GREENFIELD — Some late, clutch hitting for the 15th-seeded Greenfield softball team secured a 5-3 win over No. 18 David Prouty in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament Round of 32 on Friday night at Vets Field.
Entering the bottom of the sixth in a 2-2 game, Sarah McCloud turned on the jets to beat out an infield single. McCloud eventually scored on a wild pitch to put Greenfield ahead against the visiting Panthers.
“Just using my speed,” McCloud said. “I knew once I got on I had to make my way home. Just trying my best to run as hard as I can and do it for my team…we knew we had to have this game and we got it.”
The Green Wave play the winner of No. 2 Georgetown and No. 34 Mahar Regional. McCloud finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Olivia Lemay of Greenfield delivers a pitch against David Prouty, Friday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Greenfield coach Erich Leaper meets with Olivia Lemay (left) and Madison Lemay in the sixth inning against David Prouty, Friday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Sophia Rotkiewicz (left), Olivia Lemay (center) and Kayden Viencek celebrate after a win over David Prouty, Friday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Greenfield softball team celebrates after a win over David Prouty, Friday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Greenfield softball team celebrates after a win over David Prouty, Friday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
“We are capable of doing all of the parts of the game well,” Greenfield coach Erich Leaper said. “The team is so young that the consistency to do it repeatedly is where it comes into play…I think we did a little better on that today. The girls just need to be ready to do all of the pieces in a game together.”
The clutch bat of Madison Lemay tacked on a couple extra runs later in the inning. After walks by Charlee Vera Fellows and Sofia Ruggeri, Lemay launched a two-run double for the Green Wave. Vera Fellows and Ruggeri both hustled home to give Greenfield a 5-2 lead. The three runs scored by the Green Wave effectively shut down any gaining momentum of David Prouty.
“I just knew we needed a big hit,” Lemay said. “I just don’t overthink it. I just step in the box and think big hit and if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Olivia Lemay won in the circle for the Green Wave. Lemay pitched through some adversity multiple times in the game.
After the Panthers loaded the bases in the first inning, Lemay regrouped and got two strikeouts to end the threat and not give up a run. In the top of the fifth, Lemay gave up three hits in a row. She got a ground and two strikeouts to end the inning. In the top of the seventh, Lemay overcame two errors in the outfield to end the game with a strikeout.
“I have learned to work with my team,” Olivia Lemay said. “I knew what I was coming into and it felt good. It was good to pitch well for my team.”
Lemay gave up five hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts. Greenfield took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Consecutive hits by Olivia Lemay, Kayden Viencek and Grace Laurie put Greenfield ahead, 2-0.
The Panthers tied the game in the fifth after Allie Granger and Kinley Sauvageau opened the inning with singles. Ashlynn Consiglio then tied the game for the Panthers with a double that scored two runs. Alyssa Olsen pitched six innings for the Panthers, giving up nine hits with two earned runs and three walks.
Sauvageau and Consiglio both reached on errors in the top of the seventh inning. With runners on the corners, Lemay got a pop out before walk to Gianna Davin. Lemay then struck out Sheyenne McConnell looking to end the game.
Vera Fellows went 1-for-1 with a hit and two walks for the Green Wave. Sammi Suhl added a hit for Greenfield.
