Softball talent coming to UMass

By John Vellante  |  July 6, 2008

A handful of NorthWest area athletes make up what University of Massachusetts at Lowell softball coach Harry Sauter is calling "probably the best overall talent we've ever brought in here."

The class includes junior Liz Mucica of Tewksbury, who transfers from Assumption, sophomore Lauren Maruca of Pelham, N.H., a transfer from New Haven, and nine freshmen, many of them MVPs of their respective leagues, and most of them all-star caliber.

The bonuses are Mucica, a pitcher, and Maruca, a catcher, creating what could be a potent battery in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Mucica played two years at Assumption after a stellar high school career in Tewksbury, where she was the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 1 Player of the Year in 2005. At Assumption, she was 2-0 in 15 appearances her freshman year and last season went 5-11 with a 3.18 earned run average in 23 appearances for a team that struggled through a dismal 10-34 campaign. Maruca played in eight games for New Haven, which was 29-21 and advanced to the NCAA Northeast Region championship game.

Other recruits include:

Pitcher Marissa Fiorentino of Tewksbury, infielder/outfielder Paula Ruszkowski of Reading, outfielder Ashley Daniels of Medford, who played at Arlington, infielder Nikko Tremblay of Merrimack, N.H., infielder Jennifer Martin of New York, catcher Lindsi Paranelli of Shrewsbury, pitcher Elyssa Boris of Gardner, infielder Meagan Guy of Berlin, Conn., and infielder/outfielder Jaymie Sommers of Voluntown, Conn.

Fiorentino led Tewksbury to its fourth straight MVC Division 1 title this season. She had a 17-3 record, with 10 shutouts, including a no-hitter, and a 0.43 earned run average. Daniels is a three-time All-Greater Boston league pick and Tremblay led Merrimack to back-to-back New Hampshire titles and was the team's MVP her junior year.

Perhaps the most decorated of the newcomers is Guy, who was a four-year starter at Berlin, three-time all-state honoree, and the team's MVP three straight years.

"We've had some real good classes here and it's going to take a while for this class to get up to speed, but we feel this group has a lot to offer," said Sauter, who led the River Hawks to a 24-25 season and is 357-299-3 in his career.

Three golf tournaments of note on the upcoming calendar. However, all fall on July 28, so, you'll have to make a choice. Central Catholic hosts its annual tournament, dinner, and auction at Haverhill Country Club. Proceeds benefit the school's Montagne Project scholarship program. Call Julianne Bloise at 978-682-0260, ext. 625, or visit alumni.centralcatholic.net/golf08 for more information . . . UMass-Lowell holds its Thomas Chamberas Memorial Tournament at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua. It benefits the River Hawks cross-country and track and field programs. More information can be found at goriverhawks.com or by calling the athletic office at 978-934-2342 . . . Finally, Melmark New England's annual tournament is at Andover Country Club. Melmark, based in Andover, serves children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, acquired brain injury, neurological diseases and disorders, dual diagnosis, and severe challenging behaviors, and proceeds from the tournament help expand its programs. Call Margot Regan at 978-654-4342 for more information.

It was feast or famine one day last week for the Lowell Spinners. In the opener of a twin bill with the Oneonta Tigers, the Spinners bashed out 15 hits in a 14-2 win. The nightcap, however, was a completely different story. Lowell was held hitless by a trio of Oneonta pitchers (David Stokes, Anthony Shawler, and Tyler Stohr) and dropped a 2-1 decision. Despite going hitless, Lowell held a 1-0 lead (walk, wild pitch, and error) heading into the last inning. . . . The New Jersey Devils re-signed Winchester native and former Boston University All-American Jay Pandolfo. Pandolfo, 33, will enter his 12th NHL season, all with New Jersey, and has scored 90 goals and 114 assists in 706 games. Last season, he had a dozen goals and a dozen assists. He played on the Devils' 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup championship teams. . . . Pinkerton's Bobby Dattilo and Bishop Guertin's Eric Harries shared the New Hampshire Division 1 lacrosse offensive player of the year award. Timberlane's Chris Hinton won in Division 2. . . . Bentley freshman outfielder James Roche of Arlington has been named to the ABCA/Rawlings Division 2 All-Northeast Region team. Roche batted .342 and had 7 home runs and 32 RBIs and previously was honored as the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Year. . . . Greater Lawrence All-Scholastic Nate Adames scored four touchdowns to pace the West to a 32-0 win in the first Vocational Senior Bowl at Greater New Bedford Vocational. . . . The New England Riptide of the National Pro Fastpitch League, will host the Chinese Taipei Olympic team today at 5 p.m. and tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Martin Field in Lowell.

Sports Notebook ideas or information may be sent to vellante@globe.com.