This Silver Lake High softball team might look a little bit different in 2018, but that is no reason to doubt their forcast for success. Year after year, the Lakers have found the right pieces to establish themselves into a powerhouse program. Keep in mind, this is the team head coach Tony Pina led to a 25-1 record last season and has amassed a 94-7 record over the past four seasons. It would not make sense to expect aprogram of that caliber to completely drop just because they lost some strong players.
Sure, there might be Emily Critch, Caroline Videtto or Jillian Richards out there, but the Lakers are still confident in what they have this time around.
Brenna Welch will take the ball for the Lakers this season in just about every game like Richards did last season. Welch pitched well on varsity last season when needed; the senior earned her share of innings in relief. Now, the Lakers have junior Amanda Harris moving behind the plate to fill the void left by Critch, the school’s alltime home run leader. Harris did not catch last season, but she was a valuable piece of the lineup who recorded multiple hits in the team’s playoff win over King Philip then. The Lakers lineup as has a few returning players, all of whom thrived last season. Such players include: first baseman Hannah Mitchell, a junior; left fielder Izzy Ruprecht, a junior; and sophomore Ari Sylvester, who plays third base. Each of them hit over. 300 last season and has speed that should help the ball club.
Defensively, Michaela Nista and junior Jessica Stas will be assets for the team in the outfield while senior Coyle Shropshire provides the team with defensive versatility as a utility player.
The Lakers next game is Monday, Apr. 9 (3:30 p.m.) on the road vs. Plymouth South.