WORCESTER—Led by four experienced seniors, the Doherty High School softball team looks to continue its winning tradition this spring.
The Highlanders (3-0) are already off to a torrid start, outscoring their opponents 30-2 to open the season with three straight wins over Burncoat, North and Bay Path.
Doherty finished 10-9 overall last year and advanced to the state tournament. The Highlanders hope to build on that success this season.
The senior quartet of Francie McMahon, Nariah Horton, Alanna Ladrie and Tess Lee will set the tone for Doherty. McMahon, Horton and Iadrie have all been varsity starters since their sophomore year. Together they form a powerful infield triangle with McMahon at pitcher, Horton at shortstop and Iadrie at third base. Lee patrols the outfield as the starting center fielder.
Many of the seniors have grown up playing softball together in Joe Schwartz Little League and on various local travel teams. Their friendship, familiarity and solid team chemistry make the Highlanders a tough opponent.
“We just have a connection with each other,” said Horton. “It’s more than just sports with us.”
Horton and McMahon served together as captains for the Doherty girls basketball team this winter which instilled a sense of leadership in both of them.
McMahon, who won four games as a starting pitcher in 2023, will shoulder the bulk of the starting pitching duties this spring. As a four-year varsity player, her experience and maturity will be key assets for the Highlanders. She has already won her first three starts of 2024, surrendering just two runs over 17 innings of work. Against previously unbeaten Bay Path on Wednesday, she went the distance while recording nine strikeouts.
“We’re going to have to lean on her heavily this season. They’re going to get a heavy dose of Francie,” said head coach Phil Spellane, who is in his fourteenth year at Doherty. “She’s very strong and she gets better with more work. She’s built her way up to this year. I don’t think she could have taken this on last year or the year before.”
McMahon will continue her softball career at Vermont State University Castleton next year. In addition to her pitching prowess, she is also one of the best hitters in Worcester County. She hit .414 last season and drove in 14 runs as the team’s number three hitter. McMahon has continued to swing a hot bat in the early going this season with a two-run triple against North on April 9 and two hits against Bay Path.
“She’s always been a college hitter,” added Spellane. “You could tell when she walked in the building that she could hit.”
Horton, primarily a shortstop, is a versatile player that can be used at several positions such as first base, second base and in the outfield. Next year she will attend Louisiana State University where she plans to major in nursing.
“Nariah has played everywhere. She’s an excellent defender and a tough out,” said Spellane. “She’s just a gamer.”
Ladrie will set the table for the Highlanders as the leadoff hitter and serves as an excellent defensive presence at third base. Lee enters her second year of varsity action as a reliable outfielder. Both Ladrie and Lee were inducted into the National Honor Society earlier this week. Iadrie will attend Penn State University in the fall while Lee is undecided on her plans for next year.
The remainder of the team is made up of one junior, one sophomore and four freshmen. Outside of the strong senior leadership, Doherty’s varsity roster is fairly young. But McMahon is confident that the right pieces are in place for another successful campaign.
“We’ve always been a winning team,” said McMahon. “This year we’re young, but there’s a lot of talent.”
Mike Vigneux is a freelance writer in Worcester with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of municipal government, communications, and public relations. An avid fan of all sports, Mike enjoys telling the stories of local athletes and their teams. He holds two degrees from Clark University, a bachelor of arts in Communication and a master of science in Professional Communication. He can be reached at Mikevigs@gmail.com
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