New faces, same mission: Saugus softball team eyes another state run

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School softball team comes into the 2025 season after another solid campaign last spring. The team got hot down the stretch and finished 10-10 to earn a spot in the Division 3 state tournament.

Coach Steve Almquist comes into Year No. 10 along with assistants Amanda Naso (also head JV coach), Mike Shaw and Anthony Ascolese. He also brings in volunteer coaches Brooke Westmoreland, Alexandra Almquist, Emma Howard and Leah Ventre.

The Sachems captains are seniors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.

Captain Lily Ventre, a catcher, is a returning captain and five-year varsity starter. She is a Northeastern Conference (NEC) All-Conference/All-Star and 2023 team Co-MVP. “I have known Lily since she was 7 years old and with her it’s like having another coach out on the field,” Almquist said. “Even at that early age you could tell this kid was going to be a special talent. She takes a beating every game but is as tough as they come and continues to produce both behind the dish and at the plate. Unfortunately, she has been snake-bitten with injuries during her career but has still managed to lead our team in just about every offensive category. If she can stay healthy, she will end up as the all-time leader [during Almquist’s tenure] in most if not all major offensive categories. Lily was born to be a softball player, and in my opinion is one of the best catchers in the area.”

Captain Taylor Deleidi, pitcher/outfielder, is a returning captain and four-year varsity starter, 2022 Team Rookie of the Year, 2024 NEC All-Star and 2024 Team MVP. “She is an outstanding multi-sport athlete who also excels in soccer and basketball,” Almquist said. “What I love about Taylor is that she is extremely competitive and has pushed herself to get better every year. She is a coach’s dream. Her positive attitude, infectious smile, work ethic and versatility make her so valuable to our team. Quite possibly the smallest player out there on the field but with the biggest heart.”

Deleidi pitched in all but one inning of Saugus’ games last year. She is extremely accurate and throws strikes while pitching to contact. “We have been a bit thin on pitching these past couple of years but this year I think we have a little more depth so I need to do a better job of getting her some help and managing her innings,” Almquist said. “She is such a great athlete that I want to take a little bit of the pressure off and give her the opportunity to excel at other positions.”

Captain Danica Schena, a center fielder, is a four-year varsity starter, reigning team Gold Glove Award Winner and former Unsung Hero Award recipient. “We have been fortunate to have had some great center fielders during my tenure here including her sister Catherine (class of 2021) as well as current Assistant Coach Emma Howard (class of 2019) and Danica ranks right up there,” Almquist said. “She can track it with the best of them. Defense is such a critical part of the game, and Danica takes great pride in her defense. What I love about her is that she goes hard after every ball and is not afraid to lay out and get dirty.”

Captain Alexa Morello, first baseman, is a four-year varsity starter. She is another true leader with a high softball IQ whom the coach relies on as another coach out on the field. “She is an outstanding first baseman who is an infielder’s best friend,” Almquist said. “She can pick it with the best of them, and I cannot count the number of times she has saved us with her phenomenal defense. What I love about Alexa is that she is always looking for ways to better herself as well as the team.”

This year Saugus had 29 players try out, which is on par for what it usually averages (between 26-30). There were no cuts made as everyone who tried out gave their very best effort, “so I wanted to make sure that they were rewarded for this,” Almquist said.

“I think we may be a little more athletic than we have been the past few years and our younger players coming up really seem to have a good understanding of the game,” Almquist said. “This is due largely in part to the outstanding job the Saugus Youth Softball administrators and coaches have been doing helping to instill the love of the game in these kids and getting them prepared for the high school level. They have been a tremendous feeder program for us, and I cannot say enough good things about the job they have been doing with the youth in town.”

Saugus graduated seven key players – six of them starters – who helped establish a strong foundation that includes eight straight state tournament appearances and two NEC Lynch titles. With significant gaps in the lineup, including two-thirds of the outfield and the entire left side of the infield, Almquist sees this as an exciting opportunity for younger players, including eighth-, ninth- and 10^th-graders, to step up and make their mark.

Seniors Hannah Duong (infield/outfield) and Maya Pina (outfield) are also expected to contribute. Duong is one of the Sachems’ better base runners and has contributed to numerous wins over the years with her outstanding baserunning skills. Pina has improved her game immensely and is one of those players that everyone roots for and wants to see do good, her coach said.

“What I really like this year is the positivity of the kids as well as the sense of togetherness which was evident right from the first day of tryouts,” Almquist said. “The vibe was phenomenal. There is a lot of great energy surrounding this team as the kids seem to be excited, enthusiastic and are all pulling for each other to do well. Whether that will translate into many wins, I don’t know, but it is certainly refreshing to see.”