Lizzy Howland scampered home with what ultimately turned out to be the game-winning run in the top of the sixth, as visiting Greenfield High School stayed unbeaten with a tight 3-2 victory over Pioneer Valley Regional School in a Franklin County League game Thursday afternoon in Northfield .
With the score tied 2-2 in the sixth, Howland led off the frame with a single and eventually scored on an error off a ball hit by Molley Duclos to give the Green Wave (4-0, 3-0 FCL) a 3-2 lead it would not relinquish.
Sophomore Olivia Joy finished it from there, as she struck out 13 batters — her fourth consecutive game with double-digit strikeouts. Joy went all seven innings, walking three and allowing just two hits to earn the win.
Pioneer (3-4, 2-2) received an outstanding pitching performance of its own, as junior Kaylee Gibson notched 10 strikeouts in the complete-game effort. Gibson allowed just four hits and only walked two in keeping the Panthers within striking distance throughout.
“There was excellent pitching on both sides, not a lot of hits for anyone,” said Pioneer coach Sue Fuller.
Greenfield took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first, but Pioneer took the lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth to go ahead 2-1. Alexus Vergobbe reached on an error, scoring Lizzie Fuller to tie the game, and Vergobbe eventually came around on another error to put the home team on top.
Greenfield tied the game with a run in the fifth, setting things up for Howland’s game-winning run in the sixth.
Audrey Bresciano, Raegan Hickey, Samantha Smith and Howland had hits for Greenfield, with Hickey notching a triple. Fuller doubled for Pioneer, while Sophie Peduzzi added the other hit on the afternoon.
Greenfield travels for an independent game at Franklin County Technical School on Saturday, while Pioneer travels to Mohawk Trail Regional High School on Monday.
• In JV action, Pioneer earned a 7-0 shutout over Greenfield on Thursday.
Stephanie Scoville allowed three hits and didn’t walk a batter for Pioneer, striking out nine in the pitching circle. Alexis Farrick, Sam Martinez and Jazmine Terounzo paced the offense for the Panthers, while Greenfield’s Hannah Mahefca had three hits and Gianna Conte struck out nine in the circle.
Mohawk 12, Frontier 10 (9) — Mohawk Trail Regional High School scored twice in the top of the ninth inning without the luxury of a hit and the Warriors earned a 12-10 win over Frontier Regional School in a FCL softball game Thursday afternoon at Zabek Field in South Deerfield.
Mohawk (5-1) recovered to win the game after blowing what was an 8-1 lead in the fourth inning. Frontier scored five times in the sixth and got one run in the seventh to tie the game at 9-9. Both teams scored once in the eighth inning, before Mohawk plated two runs to win the game in the ninth.
“In the past, Mohawk would have given up and lost,” Mohawk coach Katelyn Gaffigan said. “This time, we didn’t give up. We kept pushing forward. I’ve never seen the girls so excited in my life.”
Morgan Roccio and Shelby Sinistore each walked to lead off the ninth inning, and Caitlin Johnston then hit a fielders choice that saw the Frontier shortstop commit an error as she attempted to turn a double play that allowed Roccio to score. Two more walks and a hit by pitch led to another run scoring in the frame.
Emily Page kept Frontier (1-4) off the board in the bottom of the ninth to finish off the victory. Page finished with four strikeouts and one walk in three innings of relief to earn the win. Lydia Donahue worked the first six innings and had two strikeouts and six walks.
Johnston had a big day offensively with a solo home run as part of a two-hit, three-RBI performance. Mackenzie Mayhew hit a two-run bomb for Mohawk, Shelby Sinistore had three hits, and Bompastore had two hits and three RBIs.
It was a rough day for Frontier pitching, which issued 11 walks as a unit. Lauren Davenport walked eight in four innings of relief to suffer the loss. McKenzie Patterson hit a solo home run as part of a two-hit performance, and Sarah Meunier also homered as part of a three-hit, three-RBI day. Lexa Boyden added a single and two RBIs.
Mohawk travels to Smith Academy Saturday at 1, while Frontier to rebound Monday when it heads to Mahar.
Athol 9, Mahar 6 — A big second inning provided the bulk of the offense for host Athol High School, which scored eight times in the frame en route to a 9-6 win over rival Mahar Regional School in a FCL tilt Thursday in Athol.
The Red Raiders (3-3, 2-2 FCL) scored eight runs — as the offense pounded out seven hits — in the frame to erase a 4-1 deficit and take a commanding 9-4 lead. The Senators chipped away, but Athol relief pitcher Hailey Bigwood shut the door thanks to 10 strikeouts in five innings of work. The freshman struck out the final two batters she faced with the bases loaded in the seventh.
“She got herself into a little trouible with some walks in the last inning but she came up with some big strikeouts there,” Athol coach Sharon Chauvette lauded of Bigwood.
Mahar freshman Skylar Dodge continued her hot start to the season. She clubbed a two-run home run in the top of the first, clearing the right field fence, to help stake the Senators to a quick 3-0 lead on the road.
“Other than (the second inning), I couldn’t be happier with the girls,” Mahar coach Jerry Duguay offered. “They didn’t give up.”
Dodge was 3-for-4 on the afternoon, while Lani DeDiego, Hanna Britt and Jordan Fournier all had hits in the loss.
Athol’s Hannah Arsenault and Angelica Baptista had two hits each to pace the team’s 11-hit attack. Baptista drove in three runs, while Destiny Ricko added a pair of RBI in the win.
Athol hosts Hopkins Academy on Monday while Mahar (2-3, 1-2) takes to the road for games in back-to-back days against Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School (today) and Southwick-Tolland Regional High School (Saturday).
Turners 12, Hopkins 0 (5) — Under the lights for the first time this spring, Turners Falls High School had no issues on Thursday night.
The Powertown scored nine times in the first inning and were never threatened, as junior Peyton Emery allowed just an infield single in the top of the first to lead her team to a 12-0 victory in five innings over Hopkins Academy in FCL action at the Bourdeau Fields Complex.
Cassidhe Wozniak and Gabby Arzuaga had two hits a piece in the first inning alone, as Turners stormed to a 9-0 lead against Hopkins starter Maegan Quinlan.
That would be plenty for Emery, who struck out four and walked just one to go with the one hit in a five-inning shutout.
Turners (5-0, 3-0 FCL) pounded out 13 hits, with Arzuaga continuing her hot streak with four hits and a third-inning solo home run off the flag pole. She finished with three RBI.
Abby Loynd added three hits and an RBI, while Jordyn Fiske registerd two hits. Maddy Johnson drove in three runs in the big Turners attack.
Next up for Turners is a huge independent contest on Sunday night under the lights at home. Central Mass. Division I powerhouse Wachusett Regional High School comes to town for a 6:30 game, in a rematch of last year’s 1-0 contest that wound up being Turners’ lone loss of the season.