Honesdale softball team poised to make serious strides in Lackawanna League action
HONESDALE — The 2023-24 season was a bit of a struggle for Honesdale on the local high school softball scene.
Under the direction of first year skipper Maria West, the young Hornets managed just four wins overall and did not qualify for the District 2 tournament.
This spring, though, hopes are running high that a .500 Lackawanna League record and a return to the playoffs are realistic goals. The reason for that optimism is a solid nucleus of veteran players combined with talented youngsters.
Rachele Chee and Georgianna Maglione lead the way for a Honesdale squad that is poised to start climbing in the Division II standings in 2025.
“We’re still in rebuilding mode since this is just our second year,” West said. “But, our two main goals are to be competitive every time we step onto the field and to make it back to the playoffs.”
Weather permitting, the Hornets will host Blue Ridge for a scrimmage on Tuesday. Action gets underway at 4:30 p.m. on the turf at the Daniel J. O’Neill Sports Complex.
Veteran leaders
Any discussion about this year’s varsity softball squad must begin with Chee and Maglione. Both are seniors and each brings her own brand of excitement to the diamond.
Chee is a multi-sport standout who also excels on the soccer pitch and was a member of Honesdale’s first girls varsity wrestling team as a sophomore.
A fleet-footed outfielder, Chee covers plenty of ground in center and hits at the top of the Hornet order. She batted a solid .281 last spring, scoring eight runs and collecting a team-best 10 RBIs.
“Rachele is an outstanding centerfielder,” West said. “She’s very aggressive in the field and makes the kind of catches no one expects her to. Offensively, Rachele is a lot of fun to watch. When she gets on base, good things happen for us.”
Maglione anchors the infield at first base. She’s a solid fielder with soft hands and excellent instincts. Maglione experienced an up and down junior year at the plate, but West believes she’s poised for a breakout season with the bat.
“Georgie is a very good leader on and off the field,” West said. “She’s a two-year captain who takes the time to mentor her younger teammates. When Georgie is dialed in at the dish, she can drive the ball to all fields. We’re just looking for a little more consistency this season.”
Consistency will be a key across the board for Honesdale, but especially at the plate. The Hornets averaged just 2.7 runs scored per game last spring and were outgunned by a combined margin of 222-54.
“We have to be better at getting on base, moving runners over and then driving them in,” West said. “We need to stay competitive longer in games and deeper into the season.”
Pitching will also play a major role in whatever success Honesdale enjoys this spring. Leah Salzameda (Sr), Brianna Bodie (Fr) and Maddie Decker (So) comprise an intriguing Red & Black rotation.
On the horizon
Honesdale will once again be competing in Division II of the Lackawanna League.
The Hornets will square off against the likes of Western Wayne, Lakeland, Holy Cross, Mid Valley, Riverside, Dunmore and Old Forge in their quest for a berth in this year’s Class 4A playoffs.
“We’re in a very tough division,” West said. “There aren’t any easy games on our schedule, so we certainly won’t be looking past anyone. We’ll take it one day and one game at a time.”
Honesdale will open up its regular season slate Wednesday, April 2 on the road at Dunmore. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale softball team ready to compete in Lackawanna League action
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