Tide softball coach Stacy Schiavo set to begin her 26th year with the same winning aspirations

Everett opens up the GBL season against host Chelsea next Wednesday at Carter Park

By Joe McConnell

The Everett High School (18-3) softball team completed a mighty successful championship season in the Greater Boston League (GBL) last year under the direction of veteran coach Stacy Schiavo. They then went on to participate in the Division 1 state tournament as the 34th seed, where they were eliminated by host Needham in the preliminary round. But 2024 is a new year, and Schiavo’s squad is ready for another banner campaign in the GBL with the hopes of going deep into the postseason.

There’s no doubt that possibility awaits them with 11 returning players. Schiavo has already rounded her varsity roster of 15 with the addition of four newcomers to the big club.

The 2024 Crimson Tide varsity softball roster is going to consist of freshman Mia Allen, senior Arabela Cvitkusic, junior Jayla DaVilla, senior Stephany DeSouza, freshman Olivia Dresser, senior Alessandra Foster, senior Emma Longmore, junior Emilia Maria-Babcock, senior Bryanna Mason, senior Gianna Masucci, junior Kassidy Rivera, senior Chloe Salvi, junior Ashley Seward, junior Alexa Uga and junior Peyton Warren.

Schiavo is excited that the entire infield and outfield is back, but the catcher will be different with Babcock replacing Kayley Rossi. The Tide will also have a new look in the circle. Last year’s ace Kristi Skane has since graduated, along with her batterymate Rossi, but Warren is ready to step in to throw strikes.  These two junior replacements will now provide the varsity much stability at the two most important positions on the diamond for the next two springs, a luxury that’s certainly not overlooked by the Tide mentor.

Throughout the course of a season, any good team needs capable backups, and Allen, a freshman, will give the varsity just that in the circle. But for the most part, she will be honing her skills as a hurler on the JV club.

The team goals for the upcoming season remain simple for the coach. “We want to be more consistent on offense, and not be complacent,” Schiavo said. But then she added, “we would like to win the league again, and move further into the playoffs.”

Schiavo is beginning her 26th year along the Everett sidelines, and has compiled a most impressive 330-192 career record. With that type of success, another winning campaign should be in the cards for the Everett girls.

But Schiavo knows she can’t win by herself, and that’s where Jen Nigro comes in as her varsity assistant. The JV team is going to be headed up by Danielle Kennedy-Nadeau. Bridget Cifuni is in charge of the freshman club.

Everett was scheduled to open up the regular season yesterday (March 28) at Glendale Park against non-league Cambridge, weather permitting. They will then begin the league schedule at Chelsea’s Carter Park on Wednesday, April 3, starting at 4 p.m.