Before last year, no schools in this iteration of the Bay State Conference had won a state softball title.
In 2024, Walpole broke that drought, taking home the Division II title with a 1-0 win over Westfield.
This year, while the Timberwolves have had more bumps in the regular season, they have the chance to be just as dominant in the playoffs.
Walpole won’t be the only Bay State team heading to the postseason this year. In Division I, five teams from the conference are heading to the state tournament.
While there isn’t a clear-cut favorite amongst the Div. I group, there is still plenty of talent among the teams that qualified.
Whether it’s a dominant arm in Weymouth or clutch-hitting outfielder at Needham, here is one player to watch from each Bay State Conference softball team in the postseason this year.
Chloe Nestor, junior center fielder, No. 30 Framingham Div. I
In 15 games for the Flyers this season, Nestor tallied a whopping 26 hits. The junior finished the regular season batting average .634 with 16 RBIs.
Ending the season with a seven-game hitting streak during which she hit .750, Nestor enters the postseason red-hot.
Kelsey Pittman, senior left fielder, No. 13 Needham Div. I
Batting over .400 this year, Pittman has been the top bat for the Rockets this season. Pittman also knows how to hit with runners on, finishing with five multi-RBI games.
Cracking the state tournament for the third season in a row, Pittman has a chance to show off her clutch hitting in the postseason once again.
Nora Hamel, sophomore pitcher, No. 14 Newton North Div. I
Hamel does anything asked of her this season. The sophomore hits leadoffs for the Tigers, handles the majority of the team’s pitching, and can play the infield or outfield when needed.
Heading to her second straight postseason, Hamel looks to lead her Tigers even deeper in the state tournament after falling to eventual champion Taunton in the second round last year.
Victoria Fish, junior catcher, No. 32 Milton Div. II
An elite power hitter, Fish kept the Wildcats alive for much of the season this year with her ability to deliver the long ball.
At one point, the junior homered in five straight games for Milton. The Holy Cross commit is also a key presence behind the plate for the Wildcats and will look to handle her own team’s pitches as they try for a postseason run.
Sharlotte Stazinski, senior pitcher, No. 4 Walpole Div. II
Stazinski did not allow a single run during Walpole’s run in the postseason last year.
During her final regular season as a Timberwolf this year, Stazinski was similarly dominant. Seven of Walpole’s 14 regular season wins came by way of shutout this season.
Stazinski is also a great bat for the Timberwolves, delivering from any spot in the order she’s slotted into.
Elizabeth McDonnell, junior pitcher/outfielder, No. 21 Wellesley Div. I
McDonnell was one of the best bats for Wellesley this season. As a junior, she batted .383 in the regular season and drove in 15 runs. She was also a terror on the base paths for the Raiders.
When she wasn’t hitting, McDonnell utilized her speed in centerfield for Wellesley.
McDonnell also became a very productive pitcher for the Raiders as the season moved on. The team as a whole won five of its last six games, McDonnell went 4-0 as the team’s starting pitcher during that span.
Jillian Ondrick, junior pitcher, No. 17 Weymouth Div. I
There may not be a better pitcher in Massachusetts, perhaps not in all of New England than Ondrick.
The University of South Carolina commit can reach 70 with her fastball and puts it exactly where she wants every time. Combine the heater with her off-speed pitches and she’s been almost unhittable for the Wildcats this season.
The junior is also the best bat for Weymouth. If she’s not being intentionally walked, she’s a threat to go deep every time up.
