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Salem Softball Preview

2007 record: 23-1, Class L champs

Returning starters (7): Alex Gallant, Sr., P/OF; Katie Bettencourt, Sr., C; Danielle Stoodley, Sr., 1B/OF; Erin Lyons, Sr., P; Erica DePinto, Jr., OF; Jen Cabral, Jr., P/INF; Julia Gray, Soph., OF

Returning lettermen: Val Boutin, Sr., INF; Megan St. Pierre, Soph., Inf.; Ashley Relf, Jr., OF; Nora Galvin, Soph., P/OF; Dominique Heres, Jr., P

Promising newcomers: Sara Bracken, Frosh., INF; Stephanie Cabral, Frosh., INF; Geena Terino, Frosh., OF; Amanda Vaudreuil, Soph., INF; Beth Storie, Jr., OF

Candidates in all grades: 62

Captains: Katie Bettencourt, Alex Gallant, Danielle Stoodley

Returning leaders: Alex Gallant 8-0, 0.80 ERA; Katie Bettencourt .434, 30 RBIs, 31 runs

Returning honorees: Katie Bettencourt, Alex Gallant Eagle-Tribune All-Stars

Assistants: Greg Paris, JV; Louie Gilbert, Frosh.

Opener: at Manchester West April 9

Odds and ends: Last year's title was Salem's eighth in the last 10 years and second in a row. ... The Blue Devils will once again go with a rotation of at least five pitchers, led by seniors Alex Gallant and Emily Lyons and including junior Dominique Heres, sophomore Nora Galvin and freshman Stephanie Cabral. ... Gallant is headed to Merrimack and Katie Bettencourt is bound for UMass Amherst. Both are two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Stars. ... Star shortstop Brenna Morrissey transferred to Lawrence Academy. ... Following two weeks of the preseason, the only infield position set was first base, where multi-sport star Danielle Stoodley returns. ... Salem will field a freshman team for the first time in a long while. ... Harold Sachs (426-56) passed retired Somersworth coach Rick Forge (424-87) as the all-time wins leader in New Hampshire.

Coach Harold Sachs (23rd year, 426-56): "Skill-wise, we have a lot of potential, but we have so many questions and it's going to take awhile to settle everything out. A lot depends on whether Erica DePinto takes over at catcher and Katie (Bettencourt) plays center field instead of catching. We have a lot of flexibility | we could have two different infields and be competitive."