It’s been nearly three decades since Massachusetts has seen a softball dynasty like the one Taunton has crafted.

Not since the powerful Bud Henry teams at Bishop Fenwick in the 1990s has a program won more than two consecutive Division 1 championships. That was until last June.

That’s when coach Michele Raposa’s group became the first since Henry’s Crusaders to win three straight titles. And the Tigers aren’t ready just yet to surrender their throne.

Everything begins with Texas Tech-bound pitcher Sam Lincoln, arguably the top pitcher in Massachusetts. The Tigers’ potent offense will be led by talented junior shortstop Brooke Aldrich and third baseman Bella Bourque.

When you look at those trying to usurp the Tigers, the conversation starts with the teams who have fallen to Taunton in the last two state finals.

Central Catholic reached the final for the first time last season and coach Stacy Ciccolo returns all but one starter. Leading the way is the pitching duo of senior Julia Malowitz and sophomore Elizabeth Kearney. Senior catcher Zaynah Wotkewicz will lead a potent offense that also features senior Olivia Boucher and junior Bella Boyer.

The team Central beat a year ago to reach the finals, Peabody, has a new coach but a familiar one in former football and baseball star Steve Lomasney.

The Tanners return an experienced group, led by senior ace Abby Bettencourt, who had 266 strikeouts in 120 innings while also slugging 10 homers. Fellow seniors Logan Lomasney, Kiley Doolin and Avery Grieco are also back for one more crack at an elusive title.

King Philip lost in the semifinals but with sophomore ace McCoy Walsh and offensive standouts Liv Petrillo, Ava Kelley and Ali Gill back in the fold, the Warriors are again a threat.

Lincoln-Sudbury brings back talent and experienced from a 20-win team, led by Dual County League MVP and UMass commit Kelsey Blanchard in the circle. Senior Lia Mazzochi gives L-S a pair of dynamic hurlers while junior Sarah Danielson will lead a dynamic offense.

Bridgewater-Raynham will be led by senior third baseman Ava Selter and senior catcher Taylor Reid.

Burlington stunned all observers as coach Kristen Farrell’s charges made an improbable run to a Div. 2 state title, capped by an extra-inning win over Tewksbury in the title game. And the Red Devils are ready for another crack at the title.

They lose ace pitcher CeCe Imbimbo and third baseman Cassidy Soohoo but return the bulk of their starting lineup, led by seniors Morgan Ryan, Charlotte Willey, Abby Wojtaszek and Katie Hayes. Left fielder Shea McDonald and second baseman Maddie King, who had the game-winning hit in the state final, are also back.

Tewksbury reloaded and is ready to contend led by senior pitcher Whitney Gigante and an explosive offense. Seniors Alyssa Adams, Aislin Davis and Whitney Harris and junior Abby Tower will help at the plate.

Somerset Berkley reached the semifinal round and coach Sally McKinnon’s club returns a talented group of upperclassmen led by pitcher Brooke Crombie.

Woburn drops down from Division 1 and brings with it a new coach in Jennifer Lee, who replaces long-time coach Courtney Sigsbury. The Tanners will ride the arm of Hannah Niemszyk and the talented bats of Brianna D’Arrigo and Riley Trask.

Perhaps no team in Massachusetts is as deep offensively as Silver Lake as 10 players hit .390 or better and the bulk are back for more offensive fun. Leading the way is reigning Patriot League MVP Delaney Moquin.

Walpole is always in the mix once the calendar turns to June and the Timberwolves will again be a threat thanks to junior pitcher Sharlotte Stazinski, who begins her third year as a starter. Sisters Ari and Sienna Kreuzer will lead the offense.

Div. 1 Players to Watch

C: Gianna Bassett (North Quincy), Amelia Davis (New Bedford), Haylee Joudrey (Plymouth North), Josie Kim (Belmont), Avi Kuperman (Newton South), Lidia Palys (Lexington), Maddie Paschke (King Philip), Mikaila Ramirez (Cambridge), Jenna Roche (North Andover), Olivia Schultz (Natick), Riley Straccia (Revere), Zayniah Wotkowicz (Central Catholic)

P: Jordan Bennett (King Philip), Abby Bettencourt (Peabody), Ashley Carvalho (Diman), Hayleigh Chenard (New Bedford), Ellie Espelin (Belmont), Solene Fisher (Arlington), Brigid Gaffny (North Andover), Kaylee Habib (Whittier), Cayla Orwin (Haverhill), Cortney Lenz (Boston Latin), Samantha Lincoln (Taunton), Julia Malowitz (Central Catholic), Lia Mazzocchi (Lincoln-Sudbury), Kayden Ouellette (Whittier), Mylee Ramer (King Philip), Taylor Reid (Bridgewater-Raynham), Tylani Rodriguez (Cambridge), Molly Walsh (King Philip), Mackenzie Yirrell (Methuen)

1B: Elizabeth Bettencourt (Peabody), Courtney Boies (Diman), Sarah Boozang (Franklin), Alanna Carbonneau (Lowell), Grace Messina (Lincoln-Sudbury), Caroline O’Donnell (North Quincy), Taylor Regan (King Philip), Nora Vartanian (Arlington)

2B: Kelsey Blanchette (Lincoln-Sudbury), Brooke Boyle (Concord-Carlisle), Sarah Danielson (Lincoln-Sudbury), Sarah Kirby (Westford Academy), Arli Rodriguez (Bishop Feehan), Katerina Rumsey (Durfee)

SS: Brooke Aldrich (Taunton), Kiele Coleman (Methuen), Maddie Coupal (Bishop Feehan), Lorelei Davis (Medford), Natalia Fotopoulos (Arlington), Katie Fox (Central Catholic), Mia Jacob (Durfee), Logan Lomasney (Peabody), Kacie Lynch (Diman), Gianna Masucci (Everett), Ivy Mattos (New Bedford), Katie McMahon (Natick), Catherine McPhee (Braintree), Maddie Noury (Whittier), Jamieson Pearl (Haverhill), Bella Pires (Weymouth), Phoebe Rodgers (Concord-Carlisle), Ainsley Rousseau (Whittier), Callie Smith (Plymouth North)

3B: Ariana Baez (Methuen), Bella Bourque (Taunton), Adrianna Capozzi (Chelmsford), Kiley Doolin (Peabody), Jayme Kiley (Natick), Caitlin Milner (Central Catholic), Ava Selter (Bridgewater-Raynham)

OF: Emilia Marie Babcock (Everett), Riley Camacho (Attleboro), Emma Ching (Needham), Gabby Diaute (Braintree), Sarah Dupre (Bishop Feehan), Ali Gill (King Philip), Avery Grieco (Peabody), Mia Hasselback (Wellesley), Kaleigh Laidlaw (Medford), Olivia Moeckel (Central Catholic), Bella Monsanto (Methuen), Caroline Riley (Natick), Rachael Silva (Durfee), Mia Torres (Taunton)

Div. 2 Players to Watch

C: Gabby Coffey (Dracut), Alice Cooprider (Bedford), Victoria Fish (Milton), Isabella Gillis (Malden Catholic), Ella Haley (Reading), Ariana Kreuzer (Walpole), Shakura Lynch (Milton), Jess Mulrey (Hingham), Nina O’Neil (Silver Lake), Leanyah Pineiro (Lynn English), Avery Simpson (Woburn), Lauren Trostel (Plymouth South)

P: Megan Arruda (Dartmouth), Sophia Beckett (Wayland), Elli Cicchetti (Plymouth South), Rachel Dana (Lynn Classcial), Whitney Gigante (Tewksbury), Shea Hennessy (Reading), Ariannan Laboy (Lynn English), Aubrey Mabrouk (Bristol-Plymouth), Shannon MacLeod (Notre Dame), MK Maloney (Milton), Delaney Moquin (Silver Lake), Bridget Mulkeen (Westwood), Alyxandra Rossi (Bedford), Kathryn Sliski (Wakefield), Sharlotte Stazinski (Walpole), Tatum Swanson (Somerset Berkley), Bilyana Wilkin (Hingham)

1B: Madyson Bryan (Silver Lake), Mackenzie Conlon (Middleboro), Erin Grovoster (Woburn), Molly Kucharski (Mansfield), Hannah Niemsyk (Woburn), Kate Patterson (Bedford), Avery Della Piana (Tewksbury), Ava Viola (Melrose)

2B: Ruby Calienes (Marblehead), Charlotte Leiss (Masconomet), Devon Moraes (Oliver Ames)

SS: Olivia Bagnone (Milford), Delaney Blanchette (Middleboro), Luka Bornhorst (Marblehead), Aubrey Carberry (Dartmouth), Rebecca Harris (Tewksbury), Kate Johannson (Lynn English), Madison King (Burlington), Sienna Kreuzer (Walpole), McKenzie Lussier (Dracut), Arianna McDavitt (North Attleboro), Holly Paharik (Hopkinton), Sam Serio (Masconomet), Samantha Waters (Silver Lake)

3B: Alyssa Edwards (Stoughton), Cae Pellegrini (Milford), Olivia Rapoza (Dartmouth), Abigail Tower (Tewksbury)

OF: Alyssa Adams (Tewksbury), Sarah Cabral (Dartmouth), Christina Chane (Middleboro), Kaitlyn Dunham (Canton), Grace Forsythe (Woburn), Molly Hickey (Malden Catholic), Makenzie Jacob (Somerset Berkley), Callie Lake (Mansfield), Taryn Leonard (Whitman-Hanson), Piper Levin (Notre Dame), Lexie Masters (Bedford), Shea McDonald (Burlington), Morgan Ryan (Burlington), Alannah Waters (Silver Lake)