Last spring, Perry won its sixth straight Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division title and the Pirates are gearing up for a run at a seventh.
This year, they’ll try to do it with a new head coach and a few new faces in the starting lineup.
“Perry is returning a solid core of six varsity players from last year,” said first-year head coach Michelle Carino. “Overall, we are a very athletic team and have players who can play multiple fielding positions very well. Our offense has definitely been a strength this preseason. In addition, we have several players who can be effective in the pitching circle. Our expectation is to continue the strong winning tradition Perry softball is known for.”
The Pirates finished last season 16-8 overall and 8-0 in league play.
They hope to keep that conference-winning streak alive this spring while also making a deeper run in the postseason.
“Although we are young, the team goal is to win our conference and play deep into the playoffs,” Carino said.
The Pirates will be without sophomore standout Madeline Infalvi, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Infalvi batted .656 as a freshman on her way to earning first-team All-CVC honors and the Ohio Varsity Freshman of the Year award.
“We have an injury to a key player and few of our players are learning new positions,” Carino said. “These players are the epitome of the ‘team first’ attitude. As long as we keep a strong team culture and the current selfless attitude, we will be able to overcome the challenges we face this season. In addition, we have the challenge of trying to play a JV and varsity schedule with a total of 20 available players. We hope to keep as many players playing as often as possible so that our youth develop and our varsity team competes at a high level. We are confident that the players who are available to play will be prepared and ready to play at the level we expect.”
Carino won’t focus on who isn’t in the lineup, and for good reason.
She has a solid core of returning starters and collectively, the Pirates have few weaknesses.
Senior third baseman Emma Pietrzak is back after missing most of her junior year with an injury. The Holy Cross commitment will be counted on to lock down the hot corner and to continue her assault on the softball in the batter’s box.
“Emma is coming off an injury from last season so she is eager to get back on the diamond and lead the Pirates to victory,” Carino said. “She is a tremendous third baseman and has power at the plate. Her knowledge of softball and willingness to teach and work with the younger players makes her a natural leader. We will look to Emma to lead us on and off the field as she competes in her final high school season before starting her collegiate career at Holy Cross.”
Senior shortstop Lillyan Agostine, a Lakeland Community College commitment, also returns and could see time in the circle this spring as the Pirates develop a young pitching staff. She earned second-team All-CVC honors last year.
“Lilly is the most selfless player I have ever coached,” Carino said. “She knew we were limited at the pitching position this year, so she worked hard in the offseason to develop her pitching skills. She is a leader by example, and we expect great things from her at shortstop, pitcher, and at the plate.”
Junior catcher Calli Thompson, a first-team All-CVC performer last spring, has developed into one of the top backstops in the area and she’ll also help the Pirates at first base.
“Calli is a returning starter as a junior who will play catcher and first base,” Carino said. “She is a solid defensive player as well as a threat in the batting order. Calli’s experience and leadership will be essential for a successful season this year.”
Thompson and sophomore Rosalyn Tharp both will see time behind the plate and at first base. Tharp also landed on the All-CVC first-team last season.
“Rosalyn is a returning starter as a sophomore,” Carino said. “She is an impressive young player both defensively and offensively. We expect her to develop into a leader this season.”
Senior Margeaux Robinson will play second base for the Pirates.
“She has had an impressive preseason and we are happy that she is with us this year,” Carino said.
Sophomore Elise Strahan, an honorable mention All-CVC selection, will start in center field and possibly see some time in the infield. Senior Alexa Rogers will play right field and provide some depth in the pitching circle, and sophomore Sydney Collins will play left field.
“Elise is another returning letterman as a sophomore. She is a very versatile player on our roster. She will play centerfield as the season opens, but she will also see time in the infield as well. Elise will bat in the leadoff role as she is an offensive threat both at the plate and on the bases,” Carino said. “As a senior, Alexa will take on some of the pitching responsibilities as well as play right field to start the season. We look for her to cause chaos at the plate as a left-handed hitter. Sydney is a returning letter winner as a sophomore. Her natural position is outfield, and we look forward to watching her develop this season. Sydney has impressed me at the plate this preseason.
Sophomore Maddie Rupert will step into the circle this season for the Pirates.
“Maddie is a first-year varsity player and will be the main pitcher for the Pirates this year,” Carino said. “Maddie is a determined softball player and we look forward to watching her develop this season both as a pitcher and as a hitter.”
Perry once again has a loaded lineup, but the Pirates are young and inexperienced in the circle.
To extend their conference championship streak to seven, the Pirates will have to protect their young pitchers both with their bats and gloves.
“In order for our team to be successful, we will need to play solid defense and score more runs than our opponent,” Carino said.
