H.S. Roundup: Frontier softball’s seventh-inning surge seals win over Belchertown

BELCHERTOWN — In a game absolutely oozing with playoff atmosphere, the Frontier Regional softball team scored nine runs in the seventh inning to come back and defeat Belchertown, 13-6, on Friday afternoon in an independent matchup.

With the win, Frontier stayed unbeaten (15-0). In the latest MIAA power rankings, Frontier came in at No. 4 in the state in Division 4. Frontier proved to be unflappable in the seventh inning. In dramatic fashion, Belchertown took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Orioles (9-4) were three outs away from a win.

“It’s just been part of our practices as part of our DNA and part of the personalities of this group,” Frontier coach Gary Deane said. “We got four captains, and they lead that idea of we are never out of game. We can catch up at any time.”

Belchertown also showed its perseverance, overcoming a 4-0 deficit to take the lead. The Orioles are in the midst of one of their best seasons in recent memory. Belchertown is 23rd in the Division 3 power rankings.

“It was fun,” Belchertown coach Mike LaFayette said. “Both teams. I loved the hitting. A good team like that with a good pitcher on the mound.”

The nine-run seventh had contributions up and down the lineup for Frontier. Adelaide Ehle hit an RBI single to tie the game, 5-5. From there, Lexi Hawkins helped her own cause with two RBI single. Another run scored on a wild pitch.

“It was amazing,” Hawkins said. “I was so proud of everyone.”

Abigail Schreiber contributed an RBI bunt single to score another run for Frontier. Skyler Steele then connected on a three-run homer that could still be traveling through the Belchertown skyline. The homer approached another fence beyond the field’s fence.

“It was a shot,” LaFayette said. “That was insane. I’ve never seen anybody hit the ball that far.”

Steele went 3-for-5 with a single and two homers with four RBI. Frontier had five hits in the seventh inning alone. Steele has 11 home runs this season. The comeback was a group effort for the Redhawks.

“Just having trust in your teammates just as much as you trust yourself,” Steele said. “I want everyone every single one of them up there to do just as great as I want myself to do.”

Hawkins (nine strikeouts) got the start for Raine Wonsey, who will miss some time with an injury. The eighth grader started strong in the circle but ran into some trouble in the middle innings.

“Once they started getting hits, I got nervous,” Hawkins said. “But then my teammates helped me focus more and pitch strikes when it got tough.”

The Orioles got some power on offense from starting pitcher Lila Roy, who homered twice for Belchertown. Roy’s first homer gave Belchertown the lead in the fourth, while her second tied the game in the sixth. The junior had flashes in the circle with 11 strikeouts but did give up nine walks.

“This really prepared me for any Western Mass. games,” Roy said.

Roy finished 2-for-3 with two homers and an intentional walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. The two home runs came in big moments for the Orioles.

“I didn’t think about it. I just got up there and I was so energized. I knew I could do it,” Roy said. “If I could get contact on the ball, I knew it was going to go.”

Riley Tine scored Haly Doucette-Kaplan with an RBI double down the right field line in the first inning for the Redhawks. Sadie Nichols later scored on an error for Frontier. Steele’s third inning homer gave Frontier a 3-0 lead.

Tine made the play of the game in the bottom of the third inning. On a popped bunt attempt, the spry catcher used a full extension dive to catch the ball drifting away along the foul line.

Sophia Mitus’ two-run double got Belchertown on the scoreboard in the third inning. Roy’s first home run in the bottom of the fourth cut Frontier’s lead down to 4-3. Abby Almeida had an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh for the Orioles.

Kaiya Cavanaugh added an RBI for the Orioles.

Franklin Tech 14, Mohawk 2 (five innings) — An RBI single by Lindsey Taylor triggered the mercy rule in the Eagles’ home win over the Warriors in an independent matchup. Taylor finished 2-for-4 with two hits and three RBI for Franklin Tech (3-10).

Skylei Lapan, Lyla Mickiewicz and Breanna Kempf each had two RBI for Franklin Tech. Samantha Duncan went 3-for-3 with a double and a triple with three RBI. Brayleigh Burgh won in the circle with four strikeouts in five innings.

Grace Stevens doubled for Mohawk. Juniper Totino and Maddie Finn each added a single. Emmalee Inman and Sadie Wilcox both knocked in a run for the Warriors (6-6).

Pioneer 6, McCann Tech 4 — In a matchup of the top teams in the Valley Wheel, the Panthers came out on top in Northfield. Cobi Tyminski hit a bases clearing double in the third inning for Pioneer (6-6, 6-1). Maggie Tsipenyuk followed with an RBI single. Kiara Gruszkowski added an RBI double for Pioneer. Tyminski got the win in the circle.

Turners Falls 9, Greenfield 4 — Janelle Massey hit a grand slam for the Thunder in the win over the Green Wave at Vets Field. Maddie Haight added two hits with an RBI for Turners Falls (6-6). Autumn Thornton pitched seven innings, giving up 11 hits with four strikeouts. Grace Laurie had three hits and two RBI for Greenfield (6-6).

Baseball

Franklin Tech 7, Mahar 3 — The Eagles pulled away from the Senators in the middle innings in Turners Falls in an independent matchup. Hunter Donahue had two hits and two RBI for the Eagles (8-4). Freeland Ringer had two hits and an RBI. Caleb Begos got the win for Franklin Tech, scattering 10 hits with three strikeouts.

Athol 3, Turners Falls 2 — Maddox Greene hit a walk-off single for the Bears in the win over the Thunder in a Suburban East matchup in Tool Town. Ethan Heuer struck out 10 hitters in the win for Athol (2-9, 1-6). Liam Kerivan and Kainen Stevens had RBI for the Thunder (2-8, 1-6).

Boys tennis

Central 3, Greenfield 1 — Ian Degen and Tyler Patterson won in No. 1 doubles, but the Green Wave (0-6) lost to the Golden Eagles. Degen and Patterson beat D’Ante Britton and Anthony Duncan, 7-5, (11-9).

Girls tennis

Greenfield 4, Mohawk 1 — Greenfield claimed a victory over the Warriors in Buckland. Amy Mihailicenco outlasted Hazel Foucault in No. 1 singles 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. Karinna Kostov won at No. 2 singles for Greenfield. Ivan Hillanbrand won at No. 3 singles for the Warriors. Vera Jackson and Lizzy Derivolkova won at No. 1 doubles, while the duo of Stella Longe and Clara Kelsey also won for the Wave in second doubles.

Volleyball

Athol 3, Duggan Academy 0 — The Bears cruised past the Jayhawks at Mallet Gymnasium in a West match up. Set scores were 25-19, 25-17 and 25-22. Aiden Desreuisseau had 13 kills for Athol (6-6, 3-2). Caunor Mason added 11 digs and seven assists.