AT ANOTHER LEVEL: Meet the 2024 Softball Player of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars

It was a strong spring for SouthCoast baseball teams with four qualifying for the 2024 MIAA state tournament .

Apponequet , which captured a share of the South Coast Conference Blue Division title this year, had the deepest tournament run, reaching the Division 3 Final Four while Dartmouth reached the Div. 2 Sweet 16, GNB Voc-Tech made it to the Div. 3 Sweet 16 and Wareham advanced to the Div. 5 Sweet 16.

Here's a look at The Standard-Times' top softball players from the 2024 season.

In complete command: Meet the 2024 Baseball Player of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars

SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Bernaiche, Apponequet, Senior

Reaching the Div. 3 Elite 8 a year ago made Lauren Bernaiche hungry for another deep tournament run.

Taking her game to the next level, Bernaiche helped power Apponequet to its first state semifinal appearance in 25 years as the senior pitcher dominated on the mound and made major contributions at the plate.

"She came back this season and took it to a whole new level," said Apponequet coach Nate Farrington. "She never gave away an at-bat, even if she got behind in the count. She always battled back. She hit her spots with a variety of pitches and worked well with (junior catcher) Caleigh Venuti. She was a team leader and a great teammate."

WHY SHE WAS SELECTED

Bernaiche saved the best for last in her final season with the 20-5 Lakers, who shared the championship in the South Coast Conference Blue Division and advanced to the Div. 3 state semifinals for the first time in 25 years.

She proved to be a tremendous leader on a young team with only two seniors.

She was a bulldog on the mound who attacked hitters and never backed down and made clutch pitches in tough spots and never got rattled.

Bernaiche proved to be a tough out at the plate who made good contact, put the ball in play, and did a nice job getting on base. Her versatility and resilience were her two biggest strengths.

KEY STATS

Was named the Most Valuable Player in the South Coast Conference after putting together an impressive 20-5 record and 1.78 earned-run average. Notched 185 strikeouts in 118 innings of work. Allowed 83 hits and walked only 19 batters. Averaged an amazing 9.7 strikeouts per walk. Batted cleanup and helped her own cause with a .468 average and .521 on-base percentage. Knocked in 14 runs and scored 20 runs. Drew 11 walks and stole six bases.

MVP MOMENT

Pitched a one-hitter and notched 12 strikeouts (with no walks) for the second-seeded Lakers in a 6-0 win over No. 15 Gloucester in the MIAA Div. 3 Sweet 16. Gloucester's Jenna Connelly broke up Bernaiche's bid for a perfect game with a single to right field in the top of the second inning.

NOTES

Will continue her playing career in the fall at Thomas Jefferson University, a NCAA Division II school in Philadelphia.

SUPER TEAM

Jolee Anderson, Wareham, Sophomore

Batted .523 and knocked in 41 runs as the Vikings' cleanup hitter and earned Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star honors. Finished with 34 hits, including 16 doubles and five home runs, and a .908 slugging percentage. When she wasn't catching, she put together a 6-2 record on the mound with a 1.53 earned-run average and 71 strikeouts in 41 innings of work. "She's a solid player with a lot of versatility," Wareham coach Rudy Cadena said. "She came through with a lot of big hits with runners in scoring position. She also had a great changeup that froze batters. She's only going to get better with more experience."

Aubrey Carberry, Dartmouth, Senior

A Super Team pick for the third straight season, Carberry batted .388 and drove in 18 runs hitting cleanup. Finished with a .488 on-base percentage, scored 27 runs, and belted a pair of homers on the way to being named a Southeast Conference All-Star. "Aubrey has a good softball IQ," Dartmouth coach Beth Arguin said. "She played with great range and a strong throwing arm at shortstop. She always knew what the situation was, and she was aggressive at the plate. She did a great job knocking in runs and she had a good feel for the strike zone. She didn't swing at bad pitches, and she did a great job getting on base."

Amelia Davis, New Bedford, Senior

A returner to the Super Team, Davis shined on defense behind the plate and put together a .491 average as the Whalers' cleanup hitter. Finished with 19 RBIs, hit a pair of homers and scored 24 runs on the way to being named a Southeast Conference All-Star. Hit .542 with runners in scoring position and struck out only six times in 55 at-bats. "Amelia hit for power and she sprayed line drives to all fields. She was a tremendous contact hitter who was tough to strike out," New Bedford coach Harry Lowe said. "She's a tough kid who did a great job as our catcher. She knows the game and she kept everybody on their toes."

Kayleigh DeSousa, Old Colony, Junior

Showed a lot of versatility for the Cougars as a left-handed catcher/pitcher who was named the most valuable player in the Mayflower Athletic Conference. Batted .564 and knocked in 41 runs as the team's second hitter in the lineup. Put together a .676 on-base percentage and banged out 31 hits in 55 at-bats. Walked 16 times, belted two home runs, stole 10 bases, and notched 87 strikeouts in 57 innings of work on the mound. "Kayleigh was a very good contact hitter who struck out only six times," Old Colony coach Brandon Mendez said. "She was dominant at the plate (including a couple of intentional walks) and proved to be a great situational hitter."

Christina Magnett, Apponequet, Junior

Another returner to the Super Team, Magnett anchored the 20-5 Lakers' defense at shortstop and finished with a .471 average and 24 RBIs as the team's No. 2 hitter in the lineup. Had a .605 on-base percentage and did a little bit of everything with six homers, 16 walks and 16 stolen bases on the way to earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors. "Christina set the tone for us at the plate," said Apponequet coach Nate Farrington, who guided the Div. 3 Lakers to a share of the SCC Blue Division title and their first appearance in the state semifinals in 25 years. "She was our most consistent hitter. She hit for power and average. She set the table for our power hitters and helped start a lot of big innings. She was also a solid defensive player and a team leader."

Katie Manzone, Bishop Stang, Senior

Put up some impressive numbers for the Spartans on the way to being named a Catholic Central League All-Star. Batted .635 with a .683 on-base percentage and an incredible 1.741 on-base plus slugging percentage. Finished with 33 hits in 52 at bats, 12 RBIs, 16 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 17 games. Had a .936 fielding percentage at shortstop and struck out only once all season. "Kate was quick in the zone with her bat and she fought off a lot of pitches," Bishop Stang coach Bill Hrasky said. "She hit line drives to all fields, and she was a heads-up runner who always took the extra base. She showed up every day ready to play at the plate and in the field."

Madison Nereu, Wareham, Senior

Played a key role on the mound for the Vikings, who finished with a 17-5 record and won the Mayflower Athletic Conference Comprehensive Division championship. Earned MAC All-Star honors with a 10-2 record, 1.94 earned-run average, and 132 strikeouts in 76 innings of work. Batted a team-high .542 with 22 RBIs, 32 hits, three home runs, 22 walks, and a .864 slugging percentage. "Madison was a great all-around player who played shortstop and the outfield when she wasn't pitching," Wareham coach Rudy Cadena said. "She was the most valuable player in our division, and she was a patient hitter who got on base a lot. She also had a mean curveball and a changeup that kept batters off balance." Will attend Dean College in the fall.

Ana Tsonis, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior

Headed to the mound this season after three years at third base and put together a 2.56 earned-run average with 103 strikeouts and only 22 walks in 141 innings of work. Earned South Coast Conference All-Star honors and helped herself at the plate with a .442 average and 20 RBIs as the No. 3 hitter in the Bears' lineup. "We needed a quality pitcher and Ana stepped up to fill that role. She hit her spots and did a good job working counts and making tough pitches in key spots. We had a young team, with four freshmen on the varsity, and she gave us a chance to win every time she took the mound. She did a great job keeping us in games."

Eva Zuber, Apponequet, Senior

Shined as the No. 3 hitter in the Lakers' lineup with a .473 average, 24 RBIs and a .590 on-base percentage. Also scored 30 runs, belted 11 doubles, and earned South Coast Conference All-Star honors on a 20-5 team that shared the SCC Blue Division championship and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in 25 years in Div. 3. "Eva was our most clutch hitter," Apponequet coach Nate Farrington said. "She thrived under pressure and came through with a lot of key hits in big situations. She also made all the plays at third base with tremendous range and a strong arm." Will continue her softball career at NCAA Division III Plymouth State, which plays in the Little East Conference with UMass Dartmouth.

FAN VOTE: SouthCoast High School Female Athlete of the 2023-24 School Year

ALL-STAR TEAM

Belle Almeida, New Bedford, Sophomore

A sure-handed third baseman, Almeida averaged .433 as the Whalers' No. 2 hitter and finished with 14 RBIs on the way to being named an honorable mention pick in the Southeast Conference. Hit .407 with runners in scoring position, put together an impressive .588 on-base percentage and scored 22 runs.

Megan Arruda, Dartmouth, Senior

A left-handed pitcher, Arruda finished with a 12-10 record and 3.55 earned-run average to earn Southeast Conference All-Star honors. Notched 129 strikeouts in 134 innings of work and threw a lot of ground-ball outs. Walked 23 times as a left-handed slap hitter in the leadoff spot. Scored 21 runs and knocked in eight runs.

Hayleigh Chenard, New Bedford, Senior

Put together an 8-7 record and 3.53 earned-run average for the Whalers on the way to earning Southeast Conference All-Star honors. Notched 88 strikeouts in 86 innings of work and walked 28 batters. Finished with a .333 batting average as the Whalers' leadoff hitter. Knocked in 19 runs, scored 17 runs and hit one home run.

Tara Goldman, Old Rochester, Junior

Missed five games with an arm injury but came back to notch 129 strikeouts in her second season on the mound for the Bulldogs and earn South Coast Conference All-Star honors. Helped herself at the plate with a .400 average as a switch-hitting No. 3 batter. Hit her spots and had a green light to steal bases because of her speed.

Ivy Mattos, New Bedford, Sophomore

Batted .492 and drove in 28 runs as the Whalers' cleanup hitter. Averaged .607 with runners in scoring position and was named a Southeast Conference All-Star. Scored 18 runs and had a lot of big at-bats. Anchored the infield with tremendous range and a strong throwing arm at shortstop. Put the barrel of the bat on the ball and hit to all fields with power.

Sydney Merusi, Fairhaven, Senior

A defensive standout at first base, Merusi finished with a .484 average, 15 RBIs and three home runs as the team's No. 3 hitter in the lineup. Struck out only four times all season on the way to being named a South Coast Conference All-Star. Got on base a lot and proved to be a clutch hitter at the plate with runners in scoring position.

Patty Spillane, Old Colony, Junior

A patient hitter who worked counts in her favor, Spillane batted .562 as the Cougars' No. 3 hitter in the lineup. Knocked in 31 runs and was named a Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star. Scored 23 runs and made all the plays at third base. Put the ball in play to all fields, struck out only three times all season, and finished with 10 stolen bases.

Alexia Tsonis, GNB Voc-Tech, Junior

Helped fuel the Bears' offense with a .431 average, 19 RBIs and 18 runs scored on the way to earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors. Got on base and set the table for her teammates to drive her in. Ran down everything that came her way in center field and played a key role as a freshman on the Bears' 2022 state championship team.

Caleigh Venuti, Apponequet, Junior

Batted .400 and knocked in 26 runs as the Lakers' No. 5 hitter in the lineup. Finished with a .470 on-base percentage, belted four home runs and scored 17 runs on the way to being named an honorable mention pick in the South Coast Conference. Did a great job behind the plate handling senior pitcher Lauren Bernaiche, The Standard-Times' 2024 Softball Player of the Year.

HONORABLE MENTION

Arianna Camara, Apponequet, Junior; Morgan Saraceno, Apponequet. Junior; Sidney Alboum, Bishop Stang, Junior; Hannah Garcia, Dartmouth, Senior; Paige Martins, Dartmouth, Sophomore; Olivia Rapoza, Dartmouth, Sophomore; Arden Bradshaw, Fairhaven, Senior; Aylin Haworth, Fairhaven, Junior; Ava Neno, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior; Genesis Nunes, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior; J.J. Greene, New Bedford, Senior; Annabelle Huston, New Bedford, Senior; Lindsey Bacchiocchi, Old Colony, Senior; Sharon Delancey, Old Colony, Sophomore; Rylie Kouta, Old Rochester, Senior; Alex Fiano, Old Rochester, Sophomore; Jossalyn Anctil, Wareham, Freshman; Olivia LaCava, Wareham, Sophomore.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: AT ANOTHER LEVEL: Meet the 2024 Softball Player of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars