Underrated

I discussed "Noise" previously and selecting underrated players over the past twenty years is subject to criticism. "You left out" so-and-so and that will obviously be true. 

For example, a player named an All-Scholastic or All-State isn't underrated. There's no cutoff on numbers. A player could deserve recognition because of all-around excellence or by dominating a skill. 

Or there's the 'favoritism' angle, where authors go 'buddy-buddy' like the MLB Veterans Committee that gets a friend into Cooperstown. 

Here are a few that immediately come to mind. There are certainly many others deserving. 

1. Jennifer Cain, all-around excellence and a stalwart on the State Championship team. She hit, defended, and was a great leader both at Melrose and in college at Merrimack. She could have easily been selected a third MVCA All-State player. 

2. Laura Irwin, outside hitter. Laura is notable for both her hitting achievements with almost 500 career kills and the great misfortune of missing extensive postseason play with serious ankle injuries. Her down the line kill was the denouement of Melrose's defeat of Barnstable. 

3. Rachel Johnson, front row. Coach Scott Celli spotted Rachel's length and timing during her freshman year and projected her to be an elite blocker. She teamed with Kayla Wyland to form "The Great Wall" that helped Melrose to a Championship. She continually improved her hitting and among her finest hitting games were the final three that culminated in a title. The lesson is that it's never too late to improve. 

4. Jenny Cohane, front row. Jen wasn't flashy, just effective. Another player with length and timing, she had a solid runup and could hit well without being up against the net, making headaches for blockers. She had a dynamic, hard serve. Her play and leadership helped propel Melrose to a state finals berth for the first time in 2005. 

What elements impacts my opinion of these players? First, each made players around them better. Second, each had skills that would be dominant across eras. Third, each helped propel her team to League titles and sectional or finals championship games. They were winners.  

Melrose notes. Melrose travels to Woburn Thursday for the second game of the season, scheduled to start around 5:30 P.M.