One of the most dominant softball pitchers in recent memory, Peabody High’s Abby Bettencourt might have been even better in the batter’s box than she was in the circle in 2024.
After totaling 51 hits and batting .638 while also posting a 0.96 earned run average and surpassing 700 career strikeouts, Bettencourt was voted Northeastern Conference Player of the Year for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season.
With Peabody winning its fourth straight NEC softball title, the Brown University bound Bettencourt was joined on the All-Northeastern Conference team by younger sister Lizzy Bettencourt, who hit .656 with eight homers and 27 RBI. Senior captain and shortstop Logan Lomasney earned another All-NEC nod after smashing eight bombs with 32 RBI and hitting at a .494 clip.
Beverly, which handed Peabody its first NEC loss in four years, earned plenty of deserved NEC recognition. Megan Sudak was voted Coach of the Year while junior first baseman Gabbi Wickeri (.466, 23 RBI), junior shortstop Jasmine Feliciano (.394, 4 home runs) and sophomore center fielder Meredith Johnston (.400, 17 RBI) garnered First Team All-NEC honors.
Marblehead set a school record for wins with 22 while winning the NEC Lynch title and also reaching the Division 2 state Final Four. Sophomore pitcher Tessa Francis, the area’s leader in strikeouts with over 200, was named All-NEC along with batterymate Luka Bornhorst, one of the league’s best defensive catchers and a run producing machine at the dish.
From Danvers, ace senior catcher Ava Gray (.397, 17 RBI, 9 runners caught stealing) and sophomore shortstop Addie McCarty (.417, 16 RBI) were voted First Team All-NEC.
Rounding out the All-Conference squad were Emma Carripichosa of Gloucester and junior catcher Lily Ventre of Saugus.
Those selected as second team NEC all-stars, listed by school, were:
BEVERLY: Elsa Reulet, Jr, 2B; Lidie Miedema, Fr., P.
DANVERS: Brea Robinson, Sr., OF; Samantha Fay, Sr., 2B.
GLOUCESTER: Cameron Carroll, Sr., P; Olivia Madruga, Fr., C.
MARBLEHEAD: Hailey Schmitt, Soph., SS; Ruby Calienes, Sr., 2B; Isabel Mortensen, Soph., OF.
MASCONOMET: Aimee Quimby, Soph., OF.
PEABODY: Kiley Doolin, Sr., 1B/3B; Avery Grieco, Sr., P/OF; Jess Steed, Sr., OF.
SALEM: Liv Loux, Soph., SS; Annie Thornett, Soph., P
SAUGUS: Taylor Deleidi, Jr., P; Ava Rogers, Sr., 3B.
SWAMPSCOTT: Maddie Lilley, Soph., 1B; Liv Barletta, Jr., OF.
WINTHROP: Isabella Cash, Jr., OF/SS.