State champs and plenty of sluggers: 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball All-Scholastics

TAUNTON — Another high school softball season has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area, and once again, the area is home to a state champion.

Taunton (24-1) reached dynasty status as they downed No. 1 Central Catholic to win its third straight Division I title. Dighton-Rehoboth (18-5) dominated offensively as it made it all the way to the Division III Elite Eight before falling to No. 7 Triton while Bridgewater-Raynham (18-4) went undefeated in league play to win the Southeast Conference. The Trojans made it all the way to the Division I Sweet Sixteen where they fell to No. 9 Methuen. Bristol-Plymouth (10-9) scored its first win over rivals Diman since 2018 and qualified for the Division III tournament, where they fell to the No. 2 Falcons in the Round of 32.

With the spring season now in the rearview, here's a final look back at the Greater Taunton area softball players who stood out among the crowd to earn their spot as 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball All-Scholastics. With a state champion and all four teams scoring at least postseason win, this year's All-Scholastics has been expanded to 12 players instead of 10 to better reflect the abundance of local softball talent.

Player of the Year

Sam Lincoln, Taunton

The junior pitcher's highly-anticipated return to the circle after a year away from the Tigers proved well worth the wait as she proved crucial in securing the program a third straight Division I title. The tall southpaw dominated opposing batters, going 17-1 over the course of the regular season allowing just 13 runs while striking out 228 for a 0.406 ERA. She turned the heat up even more for the tournament, where she went 5-0 allowing just two runs and five walks while striking out 53, 11 of which came in a semi-final shutout win over rivals and 2023 Hockomock Kelley-Rex co-champions King Philip. Other notable performances include both 16-strikeout and 15-strikeout no-hitters against North Attleboro and a 15 strikeout shutout of Bishop Feehan.

A Hockomock League All-Star, MaxPreps Massachusetts Softball Player of the Year and MaxPreps Second Team All-American, Lincoln is also a member of the Louisville Lady Sluggers U18 - Huecker team and should be expected to continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year for the Tigers before heading off to continue her academic and athletic career at Texas Tech University.

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First Team All-Scholastics

Brooke Aldrich, Taunton

The sophomore shortstop continued to show why she is one of the most clutch players at the Tigers' disposal, including plating the lone run in a 1-0 win over North Attleboro as well as driving in Hayley Krockta for the second of two runs in the Division I semifinal win over King Philip. While she batted a solid .361 in the regular season with a home run and 20 RBIs, she truly turned on the jets for the playoffs hitting .429 with a grand slam against Woburn and six RBIs. Some of her other notable performances this spring include going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs against Milford, 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs against Stoughton and 1-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs against Foxboro.

Aldrich is also a member of the indoor track and field team and the Rhode Island Thunder Gold 16U National team and should only continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year.

Bella Bourque, Taunton

The eighth grade third baseman made an immediate impact on the Tigers this spring, quickly carving a starting role on a talent-loaded roster. At just 13 years old, she led the team in doubles (nine), triples (six) and RBIs (36) while batting .500 with a Hockomock-best 36 regular season hit and a team second-best six home runs. She was equally strong defensively in the hot corner, virtually eliminating any bunt attempt by opponents down the third base line and stopping numerous hard-hit balls that came her way. Some of her most notable performances this spring include going four-for-five with four runs and five RBIs against Foxboro, three-for-four with a run and three RBIs against Milford and two-for-five with two runs and four RBIs off a pair of home runs against Bishop Feehan.

A Hockomock All-Star and member of the Mass Dynamites 14u Gold team, the sky is the limit for Bourque, who should only continue to grow and improve as an athlete over the next four years at Taunton where she looks set to be a key part of any and all successes to come.

Kaysie DeMoura, Taunton

The senior captain and catcher wrapped up her strong high school softball career as a key leader behind the plate, helping call pitches for Lincoln and fellow Tiger pitcher Cate Larson while letting little get past her and contributing well at the plate, batting .472 with two home runs and 22 RBIs. She also made some key sacrifice bunts, including putting Ava Venturelli in scoring position as the go-ahead run against King Philip in the Division I semifinal. Some of her most notable performances this spring include going three-for-four with two runs and three RBIs against Franklin, three-for-three with four RBIs against Canton and three-for-four with a run and two RBIs against Milford.

A Hockomock All-Star, DeMoura was also named a 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Field Hockey All-Scholastic and was the 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball Player of the Year. Her leadership and abilities will certainly be missed next year as she continues her academic and softball career at Southern New Hampshire University.

Hayley Krockta, Taunton

The senior captain and first baseman wrapped up an impressive high school softball career with another stellar spring, batting .338 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Like Aldrich, she shined in the postseason, batting .338 with three RBIs, going 1-for-3 with a run and RBI in the semifinal against King Philip and 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the final against Central Catholic. Some other notable performances this spring include going 3-for-4 with a home run, five runs and three RBIs against Sharon, 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs on the road against Attleboro and 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs at home against Attleboro.

A Hockomock All-Star, Krockta was also named a 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Volleyball All-Scholastic and her leadership and abilities will certainly be missed next year as she continues her academic and softball career at UMass Boston.

Ava Venturelli, Taunton

The senior captain and outfielder truly saved her best for last, batting .479 with a team-best nine home runs and a team second-best 35 RBIs and 36 runs, all resulting in her being one of the most feared batters in the state. She also proved to be a clutch performer in the playoffs, scoring the go-ahead run against King Philip in the semi-final and going 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBIs, including a decisive three-run home run, against Central Catholic in the title game. Some of her other notable performances this spring include going 3-for-5 with a home run, run and five RBIs against Oliver Ames,  2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs on a pair of home runs against King Philip and 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs against Attleboro.

A Hockomock All-Star, Venturelli was also named a 2023 Alliance Fastpitch All-Star and has also been a member of the Louisville Lady Sluggers U18 - Huecker team with her cousin Lincoln. Her leadership and abilities will certainly be missed in Taunton next year as she continues her academic and softball career at the University of Louisville.

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Ava Selter, Bridgewater-Raynham

The junior third baseman had an immediate impact on the Trojans this season after transferring in from Southeastern, batting .484 as she led the team in runs (23), RBIs (22) and home runs (six). The power hitter also came in clutch in the Division I Round of 32 with a walk-off home run to beat Natick, 2-1. Some of her most notable performances this spring include hitting three singles and a home run with four runs and three RBIs against Braintree, hitting a single, double and home run with a run and three RBIs against Marshfield and hitting a double and home run for three runs and three RBIs against Durfee.

An SEC All-Star and Enterprise/Patriot Ledger First Team All-Scholastic, Selter was also voted the team's offensive MVP and looks set to continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year.

Lily Welch, Bridgewater-Raynham

The senior captain and pitcher wrapped up a strong high school softball career as once again one of the hardest pitchers to hit in the area, going 17-3 while giving up 25 runs on 83 hits and 18 walks while striking out 228 in 144 innings of work for a 1.21 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. She recorded eight shutouts, with some of her most notable performances this spring including a nine-inning, 17-strikeout no-hitter against Braintree, a five-inning 13-strikeout perfect game against Brockton and a 15-strikeout shutout of New Bedford. In her final regular season game against eventual Division I semifinalists King Philip, she struck out 10 in eight innings as the Trojans secured the extra-inning win. She also proved to be a capable hitter, batting .367 with 11 doubles and 22 RBIs.

The SEC MVP and an Enterprise/Patriot Ledger First Team All-Scholastic, Welch will certainly be missed at B-R next year as she continues her academic career at the University of Maine, where she is considering attending open tryouts for the Black Bears softball team.

Aubrey Mabrouk, Bristol-Plymouth

The junior pitcher truly established herself in the circle this year for the Craftsmen, helping them secure their first postseason win since 2016 as she went seven innings giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six against Saugus in the Division III preliminary round. She also proved instrumental in B-P's upset win over rival Diman as she held the Bengals to three earned runs on 11 hits while striking out five in seven innings of work.

A Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star, Mabrouk is also a member of the Taunton Tornadoes 16U team and should continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year.

Cam Cloonan, Dighton-Rehoboth

The freshman second baseman, shortstop and right fielder had an immediate impact on the Falcons, with coach Katie Holmes describing her as a "firecracker" for the energy and excitement she's brought to the team. At the plate, she batted .482 with 20 singles, eight doubles, six triples, six home runs, 28 RBIs and 40 runs while defensively she recorded 45 putouts and contributed to four double plays. Some of her most notable performances this spring include going 3-for-3 with four runs, five RBIs and a home run against Bristol-Plymouth, 4-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs off a pair of singles, a double and a triple against Seekonk and 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs off a single and a pair of home runs against eventual Division IV champions Case.

A South Coast Conference All-Star, Cloonan was voted the team's Rookie of the Year. She is also a member of the basketball team and looks set to be a key figure in both sports for D-R over the next three years as she continues to grow and improve as an athlete.

Haleigh Kelley, Dighton-Rehoboth

The sophomore shortstop continued to impress for the Falcons this spring, leading the state with 14 home runs while batting a team-best .494 with 37 runs and 41 RBIs on 38 hits. Defensively, she recorded 38 putouts and assisted in four double plays, with Holmes praising her for her incredible range at the position, willingness to get down and dirty to make the play and overall softball IQ. Some of her most notable performances this spring include going 5-for-6 with five runs and eight RBIs on two singles, a double and a pair of home runs against Old Rochester, 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs on a single and double against Greater New Bedford and went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs on two home runs against eventual Division IV champions Case.

An SCC All-Star, Kelley was voted a captain for 2024 and received the team Slugger Award. She is also a captain and starting goalkeeper for the soccer team and should continue to grow and improve as an athlete in both sports over the next two years.

Lucy Latour, Dighton-Rehoboth

The junior center fielder once again was key to the success of the Falcons, both at the plate and in the field. She batted .466 with 41 hits, including eight home runs, five stolen bases, 35 runs and 33 RBIs while contributing 42 putouts in the outfield and assisting in two double plays, getting the runner out at home on both occasions. Holmes praised her for being a great leader and role model on and off the field as well as being one of the most humble players she's ever worked with. Some of her most notable performances this spring include going 5-for-5 with five runs and seven RBIs on a pair of home runs, a pair of singles and a triple against Mansfield, 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs off a home run against eventual Division II semifinalists Somerset Berkley and 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs against Apponequet.

A unanimous SCC All-Star, Latour was also named the 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Volleyball Player of the Year and a 2022-23 Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Basketball All-Scholastic, making it six straight seasons she's been named an All-Scholastic going back to the fall of 2021. She was awarded the team's MVP and voted a captain for the 2024 season. Expect her to continue to grow and improve as an athlete in all three sports as she heads into her senior year.

Second Team All-Scholastics

Kyleah Plumb, Taunton

Mia Torres, Taunton

Holly Clary, Bridgewater-Raynham

Ky Hicks, Bridgewater-Raynham

Taylor Reid, Bridgewater-Raynham

Ella DelSignore, Bristol-Plymouth

Mackenna Mangott, Bristol-Plymouth

Kylie Hillier, Dighton-Rehoboth

Emma Horrocks, Dighton-Rehoboth

Madelyn Kelley, Dighton-Rehoboth

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: The 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball All-Scholastics