State softball tournament preview and predictions

The word dynasty gets floated around a little too often in sports In the occurrence of Taunton softball the phrase is more than appropriate The Tigers enter the Division tournament seeking a fifth straight state title and have won straight postseason games dating back to a South sectional semifinal loss to Bishop Feehan in As usual the road to UMass won t be an easy one for Taunton as there are several worthy contenders On their side of the bracket Central Catholic Attleboro and Bishop Feehan are all dangerous teams Second-seeded Wachusett won games while Lincoln-Sudbury and King Philip could be on a collision lesson to meet in the state quarterfinals In Div Walpole relied on the brilliance of ace Sharlotte Stazinski to the school s first state softball title Stazinksi was untouchable in the postseason posting five straight shutouts including back-to-back - specials in the final two games Bedford starting pitcher Alyx Rossi is congratulated by Mia Vitti after she pitched during the th inning of a softball challenge against Abington in April Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald Stazinski is hardly the only ace in Div as Bedford has Alyx Rossi and Westwood can counter with Bridget Mulkeen Silver Lake could have the best lineup around while Tewksbury is more than capable The South Coast Conference certainly had a say in the postseason last season as Dighton-Rehoboth won the Div state title and Situation did the same in Div Dighton-Rehoboth has the offensive firepower to repeat but could be looking at a quarterfinal contest with either Tantasqua Gloucester or Hanover Norton-Pentucket could be a good second-rounder while Apponequet put together a solid season in the ever-competitive SCC Situation will look for postseason glory once again and has a pretty favorable draw into the Div semifinals against top-seeded Hampshire Uxbridge-Abington is a anticipated terrific quarterfinal tilt while Tyngsboro shouldn t be overlooked Turners Falls is the small school version of Taunton a Div powerhouse coming off another state title Of the local schools Georgetown has the best opportunity to do specific damage A year ago the Royals knocked off top-seeded Greenfield in the state semifinals and appear to be ready to go on another long run Predictions Div State champion Taunton State runnerup King Philip Sleeper Marshfield Best first-round matchup North Andover at Newton North Realizable upset Acton-Boxboro over Bridgewater-Raynham Div State champion Bedford State runnerup Silver Lake Sleeper Westwood Best first-round matchup Hingham at Middleboro Manageable upset Norwood over Stoughton Div State champion Dighton-Rehoboth State runnerup Apponequet Sleeper Seekonk Best first-round matchup Latin Academy at Medfield Workable upset Seekonk over Danvers Div State champion Scenario State runnerup Abington Sleeper East Bridgewater Best first-round matchup Southwick at Blue Hills Feasible upset Cohasset over Gardner Div State champion Turners Falls State runnerup Greenfield Sleeper Hoosac Valley Best first-round matchup Mt Greylock at Millis Attainable upset Ware over Wareham