Small but talented Warriors team posted 21-3 mark

By Chris Villani

Nipmuc Softball Head Coach Stephanie DeBaggis barely had time to think about her team’s record, most of the time she was just focused on having enough players to field two teams. 

Nipmuc only had 20 total players in the softball program this year for both varsity and junior varsity but managed 21 wins and a trip to the state’s final four.

“The girls exceeded my expectations,” DeBaggis said after the season. “They were amazing together and they just kept going. Their chemistry, their desire, it was awesome.”

Keegan Kelley was a team captain and a mainstay for Nipmuc’s 21-3, final four campaign. Photo credit: Michelle Leitch 

Due to the small roster size, it was not uncommon for Nipmuc to only have 10 players on the bench for a varsity game and nine, the bare minimum, for the JV team.

“We had to move some games because we didn’t have enough players between the two,” DeBaggis said.

The goals were still lofty for Nipmuc. DeBaggis hoped to win the Dual Valley Conference in its final year and beat Hopedale, a longtime rival. Nipmuc checked both of those goals off the list and only lost twice before the run came to an end against Dighton-Rehoboth in the state semifinal.

Seniors Keegan Kelley, Bridget Klupa, and Isabelle Nicholson were “rock steady” for Nipmuc all season, DeBaggis said, and invaluable to the team’s success. But many of the key contributors were underclassmen. Six different batters hit home runs for the Warriors and the whole lineup was consistent, DeBaggis said. 

Sierra Lopes (2) was one of Nipmuc’s most athletic players this spring. Photo credit: Michelle Leitch

In the pitching circle, freshman Charlotte Leitch won 13 games and Savannah Carr, a junior, won eight more. Junior Sierra Lopes played third base and added a fast, athletic presence to the Nipmuc lineup. The middle infield consisted of Nicholson along with junior Kira DeBaggis and sophomore Allie Burzdel. Sophomore Quinn Gemmel was a strong defensive player for Nipmuc and Maya Vercruysse was a standout centerfielder.

DeBaggis said that all 20 members of the program deserved recognition for the way they contributed to the team’s success, including four players who joined the JV team despite only being in the 8th grade.

With so much coming back, Nipmuc could be in line for another strong season next spring. “That is always the hope,” DeBaggis said. “But not having expectations helped us this year and that will be something to battle.”

And without the DVC, Nipmuc will face an even stronger schedule in 2026.

“Our record might not be as good next year,” DeBaggis said, “but I do think our experience going into the playoffs is going to be that much better.”