MONTAGUE — The Frontier Regional softball team opened its season with a 14-2 (six innings) Franklin East win over Turners Falls on Friday. It had been quite a while since Frontier beat Turners Falls on the road. The last victory dates back at least 10 years and could be since 2010.
“I am happy with a lot of aspects of it,” Frontier coach Gary Deane said. “The middle and the bottom of our batting order came through pretty well today.”
Raine Wonsey picked up the win in the circle. Wonsey gave up four hits, struck out five and walked three batters in her six inning outing. The Redhawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning to take control.
The runs were more than enough for Wonsey.
“I thought we did really well as a team collectively,” Wonsey said. “Compared to last year we made a lot of improvements. A lot of new girls on the team. But we pulled together.”
The four-nine hitters did some major damage for Frontier. Riley Tine launched a triple that landed just inches from the 210 sign out in centerfield. The hit gave Frontier a 6-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
“It’s so great to have everyone hitting,” Tine said. “Even sometimes when we don’t. We’ll still encourage each other. It’s such a great team.”
Freshman hurler Autumn Thornton looked good in spots but struggled with control, finishing with eight walks. Thornton did strikeout six while giving up 10 hits. The Thunder committed four errors behind Thornton.
“It was disappointing defensively,” Turners Falls coach Gary Mullins said. “We also put ourselves in trouble with some walks. We’ll be better defensively. I think we were more busy trying to stay warm.”
Once the sun went down, the air turned nearly freezing during the game. Thornton’s first inning was 1-2-3 but a two walks and a wild pitch helped start a five-run second inning for the Redhawks.
“Overall disappointed,” Mullins said. “But we are going to get better.”
Abigail Schreiber opened the scoring for Frontier with an RBI single in the top of the second. Bella Orrell doubled in the top of the fourth, picking up an RBI for the Redhawks. Later in the inning, Lexi Hawkins launched a two-run double for Frontier. Hawkins double made the score 13-1.
Hawkins registered her third RBI in the top of the sixth on a groundout. The run initiated the mercy rule. Skyler Steele started the inning with a laser into centerfield followed by a ground rule double into right field by Wonsey.
Maddie Haight had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth for the Thunder. Haight had another run scored in the bottom of the third after opening in the inning with a base hit. After reaching second base on an error and advancing after a groundout, Haight scored on a pass ball.
Janelle Massey went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. The stolen base was well-received by the Turners Falls bench.
Greenfield 16, South Hadley 1 (six innings) — Olivia Lemay started her season with a no-hitter in a mercy rule victory over South Hadley. Lemay had 12 strikeouts and six walks in the Green Wave’s Franklin East win. Greenfield (1-0) scored eight runs in the fourth inning and the sixth inning to put away the Tigers.
Kayden Viencek had a double and three RBI for the Green Wave. Sammi Suhl had two hits with a double and knocked in two runs for Greenfield.
Baseball
Frontier 10, Easthampton 0 (five innings)— Joey Hutkoski registered the victory on the mound in Frontier’s opening day win over the Eagles in South Deerfield. Hutkoski struck out five hitters in the independent victory.
Henry Drinker had two hits and three RBI for the Redhawks (1-0). Jack Cusson (two RBI) , Hutkoski (RBI) and Shawn Baumann (RBI) each added two hits.
Boys tennis
Pope Francis 5, Frontier 0 — The Redhawks dropped their home opener to the Cardinals in Pioneer league play. Desmond DeAngelo and Anthony Leonardi almost broke through in second doubles, falling in two super tiebreakers. Casey Bestler lost to Marcus Tran in No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4.
