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Phillips Academy Softball Preview

2007 record: 14-1

Returning starters (5):  Stephanie Clegg, Sr., C; Sarah Boylan, Jr., SS/P; Emily Cokorinos, Sr., 1B; Nicole Duddy, Sr., CF;  Michelle Hollebeke, Sr., P, North Reading

Returning lettermen: Veda Eswarappa, Sr., P/OF, Andover; Brianna McCarthy, Jr., INF, Methuen; Alayna Garbarino, Soph., 2B/OF; Riley Gardner, Jr., INF/OF

Promising newcomers: Caroline Kaufman, Soph., 2B/OF, Andover; Tayma Prathuri, Soph., OF; Shannon McSweeney, Frosh., C/INF/OF; Sarah Onorato, Frosh., C/INF/OF, North Reading

Candidates in all grades: 26

Captains: Stephanie Clegg

Returning leaders: Michelle Hollebeke 13-0, 0.64 ERA, hit .405 with 7 home runs

Returning honorees: Michelle Hollebeke Eagle-Tribune All-Star

Assistants: Doug Kuhlmann, Rachel Bain

Opener: at Governor's Academy Wednesday, April 2

Odds and ends: Phillips went 28-5 last two years. ... The Big Blue must replace Lindsay Maroney, a three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star who is on scholarship at UMass Amherst. ... Ace Michelle Hollebeke is headed to Colgate University to play softball. ... Captain Stephanie Clegg is set to attend Amherst College, where she will play hockey and softball. ...  Nicole Duddy is in her third year as the starting center fielder. ... Projected starter Sarah Ho is one of four seniors who decided not to play softball this year. ... Including 10 years at Arlington High, head coach Peter Drench's career record is 385-141-1.

Coach Peter Drench (21st year, 229-84): "I think the big thing with us is we can't afford any injuries. We have some talented kids back, and Michelle (Hollebeke) is as good as you'll find, but we don't have much depth. The one place we have depth is catcher. Stephanie (Clegg) is very good and we have two good freshmen (Shannon McSweeney and Sarah Onorato) who can catch. If they don't, they might start somewhere else. I don't know if we can match last year, but we'll be competitive."