TURNERS FALLS — Pioneer Valley Regional School doesn’t get intimidated during the postseason, especially against Franklin County League rival and state Division III powerhouse Turners Falls High School.
Thankfully for the Indians, they still have Mackenzie Phillips in the circle.
When the Panthers threatened to tie in the top of the seventh inning, Turners’ senior righthander worked out of the jam and propelled the second-seeded Indians to a hard-fought 2-1 win in the quarterfinals of the Western Massachusetts Division III Softball Tournament Monday night at the Bourdeau Fields Complex.
Pioneer (11-11) was able to hang around for the first six innings, despite only one hit. Then they were able to get to Phillips in the seventh.
Third hitter Jess Scoville led off the frame by fisting an 0-1 pitch in the area between Phillips and third baseman Abby Loynd. Scoville easily beat Loynd’s throw, which sailed out of play to move Scoville to second.
Logan Anderson (2-for-3) followed that up with a sharp single to center field that scored Scoville, and Anderson took second on the throw.
However, Phillips was equal to the challenge in her final career home game and was able to strike out Alexus Vergobbe, Brianna Jobst and Olivia Rowe in succession to escape the jam and clinch the victory.
“If you look at our history, our first playoff game is usually the toughest one,” said veteran Indians head coach Gary Mullins. “We’ve been off for 10 days and third games (against an opponent) are tough. … Pioneer is a decent softball team. They made some plays and kept the pressure on us. Logan is a nice little hitter and got a big hit for them.”
Turners was held to one of its lowest hit totals of the season, as it managed just five hits off Panthers sophomore lefty Kaylee Gibson (three strikeouts, four walks).
The Indians were able to pick up a run in the opening frame. Aly Murphy led off with a single through the left side but was erased on a Cassidhe Wozniak’s fielder’s choice. Wozniak moved to second on a passed ball, then Phillips roped a single to center field to plate Wozniak with the first run.
Turners pushed across another run in the third when Wozniak drew a two-out walk and scored when Gabby Arzuaga ripped a one-bouncer off the fence in left-center field for a double.
Pioneer’s first hit came in the top of the second when Anderson led off the frame with a line single to left field, but she was stranded there after Phillips struck out the next three batters.
Phillips finished with 16 strikeouts and a lonely walk. She threw only 98 pitches, 72 strikes.
“She’s a great pitcher,” said Panthers head coach Joel Cole of Phillips. “She’s a class act, and you just can’t give enough respect to a pitcher like her.”
“It’s nice to end it by playing Turners straight up,” added Cole. “We had nothing to lose and everyone has finally bought into the team concept and the way Pioneer wants to play their softball.”
The Indians (20-1) move on to play No. 3 Mt. Everett Regional School Thursday at 5 p.m. at UMass’ Sortino Field. The Eagles (18-3) were a 2-0 winner over No. 6 Greenfield High School in their quarterfinal Monday afternoon in Sheffield.