For the second year in a row, the long-ball proved to be the difference for Turners Falls High School in a game against Division I powerhouse Wachusett Regional High School.
The visiting Mountaineers received a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning from pinch-hitter Brigid Griffin, breaking a 1-1 score to lift them to a 3-1 victory in an independent softball game played between two of the top teams in the state Sunday night at the Bourdeau Fields Complex.
It was the second year in a row that a home run decided things between the two teams. In last year’s meeting, Wachusett hit a solo home run, and subsequently robbed Turners of the tying bomb with a great catch at the fence, in a 1-0 victory.
“This was a huge test and these guys are a great team,” said Turners coach Gary Mullins of Wachusett. “I think it was the best softball game we’ve played this year. They’re just good, hats off to them.”
Freshman Aly Murphy had Turners’ lone RBI of the game, as she singled home a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie things, 1-1.
That score would hold until the seventh, when Griffin pinch-hit with a runner on. She lifted a pitch low and away to left field off Turners starter Peyton Emery (7 innings, two strikeouts), clearing the fence to put Wachusett up 3-1.
“I believe Peyton threw a good pitch, a curve low and away, but (Griffin) went down there and took it to left field,” Mullins explained. “The kid put a good swing on the ball. But Peyton pitched very, very well. She gave us a chance. (Wachusett is) a terrific-hitting club. To hold them to four hits was pretty impressive.”
Cassidhe Wozniak, Murphy, Gabby Arzuaga and Abby Loynd had hits for Turners (5-1), which battled against Wachusett starter Olivia Strasser all night.
“She was the first girl we’ve faced who threw it 60 (mph),” said Mullins. “She was around 60 all night.”
The Powertown will have to get right back into things tonight. The squad travels to Greenfield High School for a game with major Franklin County League title implications under the lights at Veterans Memorial Field (7 p.m.). The two teams sit atop the league standings with perfect 3-0 marks.
“That’s another good team,” Mullins said of Greenfield. “They’re undefeated with quality pitching and some good athletes. They’ll be a tough team.”
Greenfield 17, FC Tech 2 (5) — Olivia Joy and Katie Haselton combined for a five-inning, no-hitter as visiting Greenfield rolled to a 17-2 win over Franklin County Technical School in an independent softball game Saturday in Turners Falls.
The Green Wave (5-0) stormed out to a 9-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back.
Joy struck out six in her two innings of work before giving way to Haselton, who pitched the final three innings (three strikeouts, five walks).
Lizzy Howland’s four hits led a strong offensive performance for Greenfield, which outhit Tech by a 16-0 margin. Samantha Smith had two hits, including a home run, while Molley Duclos smacked three hits. Smith, Grace Kennedy and Audrey Bresciano had two hits each in the win.
Mohawk 8, Smith Academy 4 — It’s going to be a big week for the Mohawk Trail Regional High School softball team. The Warriors took care of business on Saturday, improving to 6-1 on the season with some heavy hitters on deck.
Mohawk jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first and never trailed, getting past Smith Academy for an 8-4 victory in an independent game in Hatfield.
The win has Mohawk riding high entering a week that has the Warriors playing Franklin County League foes Pioneer Valley Regional School, Turners Falls High School and Mahar Regional School.
Caitlin Johnston, Ashley Walker and Lydia Donahue had two hits apiece for Mohawk, while Shelby Sinistore, Walker (two), Donahue (two) and Caitlin Johnston (two) drove in runs against Smith Academy.
Starter Emily Page struck out 13 batters to pick up the victory in the circle.
Mohawk hosts Pioneer today in Buckland.
Southwick 11, Mahar 1 — The pitching tandem of Emily Lachtara and Nikki Willey limited visiting Mahar to just three hits, as Southwick-Tolland Regional High School earned an 11-1 win in an independent softball game Saturday afternoon in Southwick.
Megan Rich, Jordan Fournier and Jaydalyn Lohnes singled in the loss for Mahar (3-4), which scored its lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning.
Southwick (8-2) led 2-0 after one inning and added four runs in the second to take control. The Rams, which finished with 14 hits, led 8-1 after pushing across four runs in the fourth inning.
Rich went the distance in the circle for the Senators, striking out two and not issuing a walk.
Mahar returns to its FCL slate today when it hosts Frontier Regional School (1-4) in Orange.
Smith Voke 7, FC Tech 0 — Jack O’Connell struck out nine and allowed three hits and two walks in seven shutout innings to lead Smith Voke to a 7-0 win over Franklin Tech in a Tri-County League baseball game Saturday morning in Turners Falls.
The game was scoreless until the third inning when the Vikings (4-3) got one run off Franklin Tech starter Mike Dobias, who struck out four and walked one in four innings. Smith Voke struck for three runs off Dobias in the fourth. Tim Fritz came on in relief and pitched the final three innings, striking out five and walking three. He also gave up three runs.
Mason Lewis had two hits and two RBIs, while Ryan York and Aidan Pike each had one hit and one RBI.
Connor Powers, Seth Aldrich and Nate Pelletier each had a hit for Franklin Tech.
The Eagles (3-4) take the short trip across Millers Falls Road to take on crosstown rival Turners Falls tonight at 7.
Steele Relays
Mohawk Trail Regional High School won an event on both sides, as the Warriors led the local teams in competition at Saturday’s George Steele Relays held at West Springfield High School.
The Mohawk girls’ team finished fourth overall in a talented field, as the Warriors amassed 44 points on the day. Longmeadow High School took the top spot with 93 points, followed by East Longmeadow High School (81 points) and South Hadley High School (52).
Mohawk captured the top spot in the distance relay, where its quartet of runners completed the 4×1600 relay with a time of 22 minutes, 57 seconds.
Frontier Regional School was sixth on the girls’ side with 27 points. The Red Hawks took first as a team in the pole vault relay, combining for a top clearance of 20 feet, 6 inches.
Mahar Regional School finished 12th overall with 13 total points.
The Mohawk boys’ team captured the javelin relay, combining for a total of 359 feet, 10 inches, en route to a ninth-place finish as a team (23 points) — tops for area teams.