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Sports

KP Softball Team Looking To Go Back-To-Back

King Philip softball hoping for second straight state title.

 Over the past four seasons, the King Philip softball squad has compiled a 78-6 regular season record playing in the Hockomock League. 

In 2008, they went as far as the semi-finals before losing to Taunton. In 2009, they lost in the quarter finals to Brockton, but last year the Warriors went all the way.

King Philip defeated Franklin, Oliver Ames, Dighton-Rehoboth and Bishop Feehan by a combined 31-6 to capture the Division 1 South Championship. They then defeated Concord-Carlisle (4-1) and Milford (10-1) to take home the Division 1 State Championship.

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“Our goal this year is simple – it’s to return as state champions,” said King Philip Softball Coach Jim Leonard.

The Warriors' lofty goals will be met by other hopefuls, but KP returns a vast majority of last year’s championship team. Leading the charge will be tri-captains Anna Kelley at third base, Jen Robillard at short and Kelsey Gray in right field.  Kelley and Gray are both four-year starters for Leonard, while Robillard is also a four-year varsity athlete who has started the past two seasons. According to the coach, all three captains bring something different to the success of the lineup.

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In addition to Robillard at shortstop and Kelley at third, the Warriors will go with Cayleigh McCarthy at first, Tori Constantin at second and Olivia Godin behind the plate. Alyssa Siegmann will patrol center field, while Amy Nolan and Hailey Mullen will battle it out in left field. 

At the plate, the Warriors not only have athletes that can hit for power, but they also have the ability to beat out a bunt.

“We’re a well-balanced lineup from top to bottom,” Leonard said. “We can play small ball or hit with power. This team is a very versatile group.”

On the mound, KP will have two pitchers in Meg Rico and Megan Carnase sharing the duties. Both Carnase and Rico are three-year varsity players for the Warriors, and each approaches the game in a different manner. 

“Who gets the start will all depend on the particular matchup,” the coach said. “Rico pitched us through the tournament last year with her velocity and accuracy, while Meagan uses spin and location when she’s pitching.”

It really doesn’t matter who takes the mound for the Warriors this spring, Leonard has the utmost confidence in both of his hurlers.

Through the early goings, KP has walked off the field in each of its first three games with Ws. The Warriors opened the season with a 19-0 win over neighboring Franklin, and then followed that with back-to-back 3-1 wins over Mansfield and North Attleboro.

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