Twelve months older. Twelve months stronger. Twelve months smarter.
After losing two games — one extra-innings — by a combined two runs at last year's Senior Little League Softball Eastern Regional in Worcester, Salem begins this year's tournament push with a best-of-three Sectional Final series against Wakefield, tonight at Mack Park in Salem (5:30 p.m.).
The squad is led by the three-pitcher blend of Beverly High's Sarah Pezzulo, Salem News all-star Sarah Chasse of Salem and Bishop Fewnick'sTaylor Ahearn. Chasse, who recorded seven of the team's nine tournament wins last year, will get the nod in the sectional series' opener.
Using Pezzulo, Ahearn (who broke her arm during last year's tournament) and Chasse all regularly should be devastating for opposing batters, Salem head coach Patrick Chasse said.
"This is the beauty of it," he said. "They'll all pitch every game. It's an asset that should keep batters off-balance."
Shortstop Lauren Schaejbe and third baseman Leslie Biaez are also noteworthy contributors for Salem, which looks to impliment a "small-ball" offensive philsophy.
"Bunting, stealing," Chasse explained. "I'm a crazy coach."
If Salem, which returned all but two players from last year, is to advance from the sectional final, it will travel back to Worchester for the Eastern Regional from July 31 to August 6.
