By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Her first assignment with the Bridgewater State University softball team in 2022 was playing third base.

Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) stepped into the Bears' lineup as a freshman and started 28 of 40 games at that position in addition to being a designated player five times, an outfielder in one game and a pinch hitter and pinch runner.

One year later, Marcotte was on the move, switching to left field and starting 41 of 43 games in the outfield as a sophomore.

Now in her junior season, Marcotte has taken over her third different position in three years at BSU this spring.

With the graduation of All-MASCAC catcher Madison Dana, and with sophomore transfer Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) adding depth in the outfield, Marcotte was asked to make the move to catcher despite having very little experience behind the plate.

"The last time I had caught was in eighth grade," said the 2021 Dighton-Rehoboth graduate. "It had been a while.

"I had mentioned that I had caught a little bit and I liked catching. I ended up liking being behind the plate."

With the Bears off to a 12-10 start, including 3-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, Marcotte has started 20 games behind the plate and has been the DP twice.

At Dighton-Rehoboth, where the Falcons lost to Tyngsboro in the Division 2 state championship game during her senior season, Marcotte was primarily an outfielder.

The move to third base as a BSU freshman took some getting used to for Marcotte, who hit .283 with 10 stolen bases in 12 tries.

"It was a big adjustment move there, especially coming from center field," said Marcotte. "It was a different angle and a faster pace."

Last season, it was back to the outfield as Marcotte was the Bears' left fielder for nearly every game. She hit .326 with 11 stolen bases.

"It was good," said Marcotte. "I was getting used to the infield and moved back to the outfield. It was back to my old habits out there."

Last fall, as the Bears prepared for the 2024 season, Marcotte made her latest move, going from left field to behind the plate.

He had done very little catching while in eighth grade and was now going to be learning on the job as BSU sought to fill the vacancy left by Dana.

"It's definitely been a big adjustment," said Marcotte. "I worked hard. I've gone for extra practices, worked with the pitchers a lot, ask what they expect of me.

"I just like that I'm very involved in every play. I'm very vocal when I'm playing and I like talking with the pitchers. I absolutely love it. I like being involved so much."

BSU coach Angela Vecchione, inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015, was a shortstop for three seasons before switching to catcher as a senior in 2001.

She was a four-time All-MASCAC and All-New England selection in addition to making the All-America third team as a freshman.

Vecchione has been able to provide plenty of insight to Marcotte about going behind the plate.

"She's been helping me a lot," said Marcotte. "She's the first one in the dugout who will come up to me and answer any of my million questions. She completely understands what I'm going through."

Vecchione had been a catcher for two years in high school before moving to shortstop when she arrived at Bridgewater State.

"All I wanted was to play," said Vecchione. "I can see the same thing with Emily. You go where the team needs you and you learn, learn, learn.

"For me, the big thing was once the ball gets hit, I will not touch it again. That was hard for me. But (the coaches) reassured me I'd be like the quarterback as the catcher. You see it all. You can dictate the game. As soon as they said it like that, it clicked for me.

"What she's done, it shows adaptability. It shows hard work, somebody who's able to grind and willing to work and help the team any way she can. She is a catcher who is
kind of aggressive and gaining more confidence as the season goes on."

Another shift Marcotte has made along the way was becoming a left-handed slap hitter after being a right-hander in high school.

The BSU leadoff batter has a career .319 average in 103 games and surpassed the 100-hit mark during Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of Salem State University.

"I really like taking risks and learning a new stance was one of them," said Marcotte, who is 29-for-33 in career stolen bases. "I was always a righty hitter. I wanted to become a slap hitter. I started working on that my last year of high school.

"That was definitely a big transition, but it has worked out well. I could see the ball better. It took some time at first. Getting more experience, trusting myself has helped. I'm very comfortable when I'm up."

Marcotte has a career-best .355 average through 22 games this season with 27 hits. Vecchione said that being behind the plate has aided Marcotte with pitch selection when it's her turn to hit.

"I really think it's helped her hitting tremendously," said Vecchione. "She is seeing the ball really well out of the hand of the pitcher."

After playing three positions in three seasons, Marcotte would like to remain a catcher during her senior year in 2025.

"I have a feeling this position might stick,'' she said. "I'm very proud of myself. I never thought this would happen. I've gone through three different positions and flipped over in the batter's box since I've been here."