Originally, Ric Carrero moved over from Southbridge to Bay Path Regional Voke in 2015 to teach history. In addition to teaching history at Southbridge High he was also their softball and football coach for the past six years. Two years after arriving at Bay Path he took over the Minuteman softball program where he would continue to coach for seven years (the program lost one year due to Covid in 2020). Three years ago, while still coaching softball he became the Athletic Director as well.

Prior to Carrero taking over the Bay Path softball team, then playing in the Colonial League small division, the girls had only made the playoffs once during the team’s history. When Carrero came in he was looking to retain athletes as Bay Path was not only having trouble hanging on to kids to play the sport, but many didn’t fully care about the program and it was touch-and-go if they’d show up on any given day.

“When I was in Southbridge I put in a set of rules and expectations to give the program structure,” he said. “It worked there so when I got to Bay Path I sat the team down and had them sign a contract in terms of their pathway with the program. By the end of the year we had no seniors on the team, just 10 players remained (one junior and a bunch of freshman and sophomores).”

Those remaining 10 players took to the field and played their hearts out and were eventually able to win their first District game in 20 years. The girls that stuck with Carrero and his philosophies were serious about the sport and wanted to play. In the end everything worked out for the program.

During his tenure, the coach was able to guide the Minutemen to 3 consecutive small school Championships in the Colonial league in 2017, 18 and 19 before the season was canceled in 2020 due to Covid. The following year, with no real league to play in because of the lingering effects of the Covid shut-down, Bay Path was able to go 9-5 in the shortened season. The Colonial League merged the small and large school divisions into one league and in 2023 and 2024 Bay Path took top honors capturing the Colonial League Championships under Carrero. 

Over his seven campaigns as head coach Carrero led the Minutemen to a 95-66 won/loss record having advanced into the tournament each year. When the MIAA got rid of the District Tournament and went with a State Tournament format Bay Path was able to secure an 18th seed in 2022 and 2023 while in Division 4. In 2024 they were moved up to Division 2 where they were 20th (if they were still in Division 4 they would have been an 8 seed) and last year the team was ranked 35th.

According to Carrero 2025 was a reboot season having lost 8 seniors from the previous year. Despite not expecting a lot, Bay Path found themselves at 8-10 with two games left on their schedule and, after capturing W’s in those games, they were able to get into the State Tournament for yet another season to keep their streak alive. Unfortunately, the young Bay Path team lost 3-1 to Oliver Ames in the first round but they were proud of being a consistent team that made it back into the playoffs.

Throughout his coaching career at Bay Path the furthest that the team was able to go in the post-season was in 2019 when they reached the Semi-Finals of the District Tournament. While Bay Path was never able to get out of the first round in the State Tournament they had changed the culture of the program. In 2023 they were the runners up in the large school Vocational Championship game.

With the girls buying into Carrero’s philosophies they were able to make that culture change and put the softball program in a better place. 

“At first, I was told that it was going to be a struggle; softball was not all that important in the school. The 10 kids that finished that year showed that it could work and we could win and be competitive with rules. What we were able to build here I am super proud of and going forward the girls are very serious about the program,” he said.

The coach continues to express his gratitude for having been given the opportunity by Bay Path and how proud he was to coach the girls over the last seven seasons. In the beginning it wasn’t the case that the girls were all that proud to put on the Bay Path uniform, but things changed under Carrero. 

Now after seven years at the helm Carrero is stepping down as the coach but wouldn’t do so until he found someone with the same values that he held – enter Joe Pietrzak. The new softball coach has been involved in coaching a multitude of sports for the past 30 plus years. For the past 11 seasons he has been coaching boys’ basketball for Oxford and since 2021 he has been the assistant varsity softball coach as well as the coach of the junior varsity team at Shepherd Hill.

Pietrzak was looking to get back into a head coaching role on the softball field when the Bay Path opportunity opened. 

“I was looking for a challenge and wanted to become a varsity softball coach,” the new coach said, “Here at Bay Path I am looking to build upon the program that Ric put together over the last decade and keep softball successful here.”

Although still early in his new position Pietrzak has seen that the team has a good mix of senior leadership with some talented underclassmen. Senior captains Gabi LaPan, the team’s shortstop, and Miranda Linde, the centerfielder, will be heavily relied upon by the incoming coach.

“I am looking for their leadership on and of the field more now as I transition into my new role as head coach,” he said. “Both captains have shown to be good softball players, and I am hoping that they can give our lineup some pop. They’ve got the tools and are disciplined at the plate.”

Pietrzak continued to note that Linde is one of the best centerfielders around and LaPan has the range to be a lock down shortstop. In addition, both girls also have strong arms at their positions.

In addition to the captains, the new coach is watching freshman pitcher Serina Lynch, hoping that the young hurler can compete for a chance to get into the circle for the Minutemen this season. Competitiveness is something that has been truly intriguing to the coach thus far. 

“It’s rather indicative of all the competitions that we have within the program,” he said. “Our depth is good and that allows the girls to push one another for jobs making everyone better.”

Coming into his first campaign with Bay Path Pietrzak is very excited about not only building upon Carrero’s success but being able to take it to the next level. With that said, it may not be as easy as it seems. The MIAA moved things around this year, and Bay Path will be playing in the CMAC B this spring amongst some quality teams.

Despite the toughness of the upcoming season Pietrzak is hoping that his girls can compete for the league championship, while also qualifying for the MIAA playoffs as well as getting a chance to play for the State Vocational Championship.