By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

Between 1998 and 2002 Meghan Creighton was a key performer in the circle for the Uxbridge softball team. A four-year varsity athlete in three sports (field hockey, basketball, and softball) Creighton was named a three-time MVP for Coach Joe McCourt’s softball team. She holds the school record for career strikeouts with 725, including 224 during her junior campaign compiling a 61-19 record for the Spartans.

As a pitcher she also holds the record for 19 wins during her senior year adding another 207 strikeouts as the team went 23-1; has hurled 4 perfect games; and had 12 shutouts in one season with 26 on her career (second best in Uxbridge history). At the plate she is fourth all time with 113 hits and ended her career with a .3754 batting average. Creigton was also a 4-time SWCL All-Star.

Following high school career, she went on to Babson College where she continued pitching at a high level. As a four-year starter for Babson she earned second team All American status, was presented the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) pitcher of the year, NEWMAC Athlete of the Year and League MVP during her senior season. Creighton also resides in the Hall of Fame for both Uxbridge and Babson. 

With a ton of accolades for softball playing, Creighton now will try to translate her success on the field to the Uxbridge softball team as she takes over the position as Spartans Varsity Head Coach.  Having coached youth softball, she was more than open to applying for the Uxbridge coaching position when it came available.

“As soon as my senior season at Babson came to an end, I knew that I wanted to coach,” Creighton said. “I had been coaching youth softball and when the opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance.”

Last spring the Spartans went 17-3 during the regular season, grabbing an eight seed in the Division 4 Tournament. Once in the post-season Uxbridge rattled off impressive wins against Lunenberg (10-3) and Lynnfield (9-1), before losing to the number one seed and eventual State Champion Joseph Case. Although the Spartans fell in the quarter finals, Creighton is excited about the fact that Uxbridge has no seniors on this year’s squad and is young, but talented.

 “This is one of the most talented group of girls that have worked with,” the first-year coach said. “With that, I have put a lot of demands on them. I will be tough, but only because I see the talent that these girls have and the ability they all have to contribute to this team.”

Having set the bar high, Creighton is looking forward to this group to do big things and is expecting them to make the State Championship Final. While she is anticipating a very productive season, if things don’t work out, the entire team should be back next spring with yet another year under their belts.

Juniors Bailey Dzivasen (second base and pitcher) and Olivi Pirrotta (catcher) will once again be holding the prestigious captain positions. According to Creighton, she had asked the team to nominate girls and she was going to choose from there, but when she noticed the decisions by their peers were unanimous she went with the team’s opinion.

Sophomore Erin O’Day will take the ball for the majority of the time throughout the season as Uxbridge marches toward the tournament. 

 “In my opinion, especially having been a pitcher, she is probably the strongest in the division and the state,” the coach said. “She has been working on her craft for a long time and is very dominant. She is a pitching coach at Planet Fastpitch in Uxbridge and is as passionate as they come when she steps on the field.”

The team’s third pitcher, Katherin Pratt will be utilized throughout the season along with Dzivasen, but it will be O’Day who gets the start. Offensively, Pratt is a force at the plate batting in the clean-up spot for the Spartans. In addition to Pratt’s bat, Uxbridge will also be able to rely on sophomore Lola Grube, the team’s short-stop who can also hit with power. Yet another powerful hitter will come courtesy of first baseman Keira Paul.

 “The majority of our lineup can hit the ball with power and over the fence,” Creighton said. “While the girls at the bottom of the lineup are not to be forgotten, when the top is not doing much, these girls have continued to come through for us.”

Other athletes to grace the varsity squad and help the team make a run to the post-season are Emma Peloquin, who is quick in the outfield; Ella Belanger, the team’s back-up catcher and Ella Baine, another fast individual in the field who can also produce some timely hits.

Eighth grader Ava Rosborough will patrol centerfield for the Spartans and should have an impact on the varsity squad; she also possess great small ball skills. Rounding out the team is sophomore Dylan Demers, a junior varsity athlete last year that was called up near the end of the season. 

 “Dylan has been developing her skills outside of her comfort zone and was able to get her first varsity hit against Bartlett and you could see the confidence building after that,” Creighton said. “During tryouts she really stood out and with all her hard work and hustle I can see major potential in her.”

As the girls continue to work hard at the goal at hand, Crieghton implies that when they are able to scale that mountain it would be because of their talent.

 “Uxbridge has never had a State Champion in softball and it would be a great accomplishment if we can do that this year,” the coach said. “And although it would be very exciting for the school, it would have vey little to do with me. It would be the talent of the girls on the field that will eventually get them there.”