Replacing the franchise cornerstone is priority one this spring for Whittier Tech softball coach Cheryl Begin.
Kaylee Habib, the 2025 Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year, threw basically every Wildcats pitch for the past four years, amassing 73 career wins and 694 strikeouts.
The Cats start over in the circle for 2026.
“Freshmen Liliana Schiavone and Ava Grigway will be sharing the duties on the mound and relying on a group of talented veterans coming off a 2025 C.A.C League Championship and State Vocational Championship,” said Begin. “This is truly a rebuilding season with hopes of getting back to the MIAA state tourney.
“We are entering this season with a very young and determined group of athletes getting ready to make their mark.”
Whittier will feature a roster with three sophomores – including captain Alyvia Feliz – and seven freshmen.
The Wildcats do return four other starters in Katreina Green at third, Sophia Groundwater-Giordano in left, Noella Santos in center and Samantha Evans, who could see time at short or the outfield.
Greater Lawrence Tech will need to replace a centerpiece of its own with the graduation of Eagle-Tribune All-Star catcher Mya German.
The rocket-armed backstop dominated offensively while shutting down opponents’ running games.
Of course, when you have four-year starter and CAC All-Star Samantha Nasella returning in the circle, coach John Delaney’s club could have a head-start on the competition.
“This year’s team is a hard-working enthusiastic group. We are young and inexperienced group that will be better as the season goes,” said Delaney. “We are hoping to compete for the league title and make the state tournament. That is norm here now every year at Greater Lawrence.”