MONTAGUE — After falling behind early, the Turners Falls softball team roared back to defeat Greenfield, 11-6, on Tuesday night in Franklin East play.
Autumn Thornton won for the first time as a starting pitcher for the Thunder (1-1, 1-1 Franklin East). The freshman also launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. The dinger to left field was another first for her career.
“I feel like a did a lot better,” Thornton said. “I had more confidence…It felt good. I was proud of myself.”
With an experienced defense behind her who tightened up after some early miscues, Thornton settled in and got outs when she needed them. In her seven innings, Thornton gave up 10 hits with six walks and four strikeouts.
Turner’s Ivy Lopez connects for a base hit vs Greenfield in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Sarah McCloud connects for a base hit vs Turners in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Ella Rotkiewicz gets tagged out by Turner’s Addison Talbot after being caught in a pickle between second and third base in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Turner’s Autumn Thornton connects for a hit vs Greenfield in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Lenyx White makes an infield catch for the out vs Turners in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Meghan Collins connects for a base hit vs Turners in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Grace Laurie is safe back at third as Turner’s Abby Moffatt fields the throw vs Greenfield in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield during introductions vs Turners in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Olivia Lemay pitches vs Turners in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Greenfield’s Sofia Ruggeri makes contact vs Turners in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Turner’s Kaiya Adams knocks one over the fence vs Greenfield in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Turner’s Kaiya Adams is greeted at home plate after hitting a home run vs Greenfield in Turners Falls on Tuesday evening. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo
“We made some bad plays early and I jumped on them,” Turners Falls coach Gary Mullins said of his defense. “After I blasted them a little bit they all started to play better…we could be a good defensive team when it’s all said and done.”
The visitors took control after a two-run first inning. That’s when Kaiya Adams stepped to the plate to start the second. The catcher blasted an absolute moon shot to left field, getting the Thunder on the scoreboard and injecting some momentum into her team.
“I think it turned it around,” Adams said. “It brought everyone up. Made everyone more confident. Everyone went to the plate saying ‘its my turn’.
The homer was the first of Adams’ career. Her teammates mobbed her at home plate after the short jog from third base. Adams finished 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.
“I kind of blacked out honestly,” Adams said. “I was in shock. I heard everyone yelling ‘get out’ and then everyone was screaming.”
Mullins likes what he sees from Adams and Thornton.
“I am excited for those two freshman,” Mullins said. “If I live long enough to have them for four years it will be a lot of fun. They are not afraid to play.”
Greenfield took a 2-0 lead after the first innings and led 4-1 into the fourth. Things unraveled for the Green Wave (1-1, 1-1 Franklin East) in the bottom of the fourth inning when Turners Falls scored five runs in the frame to take the lead.
“We’re still such a young team,” Greenfield coach Erich Leaper said. “It’s nice to get out to a big lead but they have to remember that the game doesn’t end halfway through it. Everything is a learning lesson. A lot of these girls are playing in situations they haven’t played in before.”
Olivia Lemay went six innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Lemay gave up 12 hits to the Thunder. Greenfield took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Grace Laurie and Lemay opened the game with consecutive singles. The first run scored on a wild pitch and the second came on a RBI single by Meghan Collins. Kayden Viencek registered an RBI in the top of the fourth on a fielder’s choice for Greenfield.
Lemay went 3-for-3 with three singles and a walk for Greenfield. Sarah McCloud singled to open the third inning and eventually scored on a RBI single by Ella Rotkiewicz.
A nice at-bat by Ivy Lopez helped fuel a five run inning for the Thunder. After courtesy runner Jojo Hayman scored on a wild pitch, Lopez drew a walk with two outs and stole second base. Maddie Haight and Madisyn Dietz then followed with consecutive RBI singles before Thornton’s two-run homer.
Ameilya Galbraith and Haight both had an RBI in the fifth inning. Turners Falls led 9-4 after the frame. Viencek knocked in two more runs in the top of the sixth with an RBI double for Greenfield.
Janelle Massey provided insurance with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 10-6. Adams notched an RBI single later in the inning.
Frontier 13, Hopkins Academy 6 — The Redhawks won their second straight to open the season in South Deerfield. A six-run second inning helped Frontier (2-0, 2-0) pull away in the Franklin East match up with the Golden Hawks.
Skyler Steele went 2-for-3 with a homer for Frontier. Riley Tine added a couple hits and two RBI. Raine Wonsey pitched six innings with seven strikeouts. Lexi Hawkins pitched a perfect seventh inning for Frontier.
Whitney Campbell drew three walks and scored three runs for the Redhawks.
Minnechaug 15, Franklin Tech 6 —The Eagles lost their season opener in a Franklin East match up with the Falcons in Wilbraham. Sandra Johnson had three hits and two RBI for the Eagles. Sofia Melnik, Emma Petersen, Skylei Lapan and Lindsey Taylor each had an RBI for Frankln Tech.
Taylor finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Baseball
Belchertown 4, Pioneer 0 — Evan Tsipenyuk pitched effectively, the but the bats couldn’t get going for the Panthers in a road loss to the Orioles in an independent match up. Tsipenyuk only gave up one earned run with five strikeouts while allowing four hits in six innings.
Girls tennis
Pope Francis 3, Frontier 2 — The Cardinals edged the Redhawks (1-1, 0-1) in Springfield in a Pioneer League match up. Kayla Fagan defeated Isabella Garcia, 6-2, 6-3, in No. 2 singles. In No. 1 doubles, Brooke Charest and Hailey Fernandez took down Caroline Lyson and Evelyn Mawby, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 10-8.
