season in a non-league contest. Johnston also struggled with some sub-par D-II South teams, losing to South Kingstown and Narragansett teams with a combined record of 9-23.
The Johnston softball squad has earned some valuable experience in 2015, and its strong core of young players should have no problem replicating their accomplishments. If Plouffe can find some early rhythm in the circle, the veteran leadership can do the rest and make the Panthers a greater force in the West.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here