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The Yankee Express

Douglas Softball Young but Experienced

   By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

  Over the past few years, the problem hasn’t been in getting into the Division 2 Central Softball Tournament, the problem for Douglas was winning once they got there. Last spring the Tigers once again earned themselves a spot in the post-season, but unfortunately were sent home as fast as they had gotten there. Hudson stood in their way during the abbreviated season and knocked Douglas out in the first round with a 13-1 victory.

            “We don’t even belong playing a team like Hudson (who eventually lost to Tyngsboro in the Sectional Finals), but we have to play who we get,” Douglas Coach John Furno said. “This year we are moving to division 5 where were belong and should be much more competitive playing teams that are on our level (numbers wise).”

            The numbers at Douglas are just not there and the Tigers had to apply for a waiver to allow seventh and eighth graders to play for the varsity teams; the only team the high school has. This spring the Tigers will carry only two seniors on their roster along with a bunch of underclassmen as they take on the Dual Valley Conference.

            The lone two seniors to take to the field for the Tigers this spring are first baseman Sarah Hamilton and third baseman and captain Katie Peloquin. Hamilton is in her third season with the team and is a solid contact hitter while the captain is playing in her fourth year and will bat fifth as a power hitter for the Tigers.

            “I’m looking these two to provide the leadership toward the younger kids,” the Coach said. “Nurturing and showing them the game while bringing them along.”

            In addition to the two seniors swinging a powerful bat Douglas will also rely on seventh grader Ayla McDermott as the team’s leadoff hitter. Through the early part of this season the first-year player, who will play shortstop and back-up the starting catcher, already has 8 RBI and according to the Coach for a seventh grader she has great knowledge of the game.

            Eighth grader Emma Kagels is another solid hitter in the Tiger lineup. She will play second base and is considered the team’s top slap hitter who will be called upon if the team is in need of a bunt.

            In the pitching circle freshman Madison McDermott will be given the ball for the majority of the games, while her back-up sophomore Emilee Hamelin may se a spot start here and there but will primarily patrol center field for Douglas. Last spring as an eighth grader McDermott fanned over 100 opposing batters and through the first three games of this year has already sent 34 batters back to the dugout via the strikeout.

            “Madison is a power thrower with a great fastball, curveball and change-up,” Furno said. “She has great movement on her fastball and the spin is unbelievable. Against Hopedale, a team that played in the Division 4 Central Championship game last year, she struck out 10 in a 2-1 loss.”

            While Hamelin will be the main fixture in the outfield, Furno has a group of girls that will rotate in and out of the two corner positions throughout the season. Other athletes on the squad are Angelina Macleod, Shaylyn Emanuel, Raine Beaulieu, Alana Chang, Jordyn Forbes, Natalie Reade, and Mackenna Chiasson.

            Although a very young team, Furno has himself a group of talented athletes; many of them coming through the Douglas town softball program.

            “In addition to coaching the high school I also run the town program, so I have seen a lot of their girls go thought he program prior to getting to the varsity team,” the coach said.

            As the season continues to move along the Douglas coaching staff will be looking to teach the girls fundamentals and so far, they have been grasping what they are being taught.

            “My daughter (Hannah) who is a coach on the team played softball at Rhode Island College and she brought a lot of the drills to the team from her college playing days,” Furno said. “The girls have definitely come a long way since the beginning of the season. We had 8 errors in the first game, 4 in the second and only 2 in our third – so we are showing progression.”

            As is always the case, the goals going into the season were to teach fundamentals as well as making the playoffs once again.

            “Right off the bat I know that we are good enough to make the playoffs,” the Tigers Coach said. “Once you’re in the playoffs anything can happen, especially this year since we’re in a competitive division.”

            Playing in a very tough Dual Valley Conference will either make or break Douglas; there are no easy games in the league.

            “Playing in the DVC will tune us up for a good tournament run,” Furno said. “We should find ourselves at least mid-pack, but I believe we’re a little higher. The Hopedale game already told me what I need to know about this team.”

            The Tigers may be fielded a relatively younger team this spring, but the Coach likes what he has seen in the early part of the season and knowing that they’ll be playing in a division more comparable to their size they should be able to make some noise in the post-season this year