Colonials winging it; Aditays is after 2nd state title.

Byline: Jim Wilson 

COLUMN: CENTRAL MASS. SOFTBALL PREVIEW

SHREWSBURY - If the Shrewsbury High softball team expects to defend its Division 1 state title this season, senior hurler Amanda Aditays has to run the show - something she couldn't be happier about.

But the Colonials' opponents don't share her excitement.

Last season, Shrewsbury went 24-1 and upended Dighton-Rehoboth, 2-1, to win the state title, utilizing the 1-2 punch of Aditays and Michaella Mahoney in the pitching circle to get the job done. Mahoney finished the regular season with a 14-0 record and a 0.94 ERA, while Aditays went 5-1 with a 0.65 ERA and came up big with wins in the Central Mass. final against Shepherd Hill Regional and in the state final against the Falcons.

Mahoney is now at Saint Anselm, and while opposing teams are happy to see her go, they're not too overjoyed at the thought of seeing Aditays in the majority of the big games this spring. While coach Phil Chevalier diplomatically straddled the fence when discussing which ace was better, most coaches felt Aditays had a slight edge.

It's like choosing between getting hit by a hammer or a brick - they're both going to hurt.

"My mindset has changed because it has always been me and Michaela," Aditays said. "This is the first year I'm on my own and it's a little different. It's a challenge."

Aditays worked hard in the offseason to get ready for the task, taking pitching lessons at Planet Fastpitch in Uxbridge and working with a personal trainer.

"If I didn't think I had anything to work on and didn't want to get better, I don't think I'd be a very good pitcher," Aditays said. "Every good player wants to get better, and I've been working really hard this winter. I just want to get better, especially before I go to college."

Chevalier has enjoyed watching Aditays improve over the past four years.

"Amanda has gotten to the point where she's pitching at a college level now," Chevalier said. "She has multiple pitches and she's working on a breaking ball now that she couldn't throw last year because her arm was sore."

The sore arm put Aditays on the shelf toward the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. Aditays was able to play first base for Shrewsbury, and hit .521 last season, but Chevalier pointed out she has yet to put together a healthy season, missing a handful of games with various - but not serious - injuries.

Chevalier is amazed at her dedication to become a better pitcher.

"More than a lot of kids, she's very dedicated to what she's doing," Chevalier said. "Any good pitcher was pitching all winter, they started in October and threw right through the winter. She stepped it up and did that and went to strength and conditioning programs."

Aditays has learned from some great coaches in her life, but perhaps her biggest help has come from her older sister, Jessica, who is regarded as one of the greatest pitchers to come out of Central Mass. and recently wrapped up a starry career for the University of Maryland.

"She's been there before, so she can give me advice about pretty much everything," Aditays said of her sister, who is now living in the Bahamas and working as a dolphin trainer at a resort.

Amanda will follow in her sister's footsteps to the college level, having earned a scholarship at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. That has taken a load off her shoulders this season and allowed her to focus just on bringing Shrewsbury another championship.

"Last year was the most stressful year because that's the year you really have to get your name out there and be seen, but now I can just relax and have fun," Aditays said. "I think that will make my pitching better because I won't have that stress and be as tight or get nervous. It's one less thing to worry about."

The Colonials return eight seniors this year, which should help fill in for the losses of two T&G Super Team picks in Mahoney and second baseman Shavonne Lord, who is now at Bowdoin. Chevalier said senior Andrea DiTerlizzi and freshman Alexa Ferraro should help out Aditays in the circle.

Seniors Christine D'Amico and Kristen LeMay return in the infield, while junior Lindsi Panarelli will catch and senior Chelsi Panarelli will play first. The outfield will feature a combination of seniors Stacey Meader, Erica Puccio, Andrea DiTerlizzi and Lydia Ermilio, along with juniors Taylor Lincoln and Lauren Porcaro. Chevalier also expects junior Gianna Padavano and freshman Kaitlyn Duval to contribute.

Shrewsbury's only loss last year was to Gardner. The Colonials come into the season with a 23-game winning streak. Chevalier said his team knows how the highs and lows of a season can go.

"We had a very good team last year, but we had a very good team the year before and we weren't anywhere near as successful," Chevalier said. "We lost the league, we were eliminated in the second round of the districts, and this year could very easily go that way if they don't prepare themselves up front."

Chevalier said the 2005 season may have been a wakeup call for the Colonials, adding: "It might not have been the thing that got us to win the state championship, but they ended up understanding that the things we do today, tomorrow and three weeks from now or a month from now, will prepare us for those games."

With a steady crop of dominating pitchers on the schedule who are lining up to take down Shrewsbury - Allie Hardy of Leominster, Elyssa Boris of Gardner and Kaitlyn Andrews of Hudson, to name a few - Aditays and the Colonials are ready.

"Against those types of pitchers, I think we'll just rise up to that," Aditays said. "We all know we'll (be) that target the whole year. Our opponents know what we have returning, so they know we're one of the teams to beat.

"We're definitely looking to repeat, especially with all the seniors that we have. We also know teams will be after us. We have to come with our `A' game every game."

Central Mass. Softball 2006

Central Mass. finals: Division 1 - Shrewsbury 10, Shepherd Hill 0. Division 2 - Hudson 3, Notre Dame Academy 2. Division 3 - Valley Tech 6, Whitinsville Christian 2.

Top teams: Division 1 - Burncoat, Holy Name, Gardner, Leominster, Marlboro, Milford, Nashoba, North Middlesex, Quabbin, Shrewsbury, St. Peter-Marian, Wachusett. Division 2 - Blackstone-Millville, David Prouty, Grafton, Hudson, Millbury, Monty Tech, Murdock, Northbridge, Notre Dame Academy, Oxford, Uxbridge. Division 3 - Ayer, Bay Path, Valley Tech, Douglas, Narragansett, West Boylston, Whitinsville Christian.

Top players: Division 1 - Carolyn Whittier, Algonquin; Alyssa Boykin, Kristin Hurley, Jill Hurley, Burncoat; Katie Murray, Fitchburg; Elyssa Boris, Nikki Pratt, Andrea Ramsdell, Gardner; Emily Griffin, Allie Hardy, Jordon Storro, Leominster; Jessie Bryant, Meagan Montesian, Kellie Sullivan, Marlboro; Kristen Morcone, Alex Murray, Milford; Courtney Collier, Allie Durben, Nashoba; Nicole Monroe, Amanda Quin, Stacia Tenore, North Middlesex; Kyla Dickson, Quincy Lacwasan, Hannah May, Heidi Waugh, Quabbin; Julia Enman, Holly Renna, Shepherd Hill; Amanda Aditays, Christine D'Amico, Kristen Lemay, Shrewsbury; Courtney Allain, Sarah Carter, Lauryn Dahrooge, Jess Mulvihill, St. Peter-Marian; Liz Miskinnis, Lindsey Trotto, Jill Wiseman, Wachusett. Division 2 - Heather Mortell, Bartlett; Tricia Breault, Hannah Moriggi, Emily Morin, Blackstone-Millville; Gillian Ball, Kerry McCarthy, Maria Testa, Clinton; Aimee Lamoureaux, Katie LaPrade, Eryn Shea, David Prouty; Jessica Felbaum, Jayme Mask, Amanda Massad, Grafton; Kristen Koed, Groton-Dunstable; Kaitlyn Andrews, Laura Bowen, Lori DeArchangelis, Cristy Jenkins, Jamie Millett, Hudson; Brittany Sestokas, Leicester; Kaitlyne Cullinane, Michelle Dion, Nicole Dion, Alivya Misner, Lunenburg; Julie Murray, Millbury; Alisha Burdell, Sarah Coburn, Janna Malo, Monty Tech; Lauren Coderre, Paige Girard, Ashlyn White, Murdock; Nicki Hackenson, Nipmuc; Kaitlyn LaFlash, Stacey Stanovich, Kasey Weihn, Northbridge; Lindsey Bridge, Sara Haimila, Desi Hamelin, Brandi Kennelly, Oakmont; Sarah Boyda, Lindsay Hassett, Melinda Robbins, Oxford; Crystal Torres, Southbridge; Elise Boissoneau, Gina Torcolletti, St. Bernard's; Jess Barth, Julie Caffrey, Amy Whitten, Uxbridge. Division 3 - Amanda Carlson, Katie Salka, Ayer; Becky Lebel, Meaghan Sheehan, Blackstone Valley Tech; Katie Croyle, Derrin Jarvis, Casey Silver, Bromfield; Julie Davis, Nicole Levesque, Christie Newell, Nicole Levesque, Douglas; Bethany Bush, Megan O'Neal, Littleton; Jessica Peacock, Hopedale; Molly Cameron, Sara Favreau, Amanda Gauthier, Sarah Hamel, Narragansett; Adrienna Camarda, Alyssa Juszczyk, Holly Millier, Quaboag; Laura Murphy, Amy Waller, Tahanto; Jessica Graham, Ashley Sabacinski, West Boylston; Martine Dolan, Cassie Ouwinga, Kristen Vriesema, Whitinsville Christian. Prep - Rachel Gerhardt, Cynthia Javaras, Sarah Kelley, Lauren O'Leary, Bancroft.

Returning T&G Super Team members: Aditays, Andrews, Breault, Bowen, Griffin.

Coaching changes: Kate Holter for Nikki Ruffo at Algonquin; Heidi Tatum for Kevin Sloan at Auburn; Meg Curtin for Clare Gentilucci at Burncoat; Lou Colabello for Emily Vaillant at Douglas; Eli Ciprari for Jodi Bourassa at Leicester; Kim Kolaczyk for Ed Savage at North; Jay Kelley for Mike Lavallee at Notre Dame Academy; Sheila McGrail for Tracey Davenport at North Brookfield; John Fox for Cliff Lanier at Quaboag; Beth Terho for Lori Beaudoin at St. Bernard's.

NAME: SHREWSBURY HIGH SCHOOL 

ART: PHOTO

PHOTOG: ELLEN HARASIMOWICZ

CUTLINE: Amanda Aditays is ready to deliver during her final season at Shrewsbury High.