Star-studded cast, here are 18 Fall River area softball players to watch in 2024

FALL RIVER — High school softball is finally here and ready to go in 2024.

Six area high school teams — Atlantis Charter, Case, Diman, Durfee, Somerset Berkley and Westport — will look toward their athletes to lead the way and hopefully a deep run in the state tournament.

Here's a look at softball players to watch for Greater Fall River teams:

More: 13 Herald News high school baseball and softball games you have to see in 2024

Adriana Bates, Atlantis Charter

Bates had a solid season behind the plate for the Tritons in 2023. The Atlantis Charter catcher did a great job with youthful starters in the circle. She helped lead the Tritons to a postseason berth last year.

Breanna Fontes, Case

Fontes had a great season for the Division 4 state champion Cardinals in 2023. The Case junior and South Coast Conference All-Star will make the move from first base to catcher. Last season, Fontes batted .560 with eight home runs and 37 runs batted in. She had a fielding percentage of .987 and a slugging percentage of 1.038.

Skye Dupre, Case

Dupre was another Cardinal who exceled both at the plate and in the field in 2023. The Case junior and SCC honorable mention will make the move from left field to second base. Dupre batted .479 with 19 runs batted in at the plate last season for the Division 4 state champion Cardinals. She also came up big in the postseason.

Lily Picard, Case

Picard is back for her final season for the Division 4 state champion Cardinals. The Case senior and four-year starter batted .429 from the eighth spot with 19 RBIs. She led the South Coast Conference in fielding percentage from her shortstop position. Picard committed just three errors all season and turned three double plays.

Megan Smith, Case

Smith will look to go out with a bang in her final season for the Division 4 state champion Cardinals this spring. The Case senior centerfielder and four-year starter batted .481 with an on-base percentage over .600. Smith had had 39 hits from the leadoff spot with 16 stolen bases and 21 RBIs.

Ashley Carvalho, Diman

Carvalho had a solid year in her first season with the Bengals in 2023. The Diman sophomore won eight games in the circle while fanning 54 batters and walking just 12. Carvalho's earned run average was 0.68 and she batted .286 at the plate.

Courtney Boies, Diman

Boies had an excellent season at the plate for the Bengals last year. The Diman senior first baseman batted .400 from the leadoff spot while driving in 14 runs and swiping 14 bases. Boies was named a Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star.

Kacie Lynch, Diman

Lynch enjoyed a breakout season for the Bengals last spring. The Diman junior shortstop led the team in batting (.459) and had a team-high 28 hits. Lynch, who was a Mayflower Athletic Conference all star, drove in 17 runs.

Mia Jacob, Durfee

Jacob had another solid all-around season for the Hilltoppers in 2023. The Durfee senior shortstop batted .389 and drove in 18 runs. She was named a Southeast Conference All-Star.

Katerina Rumsey, Durfee

Rumsey was one of the more dependable hitter at the plate for the Hilltoppers last spring. The Durfee junior batted a team-best .426 and drove in 11 runs. She was named a Southeast Conference All-Star.

Rachael Silva, Durfee

Silva was an important cog in the Hilltoppers attack last spring. The Durfee junior outfielder batted .354 and stole 14 of 15 bases. Silva, who was a Herald News second team All-Star will move to left field after playing center field in 2023.

Sydney Bednarz, Somerset Berkley

Bednarz will look to get last season Division 2 Final Four finalist Raiders heading in the right direction this coming spring. The SBR senior outfielder/pitcher/first baseman is a solid contact hitter and fields her position very well.

Julia Costa, Somerset Berkley

Costa had a great first season for the Division 2 Final Four finalist Raiders in 2023. The SBR infielder batted .352 with 15 RBIs and had a .422 on-base percentage along with a .506 slugging percentage.

Makenzie Jacob, Somerset Berkley

Jacob had a fantastic season for the Division 2 Final Four finalist Raiders in 2023. The SBR senior outfielder/catcher had a .400 batting average and drove in 15 runs. Jacob, who walked 16 times while striking out four times, came up big in the postseason with clutch hits.

Tatum Swanson, Somerset Berkley

Swanson bursted onto the scene and helped lead the Raiders to a Division 2 Final Four for the first time in school history in 2023. The SBR sophomore pitcher/infield/outfield hit .441 with 14 runs batted in. Swanson posted a 10-2 mark in the circle with an earned run average of .182. She fanned 66 batters and walked 25 in 80⅔ innings.

Jayda Pequita, Westport

Pequita looks to lead a young group of Wildcats this coming spring. The Westport junior shortstop goes into the season as the starting shortstop for the third season. Pequita, who was a Mayflower Athletic Conference Comprehensive All-Star last season, has has a cannon for an arm and is fierce on the basepaths.

Mackenzy Ponte, Westport

Ponte is looking for a breakout season for the Wildcats in 2024. The Westport pitcher has had a promising pre-season. She was a Herald News second team All-Star.

Tess Silvia, Westport

Silvia had another successful season behind the plate for the Wildcats in 2023. The Westport junior is one of the best defensive catchers in the Mayflower Athletic Conference Comprehensive Division. Silvia, who was named a league star in 2023, will be batting in the cleanup spot this year.

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Chezsports

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Star-studded cast, here are 18 Fall River area softball players to watch in 2024