ATHOL — It took a minute or two to sink in, but Lindsey LeBlanc finally realized what she had accomplished for the Athol softball team on Tuesday afternoon.
The freshman was in the circle against Monson with two outs in the fifth inning.
The Red Raiders had a big lead and one more out meant the end of the game due to the mercy rule. To that point, LeBlanc had not given up a baserunner.
Monson attempted a bunt, but Kendall’s Deleo’s charging play at third base closed out the Mustangs in a 12-0 win for the Red Raiders.
The play at first secured LeBlanc’s first-ever perfect game. LeBlanc retired 15 straight Monson batters in her second outing of the season.
“I didn’t know it was,” LeBlanc said of her accomplishment. “It was? That’s cool. I only started thinking about it in the last inning. Nobody had gotten on base yet. It’s lots of fun I had never done that before.”
LeBlanc struck out 10 batters, including eight straight at one point.
“My curveball was working really good,” LeBlanc said. “My rise was okay too. We have Turners next game. This will give me more confidence. This was much better than my last game.”
Deleo knew the situation went the ball trickled down to her at third base.
“I was thinking at first,” Deleo said. “Then I just made the play.”
Deleo made the throw, and Haley Wrigley gloved it at first to close out the game and give LeBlanc perfection.
The plan on the Athol bench was to keep the lack of hits and baserunners as quiet as possible, according to coach Sharon Chauvette.
“All her pitches have been working,” Chauvette said. “She works really hard. She goes to a pitching coach in the offseason and still goes on the weekends. Her mind is in the game and the location is great.”
LeBlanc and the Red Raiders travel to Turners Falls on Thursday to take on the Thunder.
Sadey Lehtomaki got the offense rolling with a two-run double in the first inning.
Lehtomaki stole a bag and later scored on a throwing error. Rozlyn Nelson then tripled in the inning and scored on a wild pitch.
Celeste Torraco had an RBI groundout as well in the first inning.
Athol led 6-0 after the first inning. LeBlanc led off the second inning with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Lehtomaki.
Haley Wrigley added an RBI double to make the score 8-0 after the second inning.
Haley Bigwood launched a double off the left field fence to lead off the bottom of the fourth and later scored on a wild pitch.
Two more runs scored for Athol in the fourth on errors.
Athol 12, Monson 0 (5)
Monson ……………….. 000 00 — 0 0 4
Athol …………………… 621 3x — 12 6 0
Hits: (M) None . (A) Torraco.
2B: (M) None. (A) Lehtomaki, Wrigley, LeBlanc, Bigwood .
3B: (M) None . (A) Nelson .
HR: (M) None. (A) None.
RBI: (M) None . (A) Torraco, Lehtomaki (3), LeBlanc, Wrigley
WP: LeBlanc (5 ip, 10 k, 0 bb).
LP: Merrigan (4 ip, 3 k, 5 bb).
