WESTFIELD — Turners Falls’ Anne Kolodziej has a knack for coming through in the clutch. 

The top-seeded Thunder found themselves in a pitchers’ duel against No. 2 Lee in the Western Mass. Class D softball championship game at Westfield State University on Wednesday. Going into the bottom of the sixth inning, neither team had produced a run while each team had a mere two hits. 

Turners’ Mia Marigliano got the bottom of the sixth going with an infield single and with two outs, Holly Myers was intentionally walked before Madisyn Dietz drew a walk to bring Kolodziej to the plate. 

Just as she did to tie the game against Greenfield during the regular season, Kolodziej cracked a base hit over second base, scoring Marigliano and Autumn Thornton, running for Myers. Dietz also came home on the play and the throw sailed high, giving Turners a 3-0 lead in the blink of an eye. 

Thunder ace Madi Liimatainen kept Lee off the board in the seventh, allowing Turners to capture the Class D title for the second straight year with a 3-0 triumph. 

“I couldn’t believe it happened again,” Kolodziej said. “Two strikes were on and I had struck out my first time. I was just hoping she didn’t throw me a rise [ball]. I just put no thought and hit it. You just have to stay positive. I knew it was over after that with how Madi was pitching. I’m so happy we’re going home with a plaque.” 

It was a dominant performance from Liimatainen in the circle to keep Turners in the game when its bats weren’t going. 

The junior struck out 21, scattered just the two hits while walking three. Lee did not have a base hit until the sixth inning. Liimatainen was named the Gary Stacy Class D MVP for the tournament. 

“I didn’t realize how many strikeouts I had but I felt really good out there today,” Liimatainen said. “I had a lot of confidence on the mound. I didn’t throw many balls. The strike zone was a bit different than usual. It was a bit higher but as a pitcher, you take that to your advantage.”

Wednesday’s win marked the 24th sectional title for the Thunder, and head coach Gary Mullins said the feeling never gets old. 

“I thought Madi might be dominant,” Mullins said. “They had chances and got runners to third. I thought we’d hit the ball but [Lee pitcher Bri Lynch] threw a nice ball game. We found a way. 

“A timely hit or there and you catch a break. That’s what happened today,” Mullins added. “The kids have done an amazing job.” 

Lynch put together a tremendous performance to give the Wildcats a chance. 

The Lee hurler allowed just four hits in the game and struck out 15. Two of those hits came in the sixth. 

“Our pitch selection wasn’t very good today,” Liimatainen said. “I definitely swung at pitches I shouldn’t have swung at. When times are tough, we need to find ways to pull through and we did it. It’s not the first time Anne’s come through for us. When she walked up, I told one of our coaches she’s going to hit a gapper and that’s what she did.” 

A walk and a dropped strike three put a pair of runners on for Lee in the first, but Liimatainen recorded a strikeout to close out the inning. 

Holly Myers cracked Turners’ first hit of the game in the second, but was stranded at third. Myers was the Thunder’s next base runner after doubling in the fourth, but once again was left on base to close the inning. 

The Wildcats’ best chance came in the top of the sixth. Lynch reached on an error before Karolyn Hopkins cracked Lee’s first hit of the game. Taryn Bannon followed with a single to load the bases, but Liimatainen forced a strikeout to close the inning without the Wildcats getting on the scoreboard. 

Turners now turns its attention to the MIAA Division 5 state tournament, where it enters as the No. 2 seed. It will host the winner of Notre Dame Academy and Atlantis Charter in the Round of 32. 

“We definitely have more confidence moving forward,” Liimatainen said. “We’re the two-seed in states and we know what we want. We’re one step closer to our goals.”

Lee’s appearance in the final was the program’s first since 1994, when they went four straight years with titles coming in 1992 and 1994.