GREENFIELD — Sophia Rotkiewicz’s walk-off infield single lifted the Greenfield softball team to a 6-5 win over Hopkins Academy in Franklin East play at Vets Field on Monday night.
With runners on second and third, Rotkiewicz hit a hard grounder to third. A desperation throw home wasn’t close, scoring the winning run. It was Rotkiewicz’s second walk off hit against the Golden Hawks during her career.
“Walking up there I was just going up like it’s another at bat, but then it clicked,” Rotkiewicz said. “Two outs. It’s tied. We have runners in scoring position. That’s when it hit me…I got a little bit of confidence and took the first pitch that I could hit and went with it.”
Greenfield’s (5-5, 4-4 Franklin East) recent games include a lot of close contests. It’s becoming the norm for the team.
“We’ve been used to close games,” Greenfield coach Erich Leaper said. “We are finding different ways to win games.”
A sacrifice fly by Olivia Lemay, scoring Madison Lemay, tied the game earlier in the inning for the Green Wave. Olivia Lemay pitched seven innings with 11 strikeouts for Greenfield. She gave up two hits, two earned runs with four walks.
“I definitely could have done better,” Olivia Lemay said. “One hundred percent. Not my best. I have been working on my other pitches which I was able to throw.”
Olivia Lemay finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Sammi Suhl had a two RBI single in the bottom of the third to give Greenfield a 3-1 lead. Kayden Viencek and Suhl both had two hits for the Green Wave.
Sarah McCloud added an infield single and walk for Greenfield.
Frontier 7, Minnechaug 1 — The Redhawks handled the Falcons in a Franklin East matchup at Zabek Field. Raine Wonsey launched a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning for Frontier. Wonsey had another dominant performance in the circle, giving up three hits with 15 strikeouts in seven innings. Skyler Steele hit a solo homer for the Redhawks.
Franklin Tech 7, South Hadley 3 — Amelia Rider had two hits including a triple with three RBI in the Eagles’ road win over the Tigers in Franklin East play. Lindsey Taylor also had two hits with a triple, adding two runs scored for the Eagles (2-9, 1-6). Sandra Johnson got in on the action with a double and two RBI. Brayleigh Burgh got the win in the circle, striking out eight hitters in seven innings.
Athol 16, Hampden Charter 14 — The Bears (2-5, 2-4) got a home win over the Wolves in a Tri County match up.
Ware 24, Mahar 12 — Bella Burnett and Erin Parse had hits, but the Senators (7-4) lost to the Indians on the road in an independent match up.
Wahconah 13, Turners Falls 12 — The Warriors went back to Dalton with a win over the Thunder under the lights at Mullins Field. Madisyn Dietz and Autumn Thornton both had three hits for Turners Falls (5-6). The Thunder pounded 16 hits but could not overcome early defensive miscues.
Baseball
Athol 11, Palmer 7 — The Bears won their first game of the season, taking down the Panthers in Tool Town. Athol (1-8) won in comeback fashion in the independent contest. Ethan Heuer got the win on the mound, pitching three innings and only giving up one hit with four strikeouts. Heuer (two RBI) and Eli Wein both had three hits. Cooper Smith knocked in two more runs for Athol,
Hopkins Academy 5, Pioneer 4 — The Golden Hawks slipped past the Panthers in Hadley, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Suburban East contest. Evan Tsipenyuk had a hit and an RBI for the Panthers (2-7, 2-4). Hayden Girard went 3-for-4 for Pioneer.
Greenfield 6, Turners Falls 5 — Urijah Jenness had the game-winning hit, scoring Chase Zraunig in the bottom of the sixth inning in the Green Wave’s Suburban East win over the Thunder at Vets Field. Bodie Burke got the win in relief for Greenfield (8-3, 5-2). Nathaniel Trinque had a double for Turners Falls (2-6, 1-5). Porter Dubow had an RBI single and Julian Kaiser added another RBI single for the Thunder.
Frontier 7, Franklin Tech 1 — Carter Miller struck out eight hitters in seven innings in the home win for Frontier over the Eagles in Suburban East play. The win avenged an earlier loss this season to Franklin Tech. Braiden Dion had two hits and two RBI for Frontier (10-2, 5-1 Suburban East). Jack Cusson added a double and two RBI. Hunter Donahue had two hits and two runs scored for Franklin Tech (6-4, 3-4).
Boys tennis
Amherst 4, Frontier 1 — Casey Bestler got the lone win in No. 1 singles for the Redhawks (3-5) in a road loss to the Hurricanes in a Valley Wheel contest. Bestler defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-3.
Girls track & Field
Frontier 139, Pioneer 6 — The Redhawks rolled in the win over the Panthers in South Deerfield. Louise Flagollet won the 200-meter (27.97) and the 400-meter (1:04.12) for Frontier. Bailey Cusson won the discus (70 feet) and the javelin (97 feet) for Frontier. Liv Christensen took first in the mile (6:14.98) and the 2-mile (13:37.57). Pioneer’s Serenity Brown placed second in the javelin (74-6).
Boys track & field
Frontier 131, Pioneer 8 — Adrien Pazmandy won multiple events for the Redhawks in the home win over the Panthers. Pazmandy won the pole vault (13 feet), the 100-meter (11.59) and the 400-meter (56.03) for Frontier. Carter Berthiaume took first in the high jump (5-10) for the Panthers.
Volleyball
Ware 3, Frontier 0 — The Indians blanked the Redhawks at Goodnow Gymnasium. Set scores were 25-18, 25-14 and 25-23. Nate Rivera had 14 kills for Frontier (0-11). Ethan Rivera added 16 assists.
