Oxbow
It’s hard to have a conversation about Upper Valley softball without talking about the perennial juggernaut that is Oxbow High.
The Olympians enter 2026 coming off yet another undefeated season at 18-0 and another VPA Division III state championship after defeating BFA-Fairfax 13-0. Oxbow has won the state title five years in a row.
Oxbow opened its season Thursday, doing what they do best — winning. The Olympians routed Spaulding 18-3 at home. Noemi Rosa, Mazie Bourgeois, and Brooke Osgood were standouts in the defending champs’ first contest of the year.
Rosa threw four innings and struck out nine, allowing three runs on three hits. Osgood, who pitched one inning in relief, struck out three and homered twice at the plate. Bourgeois also homered.
“We played well for being the first game of the season against live pitching. I saw some good things today, but we know we still have work to do. I am proud of the work thus far,” Head Coach Chuck Simmons said, in a score recap submission to the Valley News.
Oxbow will host Lake Region on Tuesday.
Hanover
The Bears finished 1-15 last season and missed the NHIAA Division II playoffs, but are looking to get after it this season with a young squad.
“We’re a young team with limited experience, but we make up for it with incredible enthusiasm and a strong work ethic,” Head Coach Megan Sobel said.
Hanover has a nice crop of returners back, including seniors Harper Rogers-Regenthal and Ellenora Cary, junior Giavanna Schembri, and sophomores Lila Bucci, Lucy Hochreiter, Lex Lund, Malia Pippin, Laila Sundrud, and Maya Waters.
As for newcomers, juniors Abby Lindsay, Maddie Pippin, and Esther Shattuck join the squad along with freshmen Piper Hansen and Ava MacPhail.
The Bears opened their season with a 20-6 road loss to rival Lebanon on Wednesday. They will travel to ConVal on Monday.
“It’s a fun, coachable group, and I’m excited to watch them grow and compete this season,” Sobel said.
Hartford
The Hurricanes come off a season in which they finished 11-6 and were bounced from the VPA Division II playoffs in the quarterfinals by Otter Valley.
“I think we’re in a really special place right now,” said Head Coach Danielle Tenney. “We do have some experienced seniors, but ultimately, we’re really new, we’re young.”
Key returners to the squad include seniors Faith Brown and Serenitee Martel, and sophomore Emerson Whitney. Freshman Nellie Kuban is a newcomer Tenney indicated could stand out.
“It’s really exciting because it’s such a huge growth period for them right now,” Tenney said, noting all the young talent the squad has.
The Canes opened their season on Monday with a 4-3 win in extra innings at Burr & Burton. Hartford traveled to Springfield on Friday and will host Rutland on Tuesday.
Lebanon
Raiders Head Coach Matt Kaercher said he felt that his squad would be competitive this season, after finishing 10-7 and falling to Bow in the first round of the NHIAA Division II playoffs.
Lebanon returns several players from last season, including seniors Amy Dixon-Vestal, Annella Marsh, Ava Kaercher, Ella Reichert, Regan DiDomenico, juniors Anna Harrington, Avelina Pentella, Catie Bachelder, and sophomore Sophie DiDomenico.
Freshman Mara Jordan and senior Colbie Fratzel, who did not play last season after playing as a freshman and sophomore, are among the newcomers to the squad.
“I think we’ll be pretty competitive. Are we going to win the state championship? I don’t know, softball is a strange beast — anything can happen,” Kaercher said.
The Raiders opened the season on Wednesday when they hosted Hanover, routing the Bears 20-6. Lebanon traveled to Oyster River on Friday and will travel to John Stark on Monday.
“I think they’ll do well and I think they’ll have a lot of fun,” Kaercher said.
Mascoma
After going 0-17 last season and missing out on the playoffs, the Royals will look to turn things around with a new Head Coach, Brenda Waugh.
Some of the returning players for the Royals include Sara McKinney, Aaralyn Chiasson, and Bella Davis. Waugh indicated they have quite a number of freshmen, such as Brailyn Dubois, Kate Lewis, and Layla Hatch.
“I see a lot of potential in the team,” Waugh said. The Royals opened the season with a 19-0 loss on Wednesday when they hosted Gilford. Mascoma hosts Winnisquam on April 27.
“We’re just going to put the best effort in to win as much as we can,” she said.
Stevens
The Cardinals finished 6-11 last season and were defeated in the first round of the NHIAA Division III playoffs by Newport. Stevens opened its season on Wednesday at home and fell 11-3 to Trinity.
The Cardinals’ season continued on Friday when they hosted Fall Mountain, and they will host Monadnock on Monday.
Thetford
The Panthers come into 2026 having finished 12-4 last season and falling in the VPA Division III semifinals to BFA-Fairfax.
Among the athletes returning to the Panthers this season are senior Natalie Perry, junior Logan Wells, and sophomores Camdyn Crow, Greta Johnson, Carly Brown, and Chloe Cooper.
While the squad lost some seniors from last season, Thetford is bringing up a nice group from JV, according to Head Coach Amber Braley, who replaces former coach Michelle Morgan.
“This new group is definitely something special — not just in talent but in heart, chemistry, and grit,” Braley said. “They all have the love for the game.”
Thetford opens their season next Saturday when they host Windsor.
White River Valley
The Wildcats ended the season with a 6-11 record after losing to Mill River in the first round of the VPA Division III playoffs.
White River Valley has opened the season with two straight losses, falling on the road to Leland & Gray, 13-0 on Tuesday, and dropping its game on the road Thursday against Bellows Falls, 19-3.
The Wildcats visited Green Mountain Union on Saturday and will travel to Randolph on April 28.
Windsor
The Yellow Jackets moved down to VPA Division IV in 2026. Last season, Windsor finished 1-15 and lost to Randolph in the first round of the Division III playoffs.
“I expect it will make for some competitive games for our group, which will be a great thing for them — a stepping stone,” said Head Coach Wendy Moody.
Despite a tough 2025, the Jacks have already matched their win total from last season after routing Green Mountain Union, 23-5, at home in their opener on Monday.
Key returners to Windsor’s squad that have gotten off to a nice start include seniors Cassie Clark, Mackenzie Kleefisch, Anna Bergeron, Molly Burke, and sophomore Cadence Dougher.
Freshmen Abigail Braley, Danyelle Lowery, Keyleigh Roberts, and Sofia Williams are newcomers to the squad. “So far, I’ve already been impressed with this group of four,” Moody said.
Next up for the Jacks is a visit to Springfield on Thursday.
“We’ll definitely be solid at the bat… I think if we can just work on our pitching rotation of throwing strikes, then we should be in all the games, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Moody said.
Woodstock
The Wasps completed last season with a 4-13 record and dropped their VPA Division III first-round playoff matchup against Burlington/Winooski.
Senior May Alexander, juniors Reese Osgood, Abby Eaglestone, Maddy Snide, and Aiyana Dawson, sophomore Olivia Westney, and freshman Violet Alexander return for the Wasps.
Woodstock also brings a variety of newcomers to the team, including a strong group of eighth-graders, freshmen, and sophomores.
“It’s a new team, but I think all our girls who are returning have really good fundamentals… pretty much all the girls have the foundation down,” Head Coach Bitty Alexander said.
The Wasps opened their season at Long Trail on Monday and picked up a 17-15 win. After visiting Proctor on Thursday and hosting Randolph on Friday, they host Windsor on April 30.
“I think they’re going to play really competitively,” Alexander said.
