Queens of the Diamond: 15 Greater Taunton softball players to watch this spring

The unmistakable sound of pinging metal bats and snapping leather gloves returning to the air can only mean one thing: softball is back in the Greater Taunton area.

Last spring, the Silver City remained the softball hub of Massachusetts as Taunton (24-1, 15-1 Hockomock) downed No. 1 Central Catholic to win its third straight Division I title. Dighton-Rehoboth (18-5, 13-2 South Coast Conference) dominated offensively, making it all the way to the Division 3 Elite Eight before ultimately falling to No. 7 Triton. Bridgewater-Raynham (18-4, 8-0 Southeast Conference) went undefeated in league play on their way to another SEC title and made it to the Division 1 Round of 16 where they fell to No. 9 Methuen. Bristol-Plymouth (10-9, 8-4 Mayflower Athletic Conference) scored their first win over rivals Diman since 2018 and qualified for the Division 3 tournament, falling to the No. 2 Falcons in an all-local Round of 32 showdown.

With just four of the 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball All-Scholastics having graduated, there will be plenty of familiar faces on the diamond this year in the Greater Taunton area, as well as plenty of newcomers looking to make a name for themselves as their teams chase down glory.

Here are 15 Greater Taunton area softball players to look out for this spring.

Brooke Aldrich, Taunton

The junior shortstop has been one of the most clutch players at the Tigers' disposal over the past two seasons, coming through with walk off hits and late RBIs that have helped ensure victories in the past two tournaments. While she batted a solid .361 in the regular season last spring, 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 total RBIs. Expect Aldrich to play a key role in Taunton's pursuit of a fourth straight Division 1 title.

Aniyah Bailey, Taunton

The freshman outfielder is a new addition to the Tigers varsity squad, but already has impressed coach Michelle Raposo and looks set to see some serious game action this spring. Look for her to make a name for herself with both her bat and glove for the back-to-back-to-back Division 1 champions.

Bella Bourque, Taunton

The freshman catcher/shortstop/third baseman burst onto the scene for the Tigers last spring. Though just 13 years old at the time, she led Taunton in the team in doubles (nine), triples (six) and RBIs (36) while batting .500 with a Hockomock League-best 36 regular season hits and a team second-best six home runs. Quick with a good glove and a strong arm, Bourque is already one of the the strongest all-around players at the Tigers' disposal and should only continue to build on her prowess.

Holly Clary, Bridgewater-Raynham

The junior shortstop/pitcher will look to take on an even bigger role with the Trojans this spring following the graduation of longtime ace Lily Welch. Last spring, she tossed eight full innings in the circle, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out 11. At the plate, she batted .358 with eight doubles, a triple, 20 runs and 11 RBIs. Expect Clary to come even more into her own as a player for B-R this spring.

Caleigh Cloonan, Dighton-Rehoboth

The senior outfielder is one of the most clutch players at the Falcons' disposal, driving in 23 runs while scoring 22 herself last spring. In the Division 3 tournament, she put that on full display, going three-for-four with two runs and four RBIs against Bristol-Plymouth and one-for-two with two RBIs against Newburyport. Expect her and her sister to deliver for D-R when needed once again this spring.

Cam Cloonan, Dighton-Rehoboth

The sophomore second baseman/outfielder certainly made her mark in her debut campaign for the Falcons last spring, batting .482 with eight doubles, six triples and six home runs while also recording 45 putouts and taking part in four double plays. Named D-R's Rookie of the Year, coach Katie Holmes described Cloonan as "a firecracker in the best way" for the energy she brings to the team, and along with her sister, she should once again be a key figure in a talented Falcon lineup.

Shelby Estrella, Bristol-Plymouth

The sophomore third baseman had a solid debut campaign for the Craftsmen last spring, driving in three RBIs while scoring a run herself in an upset win over Diman. She was also one of B-P's best performers in the postseason, recording a pair of hits against Saugus in the Division 3 Preliminary Round and scoring one of the Craftsmen's two runs against Dighton-Rehoboth in the Round of 32. Expect her to continue to build on her talents and once again be a key offensive figure for B-P this spring.

Emma Horrocks, Dighton-Rehoboth

The junior catcher established herself as a key figure for the Falcons last spring, batting .408 with six home runs, 19 runs and 26 RBIs while also recording a .979 fielding percentage behind the plate, letting just two balls get past her. Additionally, she caught three baserunners stealing and picked off another three. Look for her to once again be a leader at the plate as well as behind it.

Haleigh Kelley, Dighton-Rehoboth

The junior shortstop was the home run queen of Massachusetts last spring, knocking a state-best 14 home runs out of the park while batting a team-best .494 with 37 runs and 41 RBIs. Not only that, but she was one of the most reliable players in the field as well, recording 38 putouts and taking part in four double plays, with coach Katie Holmes noting she's never afraid to get down and dirty to stop the ball. Expect her to play a crucial role in the Falcons' pursuit of the Division 3 title.

Lucy Latour, Dighton-Rehoboth

The senior outfielder comes into her fourth varsity season for the Falcons as one of the strongest all-around players in the area yet again. Last spring, in which she was named team MVP, 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. Now joined by her younger sister Edy, look for Latour to lead D-R's charge for the coveted Division 3 title.

Sam Lincoln, Taunton

The senior pitcher and Texas Tech commit heads into her final high school campaign as the player to watch in Massachusetts. Ranked as the top player in the state by MaxPreps, the 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Softball Player of the Year made a triumphant return to the Tigers last spring, going 17-1 over the course of the regular season allowing just 13 runs while striking out 228 for a 0.406 ERA, including a pair of no hitters against North Attleboro. She turned up the heat further in the tournament, going 5-0 giving up just two runs and five walks while striking out 53, 11 of which came against arch rivals King Philip in the Division 1 Final Four. All eyes will be on Lincoln and her teammates as Taunton hunts down a fourth consecutive state title.

Aubrey Mabrouk, Bristol-Plymouth

The senior pitcher was key in the Craftsmen securing their first postseason win since 2016, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six against Saugus in the Division 3 Preliminary Round. Leading the way from the circle, she was vital in key contests, including going a complete game letting up three runs while striking out five to give B-P its first win over rivals Diman since 2018. Look for her again to help lead the Craftsmen charge into the postseason.

Taylor Reid, Bridgewater-Raynham

The senior catcher is both a leader at and behind the plate for the Trojans, batting .409 last spring with 27 hits, including eight doubles, 17 runs and six RBIs while also recording 252 putouts and catching a third of all attempted base stealers. B-R's Defensive Player of the Year last season, expect her to once again solidify the backstop while also playing a key role on offense.

Ava Selter, Bridgewater-Raynham

The senior third baseman established herself as one of the top Trojan bats last spring upon transferring in from Southeastern. She batted .484 while leading the team in runs (23), RBIs (22) and home runs (six). The power hitter also came in clutch in the Division 1 Round of 32 with a walk-off home run to beat Natick, 2-1. Expect her to once again be a leader at the plate for B-R this spring.

Mia Torres, Taunton

The sophomore outfielder is another player who burst on the scene for the Tigers last year, leading the team in the regular season with a .536 average, 30 hits and 15 RBIs. In the Division 1 Final Four, she made a crucial seventh inning diving catch to help snuff out a King Philip comeback effort. Expect her to once again prove herself at the plate and the field for Taunton this season.

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as 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: Keep your eyes on these 15 Greater Taunton softball players this year