With four Commonwealth Coast Conference championships in her seven seasons at the helm, Salem’s Katie Bettencourt has enjoyed monster success as the softball coach at Endicott College.

Her secret is no secret: Bettencourt knows how to harvest the local talent on the diamond.

She’s back at it again this spring, winning games and landing area standouts, recently receiving commitments from two of the region’s best – Salem center-fielder Maddie Beeley and Central Catholic third baseman Caitlin Milner.

“I thought Endicott showed up more than any other college coach at my summer games,” said Salem’s Beeley, a four-year starter. “She built a relationship with me. It was an easy choice, because of how much she saw and watched and cared.”

Beeley will now unite with Milner, a Newton, N.H., native. The two were teammates for a short time in the Hurricanes’ club program years ago and have been friends ever since.

A four-year starter and already a two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star at Central, Milner is one of the most feared hitters around, coming off seasons where she hit .549 and .517 for one of the state’s premier programs.

“I looked at my opportunities at every division in college,” said Milner, who will study international business. “I loved (Bettencourt’s) style of coaching. She’s super positive. The softball there is super-competitive. And I’m very excited to compete, but not have competing be my entire life.

“My favorite part of this is that I will be able to study abroad and still play four years of college softball.”