The Norton High softball team won its first four games this season minus senior catcher Carli Arcaro, who was sidelined recovering from a torn labrum.

The Lancers, however, would be hard-pressed to repeat as Division 2 South champions without their standout backstop.

In her return to the lineup at Hopedale on Monday afternoon, she smashed a triple and a solo homer in a 6-1 victory. But it was her work behind the plate, working in concert with sophomore pitcher Kelly Nelson, that was more impressive.

“It was great to have Carli back,’’ said Nelson, who allowed just one hit while striking out 16 hitters.

“I just fell into the same groove that we had last year in the tournament . . . It’s something special.’’

Having a commanding presence behind the plate is crucial to a team’s success. And that is certainly the case at Norton.

“Carli is the one that makes this team go,’’ said Norton coach Wade Lizotte.

“The second or third time around the lineup, she can tell me every pitch [Nelson has] thrown to these kids.

Silver Lake has an ace in Maddy Barone, a four-year varsity stalwart. But the polished work of junior catcher Emily Critch, a fellow Patriot League All-Star, does not go unnoticed.

“Her knowledge of the game and her ability to read batters and read situations has only become more refined,’’ said Silver Lake coach Tony Pina of Critch, who calls and frames every pitch.

Barone, who registered a minuscule 0.38 earned run average last season, said Critch knows what pitch to throw in every situation.

“It really helps, as a pitcher, to have a catcher that has a knowledge of that,’’ Barone said.

Critch credits veteran coach Bob Rossi , who helped her during practice sessions with the Rhode Island Thunder Gold club program.

“He was so into framing and good mechanics,’’ Critch said. “He’d break things down for an hour and just work on blocking.’’

Critch said that it helps that the Southern New Hampshire University-bound Barone has faith in her calls.

“I think Maddy trusts me a lot with what I call,’’ Critch said.

“I can’t remember the last time she called me off.’’

Norton and Silver Lake have the luxury of a returning battery.

Whitman-Hanson is breaking in a new pitcher, junior pitcher Emily Cook, and senior Kristin Arthur, the team’s starting center fielder a year ago, is now behind the plate.

“It’s definitely a different perspective on the field,’’ Arthur said. “Going from just waiting for a ball to come to me to calling the game.’’

Cook is also going through an adjustment in taking on more responsibility. But as she notes, she and Arthur have been “best friends since kindergarten.’’

“Everything she calls I completely back up,’’ she added.

Coach Jenna Olem said Arthur is improving every game. “[She is] just learning different styles of hitting and where to call pitches,’’ said Olem, who was a catcher at Brandeis University.

“When to call pitches, how to really set up on the outside of the plate and make that strike zone as big as possible.’’

At Norwood High, the Mustangs are trying to replace the production of Globe All-Scholastic Erin Garczynski , now a freshman at Southern New Hampshire.

The replacement: her younger sister, Bryn, the second Garczynski to start as a freshman for the Lancers. With a combination of power and speed, she has also hit second and third in the lineup.

“She’s promising for the next four years,’’ said coach Carol Savino . And Norwood’s top pitchers, Amanda Olbrys and Katie Welch, are also freshmen.

So Garczynski has leaned on Norwood captains Emily Bonaccorso , Alyssa Chamberlain and Taylor Reed as she adjusts to the high school level.

“Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed and a little hyper,’’ Gaczynski said.

“The captains on our team are very supportive.’’

Garczynski says her experience with the Mass Drifters AAU team has aided her transition. And she is not above asking her older sister for advice on framing pitches.

“I never really called the pitches when I was on Drifters,’’ the younger Garczynski said. “[Erin is] teaching me how to do that now.’’

Middleboro High has the Woodward sisters: Vicki, a senior pitcher, and Lindsay, a junior catcher, who have been working together since their T-ball days.

“She definitely understands what I’m thinking before I’m even thinking it,’’ said Vicki Woodward with a laugh.

Their chemistry paid off as the Sachems stormed to a 4-1 start.

“You just always have to be thinking and reading the batter,’’ said Lindsay Woodward on her mind-set as a catcher.

“Vicki’s more of a movement pitcher so I know that curveballs will work on people who are far away from the plate.’’

Norton High’s battery does not share family ties, but Acaro and Nelson are certainly on the same page.

“We get each other mentally,’’ said Acaro, who started her high school career as a first baseman.

Now, Acaro calls the pitches for Nelson, who boasts a diverse repertoire that includes a fastball, changeup, sinker, screwball and riser.

“We go over our scouting reports, we grab our stats,’’ Lizotte said. “She just goes out and executes.’’

“Carli made Kelly a better pitcher . . . they just go out there and read each other’s minds.’’

With her injury now healed, Acaro can now focus on making her final season worthwhile.

“It’s honestly good to be back,’’ Acaro said after Monday’s win.

“Just physically instead of mentally.’’

Matt MacCormack can be reached at matt.maccormack@globe.com.