Is it that time of the season already? Can’t be. It’s only …. (checks calendar) …. May 14?!?
Nevermind. We’re officially on postseason watch here on the high school front, whether you believe it or not. The seeding meetings for the WMass baseball and softball tournaments are three weeks from today, and while many teams are well behind the eight-ball in terms of games played (shouts to Mother Nature), the crystal ball is clearing up just a wee bit as we stare late May in the face.
So forget about that minor threat of snow overnight. As the great Bill Belichick once said, “We’re on to the Recorder’s Bubble Watch, Version 1.0.”
Now, a lot of this picture will change over the course of the next week or two. With postponements coming in hot and heavy during April and the early portion of May, we’re in that lovely territory where teams are tasked with playing four and even five games a week to make them all up. It’s a sprint to the cut-off date, and only the strongest (read: teams with enough pitching) will survive.
Without further ado, here’s a closer look at the local teams and their chances at a postseason berth. Note, records as of this writing are in parentheses.
In (3): Turners Falls (11-0), Frontier (10-3), Greenfield (9-2)
On the Bubble (4): Athol (5-6), Mohawk (7-6), Mahar (6-7), FC Tech (4-9)
Discussion: Death, taxes, Turners Falls softball punching a postseason ticket.
I used to live on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and we had this thing the locals refer to as “Ice-Out.” Officially, it is the moment when the ice that has covered the Lake since late December or early January melts enough that the M/S Mount Washington cruise ship can navigate between its ports in Alton Bay, Center Harbor, Weirs Beach, Meredith and Wolfeboro. Unofficially, it marked the arrival of spring in the Lakes Region. This year, Ice-Out was declared on April 24.
Why am I telling you this? In Franklin County parlance, Turners Falls officially qualifying for the WMass softball tournament is Ice-Out. This year, the Powertown accomplished the feat on May 7 with a win over Athol. We may now commence with our regularly-scheduled spring programming.
While Turners is in the Big Dance to the surprise of absolutely no one, they do have some company as local qualifiers at this point in the form of Frontier and Greenfield.
The Red Hawks, firmly entrenched in the No. 3 spot in the Franklin County League standings, have been very busy actually getting games in despite the weather. They’ve already played 13, somehow, and thanks to last week’s victory over Mahar, Frontier will be dancing for the second year in a row.
Greenfield made it three teams in the postseason with a convincing 15-2 win over Athol on Monday, as the Wave improved to 9-2 and only play an 18-game schedule.
After that, the Recorder area could get as many as four and as few as zero from a bunched-up pack hovering around the .500 mark. Stay tuned.
In (2): Frontier (11-1), Turners Falls (6-6)
Should be in (1): Athol (8-4)
On the Bubble (4): Greenfield (7-5), Pioneer (7-6), Mahar (5-6), Mohawk (3-8), FC Tech (7-5)
Discussion: Defending WMass Division 3 runner-up Frontier is back in the postseason, and the Red Hawks have picked right up where they left off this season. Through 12 games, Frontier has outscored its opponents by a ridiculous 97-9 mark, including five shutouts. The only reason that margin isn’t greater is because it had to forfeit its opener against Pioneer after using an ineligible player. That’s been the Red Hawks’ only loss to date this season.
Turners is in the postseason for the first time since 2017 via the Sullivan Rule, as the Division 4 school is 3-1 against fellow D4 foes and clinched the necessary .500 record against those teams with a win over Hopkins last week.
Like the softball postseason picture, the waters are muddied for the rest of the local teams. Athol is on strong footing, currently sporting an 8-4 record. With three games on the docket this week, two wins would get the job done.
After that, Greenfield, Pioneer and Franklin Tech are all over .500. Mohawk is just 3-8, but the Warriors sat alone in second place in the Hampshire League East as of this writing, and would qualify with a sub-.500 mark if it still manages to capture a top-two spot in the league.
In (0): None
Should be in (1): Greenfield (6-1)
On the Bubble (1): Frontier (5-4)
Discussion: Defending WMass semifinalist Greenfield hasn’t officially earned a postseason spot, mainly because the team has had too many matches rained out. They’ll likely get in this week, with eyes on repeating as Tri-County League North champions as well.
Frontier is the other local side with a shot at a postseason berth. The Red Hawks are 5-4 with five matches remaining, meaning the team needs to win just two more times to secure a .500 record. Weather permitting, the team has three matches in as many days this week.
In (1): Turners Falls (10-0)
Should be in (1): Greenfield (6-2)
Discussion: The pursuit of an undefeated season continues for the Powertown.
Turners is into the postseason for the fourth year in a row, and can lock up at least a share of the TCL regular-season title with a win over Greenfield in a battle of the top two teams in the league on Thursday.
Speaking of the Wave, the Davis Street Kids are closing in on their first postseason berth since 2016. They’re gearing up for another shot at Turners, where a win would make things very interesting in the TCL race down the stretch.