Connor Waitkus drilled a monster two-run home run in the top of the third inning as visiting Frontier Regional School picked up an impressive early-season victory Tuesday afternoon.
The Red Hawks scored all four of their runs in the third, and starting pitcher Ben Arnold made the lead stand up with seven strong innings to help Frontier to a 4-3 victory over Northbridge High School in an independent baseball game in Northbridge.
The Rams took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first against Arnold, but the Frontier offense got to work in the third. Matt Hildreth walked to lead off the frame and, with one out, Waitkus tagged a bomb to deep left-center field for a two-run home run.
Jacob Bryant kept the rally going with a double, and after Kiernan Freeman singled and stole second, both runners came across on Dylan Apanell’s two-run single to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage.
Northbridge cut the deficit to 4-3 with two runs in the home half of the sixth, but Arnold danced out of trouble and posted a zero in the seventh to preserve the key road win.
“We went into the game with an open mind that we can play with anybody,” explained Frontier coach Chris Williams. “We were impressed with their staff and offense, especially after the first inning when they peppered Ben pretty good and got that run. But Ben was great today, and we were fortunate to string some hits together in that third.”
Bryant added a triple for Frontier (3-0), while Apanell had two hits. Arnold struck out five, didn’t walk a batter and scattered five hits to earn the victory.
The Hawks head home today for a 4 p.m. game against Smith Academy.
Pioneer 13, Holyoke 1 (5) — Jill Gadreault clubbed a three-run home run and Steph Scoville didn’t allow a hit in five innings of action to lift Pioneer Valley Regional School to a 13-1 mercy-rule-shortened independent softball win over Holyoke High School Tuesday afternoon at Young Field in Holyoke.
Host Holyoke took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an unearned run. That was all the offense the Purple Knights could muster against Scoville, however, as she struck out six and walked just one while not allowing a hit in the five-inning victory.
Pioneer (3-2) responded in the top of the second inning, when it pushed six runs across thanks in large part to four walks from Holyoke pitching. Olivia Rowe and Gadreault added RBI singles in the frame, as the Panthers took a 6-1 advantage it didn’t relinquish.
Gadreault added her three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to put things out of reach. All told, she had three hits, including a double, and four RBI. Rowe had two hits and three RBI, while Jennie Fuller contributed a pair of hits in the win.
Pioneer stays on the road this morning when it plays an independent game at Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School at 11 a.m.
• In JV action, Pioneer dismantled Holyoke, 28-2, behind an Abby Briggs grand slam.
Chloe Cutting tripled and scored three runs for the Panthers, while Tayla Sadlowski had four hits, including a pair of doubles. Cutting struck out five in the pitching circle to pick up the victory.
Easthampton 10, Mohawk 3 — Easthampton High School broke open a 2-0 game with five runs in the fifth inning, and visiting Mohawk Trail Regional High School was unable to keep pace in a 10-3 loss Tuesday at Nonotuck Park in Easthampton.
Mohawk (2-2) scored three times in the top of the seventh to avoid a shutout. Ashley Walker drove in two of the runs, while Mya Lesieur helped pace the offense with three hits. Morgan Roccio had two hits, including a triple, while Caitlin Johnston also had two hits.
Lesieur went the distance in the pitching circle, striking out one and walking 12. She held the Eagles to single runs in the third and fourth before the five-spot in the fifth.
Rachael Robinson struck out six in seven innings for Easthampton.
Renaissance 23, FC Tech 22 — Renaissance School scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning, including the game-winning run on a passed ball, to clip Franklin County Technical School, 23-22, in a wild Tri-County League softball game Tuesday at Marshall Roy Field Springfield.
Franklin Tech (0-4, 0-2) scored 11 runs in the top of the sixth inning and tacked on four more in the seventh to take a 22-20 lead into Renaissance’s final at-bat. But the Phoenix had just enough left to score three times and capture the win.
The Eagles held a decisive 19-3 edge in hits, though Renaissance scored the majority of its runs on walks. Tech pitcher Abi Corey struck out nine but walked 23 in the complete-game effort.
Jocelyn Crowningshield had four hits and two RBI to pace the Franklin Tech. Hailey Larned also had four hits, while Corey and Summer Gadreau had three each. Larned, Corey, Gadreau and Brooke Academy recorded RBI.
The Eagles are right back in Springfield today when they visit Springfield School of Science & Technology.
Agawam 3, Athol 0 — With one of WMass’ top teams in town, the margin for error was very small for Athol High School Tuesday night.
Although the Red Raiders didn’t play poorly, visiting Agawam High School showed why it’s one of the favorites to capture the WMass title this spring, as the Brownies swept Athol, 25-16, 25-21, 25-16, in an independent boys’ volleyball match at Mallet Gymnasium.
Justin Blake’s six kills led the way for the Raiders (5-2), and he added four digs on the defensive end. Anthony Potenti added four kills, an ace and 11 digs, while Jordan Carrasquillo contributed three kills.
Colby Soltysik finished with 17 assists and two kills, while Matt Willhite led the team’s service attack with three aces.