TURNERS FALLS — With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and runners on first and third in a tie game, Turners Falls coach Gary Mullins asked Autumn Thornton, about to bat, if she would rather bunt or try to get a hit against Greenfield ace MacKenzie Paulin. 

For the eighth grader, the answer was simple. 

“I knew I could hit off her,” Thornton said. “I hit one last year off her but it went foul. I felt like I had confidence because I was hitting foul balls off her early. If I got more control and timed it better, I could do it.” 

Thornton did just that, driving a ball to deep right field that was caught by Greenfield’s Sarah McCloud. But the ball was deep enough to allow Marilyn Abarua to tag up and race in for the game-winning run, lifting Turners to a 3-2 victory at Gary Mullins Field on Friday. 

“It feels great,” Thornton said. “Everyone came running up to me and I was shocked. I couldn’t believe I just did that.” 

It was exactly the kind of game that was expected with Paulin and Madi Liimatainen in the circle, as runs were hard to come by throughout. 

Turners (3-1) stranded Mia Marigliano on second after she doubled in the first. Abarua bunted and made it to third in the second inning but didn’t score, while Madisyn Dietz singled and made it to third in the fifth but the Thunder were unable to get her home.

Turners’ lone run going into the sixth came off a solo blast from Liimatainen, while Gloria McDonald drove in a pair with a single up the middle in the third to help Greenfield hold a 2-1 lead late. 

Liimatainen was intentionally walked to open the sixth, stole second and third, and after Paulin struck out the next two batters, a wild pitch allowed Liimatainen to score and tie the game 2-2 going into the seventh. 

Greenfield was unable to get a baserunner in the top of the frame and Abarua opened the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single. Dietz bunted her over to second, then Abarua stole third before Kaiya Adams drew a walk. That set up Thornton’s sacrifice fly to win the game. 

“The kids executed tonight,” Mullins said. “We had to do some things in different situations and our baserunning was good. We stole a lot of bases which set up some things for us. That last inning was awesome. We did it with some young kids and it’s exciting to see those young kids compete. I thought we paid attention, did some good things and got a break.” 

Just as Paulin — who finished with 14 strikeouts, two walks and five hits in the circle — shut the door whenever the Thunder got into scoring position, Liimatainen did the same on the other end. 

Greenfield (3-1) stranded runners on second and third in the first inning but got going in the third. Olivia Lemay reached on a fielder’s choice, then Paulin put two runners on when she reached on an error. After a passed ball, McDonald drove a single up the middle to score two and give the Wave the early 2-0 lead. 

Meghan Collins reached on an error with one out and after taking second to put runners on second and third following a wild pitch, Liimatainen struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam. 

It was the last baserunner the Green Wave had, as Liimatainen finished the game with 11 strikeouts, three walks and just one hit allowed. 

“We talked all week about how this was going to be one of those close games where every little thing would matter,” Greenfield coach Ray Dodge said. “We had to focus on all the small things and tonight, we just weren't that great at that.”

While it’s never easy to lose to your rival, Dodge noted that there’s a long season ahead for the Green Wave and that one loss won’t define their season. 

“This is only one game,” Dodge said. “They don’t get extra credit for beating us and we don’t suffer extra for losing to them. It’s a little harder to take but it’s still just one game. This happened to us last year where we lost a close one early in the season. We can bounce back from this.” 

Frontier 12, Mount Greylock 5 – The Redhawks trailed 4-0 after half an inning but pitcher Raine Wonsey settled in, allowing just a solo home run in the seventh the rest of the way.

Frontier’s defense turned a double play in the second inning thanks to shortstop Skyler Steele. The Hawks scored three in the bottom of the first then took the lead with a four-spot in the fourth. Delaney Fifield hit a home run in the sixth, and sophomore Addie Ehle led all hitters with three hits and three runs. Steele, Olivia Machon and Wonsey finished with two hits apiece in the win. Wonsey struck out seven in the circle.

Hopkins 20, Athol 0 (5) – Cassie Dion struck out eight in a five-inning no-hitter to lift the Golden Hawks to a decisive win on Friday.

Jaylynn Chapalonis walked for the lone Athol baserunner. 

Baseball

Turners 8, Greenfield 5 – A six-run bottom of the first inning set the tone, and the host Thunder held on for a huge early-season victory Friday in Turners Falls.

Julian Kaiser had two hits and three RBIs to pace Turners Falls, which led 6-0 after one inning. Ethan Eichorn added a hit and a pair of RBIs, and Nathaniel Trinque singled and scored a pair of runs.

Greenfield pulled within 6-4 after four innings, but Turners answered with a two-spot in the fifth. Chase Zraunig singled and drove in a pair for the Wave, which were held to just four hits by Thunder pitcher Kainen Stevens (5 2/3 innings, 5 strikeouts). 

Pioneer 8, Oxford 2 – The Panthers handled business in a tough non-league contest against the Div. 4 Pirates, racing out to a 5-0 lead after two before earning a win in Northfield on Friday to improve to 5-0 on the season. 

Ben Werner pitched all seven for Pioneer, striking out seven and scattering seven hits. Ethan Quinn singled, doubled and drove in a pair of runs, Alex McClelland knocked three hits and drove in four RBIs, Evan Tsipenyuk singled, doubled and drove in one, Ethan Mauthe tallied two hits and an RBI while Jackson Campbell added two hits in the winning effort. 

Boys volleyball

Granby 3, Athol 1 – Warren Taylor had 12 kills for the Bears in a 25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17 loss to the Rams on Friday at Mallet Gymnasium. 

Girls tennis

Lenox 4, Frontier 1 – Esther Ehle snagged a point for the Redhawks at No. 3 singles, notching a 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 win to pace her side on Friday.

Boys tennis

PVCICS 5, Greenfield 0 – The powerhouse Dragons didn’t drop a set in a 5-0 sweep of Greenfield during action Friday.

Palmer King dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision at No. 1 singles for the Green Wave against PVCICS’ Lee Ferguson.

West Springfield 5, Turners 0 — Lucas Black fell 6-1, 6-1 in No. 2 singles for the Thunder in a loss to the Terriers in Turners on Friday. 

Boys track

Greenfield 90, Mahar 55 — Krish Patel won the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and the 400 meters (59.6 seconds) while Jon Breor took first in the javelin (122-2) and discus (112-0) as the Green Wave opened their season with a win over the visiting Senators on Friday. 

Other Greenfield winners were Jerry Ven in the shot put (38-10.25), Jack Laurie in the 100 (11.5), Dylan Breiwick in the mile (4:54) and 800 (2:22), and Alex Scotera in the 2 mile (12:24.7). The Green Wave also won the 4x400 relay (4:06). 

Winners for Mahar were Mitchell Krasco in the triple jump (41-3.5), 110 hurdles (13.4) and 400 hurdles (1:04), David Finch in long jump (18-4), Coltin Fausett in the pole vault (9-6) and Calypso Heyrlackmung in the 200 (25.6). The Senators took the 4x100 relay (48.5). 

Girls track 

Greenfield 90, Mahar 55 — Nina St. Clair broke the Greenfield school record in the 200 with a time of 25.5 seconds while also winning the 100 (13.6), helping the Wave earn a victory over the Senators on Friday in Greenfield. 

Rounding out the Green Wave winners were Payton Martin in the long jump (13-3), Suhani Patel in the high jump (4-6), Natalia Cody in javelin (72-2), 800 (3:06) and mile (6:49), Holly Babineau in discus (19-0), Tayler Bergeron in the triple jump (29-9), Mackensie Goncalves in the 100 hurdles (20.6) and 400 hurdles (1:22.11), Henley Gilstrap in the 400 and Rose Fortin in the 2 mile (13:38). Greenifeld also won the 4x100 (58.3) and 4x400 (4:53.3) relays. 

Madilyn Moore won the shot put (24-3.25) while Taylor Paluk took the pole vault (6-6) for Mahar.