TURNERS FALLS — The Turners Falls softball team has found a groove just when it needed to most.
The Thunder have been playing their best softball since the MIAA Div. 5 softball tournament opened and that continued on Friday in the quarterfinals against No. 23 Millis.
Madi Liimatainen was nearly unhittable in the circle while Turners got contributions from its entire lineup at the plate to cruise into the Final Four with a 12-2 victory at the Bourdeau Fields Complex.
“You have to feel good about what we’ve accomplished,” Thunder coach Gary Mullins said. “We’ve played better softball. Madi threw a great game. I’m pleased we’re still alive. Millis is usually a good program. We’ve played them in a state final. We respect their program. We’re playing pretty good softball so hopefully we can keep doing that. We’ll keep working on it. We’re showing improvement and I’m excited about that.”
Liimatainen continued her stellar postseason in the circle, striking out 16 and surrendering just three hits with the Mohawks unable to catch up with the speed of her pitches.
Going against unfamiliar opponents, the freshman has focused on throwing strikes and making things as difficult as possible for opposing hitters at the plate.
“It’s hard because I don’t know if they’re an outside hitter, if they like to bunt the ball,” Liimatainen said. “A lot of it is location. If I pitch it outside, they won’t touch it. I just have to throw strikes and whatever happens, happens.”
Millis opened the scoring in the top of the first. Riley Caulfield reached on a walk to open the game, stole second and third and made it home on a passed ball to give the Mohawks a 1-0 lead.
Millis’ advantage didn’t last long. Emily Young reached on a walk to open the bottom of the first, Morgan Dobias cracked a single and Paige Sulda scored Young on a single of her own.
Dobias took third and Sulda made it to second after the Mohawks tried to throw Young out at home. Cady Wozniak brought both of them in with a single to give Turners a 3-1 lead.
The Thunder added a run in the bottom of the second. Jenna Petrowicz reached on a walk and Young ripped a double to bring her home, making it a 4-1 game.
Millis got a run back in the third, with Caulfield once again reaching on a walk, stealing second and third and making it home on a passed ball to cut the lead to 4-2.
Sulda opened the bottom of the third with a double, took third on a Wozniak fly out and reached home on an Olivia Stafford ground out to give Turners a 5-2 lead after three. In the fourth, Young got on with a single and Liimatainen drove her in after crushing a double off the left field fence to extend the lead to 6-2.
A big fifth inning for the Thunder broke the game open. Sulda opened with a single and Wozniak got on with an error. Stafford walked to load the bases for Skylei Lapan, who grounded to short but the throw home was high, allowing Sulda and Addison Talbot — who was running for Wozniak — to reach home.
Stafford stole home after Millis tried to throw Alyssa Peters — who was running for Lapan — out at second on a steal and Petrowicz brought Peters home with a single to put Turners up, 10-2. Petrowicz was thrown out trying to take second.
Marilyn Abarua got on with an error, Young knocked a single and Liimatainen brought Abarua in with a base hit. Young, who made it to third, reached home on a Dobias ground out to give the Thunder a 12-2 lead.
“I love seeing the younger girls putting the ball in play,” Liimatainen said. “Some of them have never had to face the pressure of a win or go home game. It’s boosting a lot of confidence. I’ve been in a slump lately but getting those hits tonight boosted my confidence.”
Turners now gets ready to face No. 3 West Boylston, which made it to the semifinals after beating Hoosac Valley on Friday. The Hurricanes had defeated the Thunder in the Western Mass. Class D finals two weeks ago.
With another unfamiliar opponent, Turners is focused on itself and is hoping to keep its postseason magic going. The date and time for the matchup with the Lions is to be determined.
“This season has been a lot of highs and a lot of lows,” Liimatainen said. “We’re really putting it together when we need to. We come into batting practice and are excited to play. We’re ready to play to win. We know that they’re good. Coming into the Final Four we know all the teams will be good. We need to go into it with the same mindset as we did today where we don’t know much about them but we just need to play to win.”