SOUTH DEERFIELD — Raine Wonsey looked like her dominant self for the second-seeded Frontier Regional softball team in a 3-1 win over third-seeded Wahconah in the Western Mass. Class B semifinals on Thursday afternoon.
After missing some time with an injury and getting pulled in the quarterfinals, Wonsey pitched seven innings of two-hit ball for the Redhawks. The freshman finished with four walks and 11 strikeouts. Spending time away from the softball field was an absolute rarity for Wonsey.
“I think I had a big mental block from not playing for a while,” Wonsey said. “Luckily I have good teammates behind me and a good back up pitcher.”
Backup pitcher Lexi Hawkins was at her usual position at first base against the Warriors. The win sets up a huge rematch with top-seeded Hampshire Regional for the Class B championship. Wonsey missed the regular season game against the Raiders.
“It’s going to take everything we got,” Frontier coach Gary Deane said. “It’s good to have Raine at full strength. She pitched seven innings. That’s the first time in three and half weeks. She got into little jams early, but she slowed it down, took a breath and focused in.”
Wahconah did have some baserunners with five left on base altogether, but Wonsey made the pitches in key moments. The Redhawks played error free on defense. Frontier lost to Hampshire Regional 2-0 on May 8. The Raiders ended the Redhawks season last year in the state tournament. Frontier will play Hampshire at Westfield State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
“We saw them (Hampshire) once and I told you we would see them again,” Frontier’s Skyler Steele said. “A lot of work to do. We have to put in the work and stayed focused. We did great today but there’s always room for improvement. I am super happy and super proud that we get to go there and play.”
The Redhawks opened the scoring with an RBI single by Riley Tine in the first inning. Tine added a double in the sixth inning. Frontier had two unearned runs in the bottom of the third. Steele walked and stole a base in the inning, with Wonsey adding a hit. Tine provided the lone RBI of the game for Frontier.
“I was pretty nervous at first but over time as my teammates cheered me I kind of lost the nervousness and swung away,” Tine said. “I think it’s going to take a lot of teamwork (to beat Hampshire). We need to pull through and cheer each other on.”
Wahconah got its lone run on a solo home run to left field from Sammie Kaley. Julia McComish had herself an excellent day in the circle for the Warriors. McComish used an effective rise ball to strike out 12 hitters and only surrender three hits. At the plate, McComish drew two walks.
Maggie Nichols, Olivia Peabody and Sadie Nichols had stolen bases for Frontier.
Lenox 6, Greenfield 5 — The Millionaires walked it off against the Green Wave in the Western Mass. Class C semifinals in the Berkshires. Greenfield had leads on two occasions but couldn’t hold off Lenox.
Olivia Lemay pitched seven innings with eight strikeouts and had a double and a triple. Madison Lemay had two hits including a double. Sophia Rotkeiwicz added two hits, with Grace Laurie adding two RBI.
Small School tournament
Softball
Franklin Tech 4, Bristol County 3 (eight innings) — The Eagles knocked off the top-seed in the MVADA Small School softball tournament in Dighton. Breanna Kempf had the game-winning RBI single in the top of the eighth inning for the Eagles.
Brayleigh Burgh pitched eight innings for the Eagles, giving up seven hits with nine strikeouts. Lindsey Taylor had two hits with a double. Emma Petersen added a double with an RBI.
Franklin Tech plays the winner of No. 2 McCann Tech and No. 3 Old Colony.
