BUCKLAND — After four losses to open the year, the Mohawk Trail softball team went into Monday’s game against Mahar looking to gain some confidence. 

The Warriors did just that. 

Mohawk Trail hit the ball well throughout the game, scoring two runs in the first inning, three in the second, three in the third, before exploding for seven runs in the fifth to run away with a 16-4 Franklin County League East victory.

“It’s huge for this young group,” Lannon said. “With such a young team, they need to learn to trust each other. This is the starting block for that. Before they’re all just trying to play individually. Today they played together which was great to see.” 

The Warriors (1-4) finished with 15 hits in the win, and Lannon said she was proud of her team for showing the confidence to swing the bat at the plate. 

“They’ve been talking at practice about getting the bat off their shoulders,” Lannon said. “We’ve been watching the ball go by. The only way to get a hit is to get that bat off our shoulder.” 

With a roster starting multiple middle schoolers, it was all about showing progress and developing players for years to come for Mahar (0-6). 

Senators coach Jim Cleveland said his team is working hard, though it will take time for his players to adjust to the pitching at this level. 

“We’re coming along,” Cleveland said. “Our hitting is just way behind. Just lack of confidence. We’re starting a lot of middle schoolers. You can’t put too much pressure on them. It’s not easy going from the level they’ve been playing at to varsity pitching. It’s a good group of kids, it’s just a matter of figuring out what we need to do to improve each day.” 

Mahar took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Carly Paluk walked and worked her way around the bases to give the Sens the lead. 

Mohawk Trail responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, as Megan Gabaree doubled to drive in a run before Abby Moffatt singled to bring Gabaree in to give the Warriors the lead. 

Errors plagued Mahar in the second which loaded the bases. Emmalee Inman walked to bring in a run, Bella Brown-Stratton grounded out to score another before Gabaree singled to plate a run, giving the Warriors a 5-1 lead going into the third. 

After loading the bases on walks in the top of the third, Senator Cordelia Rhodes grounded out to score Paluk and cut the lead to 5-2. Mohawk Trail answered back in the bottom of the inning, with Kristen Sevoian driving in two with a base hit and Brown-Stratton adding an RBI single to put Mohawk Trail ahead, 8-2. 

The Warriors tacked on a run on a wild pitch in the fourth but Mahar came back to score two in the top of the fifth, as Lilah Paluk made it home on a passed ball before Kenzie Matthews walked and after three more walks crossed home to cut the lead to 9-4. 

The bats really came to life in the fifth for the Warriors, as Brown-Stratton (2), Moffatt, Inman and Gabaree drove in runs with base hits while bases-loaded walks allowed Mohawk Trail to put seven on the board to close out a five-inning, run-ruled win. 

“All I’m hoping for is improvement each day,” Lannon said. “If the wins come, great. But I want them to have confidence and know they can go out there and do it.” 

Turners 13, Taconic 1 (5) — After a tough loss to Wachusett on Saturday, the Thunder responded with a big game at the plate on Monday as Janelle Massey tallied three hits, including a double, while driving in four. Maddie Dietz hit her first career home run to go along with a double and four RBIs as Turners cruised to a Franklin County League West win in Pittsfield. 

Autumn Thornton tripled to drive in three, Marilyn Abarua and Mia Marigliano both knocked two hits while Addison Talbot and Ivy Lopez hit safely in the win. 

Madi Liimatainen struck out 10, walked two and gave up just one hit in the circle for the Thunder. 

Northampton 24, Athol 1 — Jaylynn Chapalonis doubled and drove in a run for the Bears in a Franklin County League East loss to the Blue Devils in Northampton on Monday. 

Ally Robertson and Madi Hermes added base hits in the loss for Athol. 

Greenfield 14, Mount Greylock 1 — MacKenzie Paulin struck out 10 and gave up just three hits in the Green Wave’s Franklin County League West victory in Williamstown Monday. 

Anna Bucala tallied three hits while Bianca Reynolds singled and drove in three in the victory. 

Hopkins 22, Pioneer 3 (5) — Jaelyn Boliski singled and tripled to drive in a run in the Panthers’ Franklin County League East loss to the Golden Hawks on Monday. 

Layla Goulston finished with two hits and an RBI while Jacobia Tyminski had an RBI single in the loss. 

Wahconah 13, Frontier 1 (5) — The Warriors led 11-1 after three to come away with a Franklin County League West win in Dalton on Monday. 

Ashley Taylor doubled, Delaney Fifield knocked two hits while Raine Wonsey and Sophia Pinardi both hit safely in the loss. 

Baseball

Turners 6, Mahar 0 — Thunder ace Kainen Stevens didn’t give the Senators anything to work with on Monday. 

The junior threw a no-hitter, striking out 11 and walking just one to propel Turners to a Bi-County North victory over visiting Mahar. 

“Kainen did a great job today throwing the ball,” Turners coach Scott Minckler said. “He was very efficient. He only threw 77 pitches in seven innings. We’ll take that any day of the week. He was just on today. He was throwing strikes and forced a lot of swings and misses. Our defense didn’t have to do much today.”  

Trevor Lyons knocked three hits and drove in two runs, Jackson Cogswell recorded a pair of hits and RBIs, Julian Kaiser singled and knocked in a run, Ledwin Villafana doubled while Brody Girard and Liam Kerivan hit safely for Turners. 

Freeland Ringer struck out five for Mahar. 

Girls tennis

Frontier 4, Turners 1 – The Redhawks dropped just one total game between two doubles matches, and ultimately took care of business in a 4-1 win over the Thunder on Monday in Turners Falls.

At first doubles, Frontier’s Jimin Ahn and Esther Ehle cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Turners’ Shayly Martin and Kiera Feeley. At second doubles, Sofia Hebert and Eleanor Wade scored a 6-0, 6-1 win over Kenzie Flaxington and Lily Sumner.

Frontier’s Ella Sibley was a 6-2, 6-1 winner at No. 2 singles while teammate Aylen Shaw was a 6-0, 6-0 winner at No. 3.

Turners’ point came at first singles, where Olivia Wolbach earned a 6-1, 6-1 win over Frontier’s Thanushi Ratnatunge.

Boys tennis

SICS 4, Turners 1 — Mario Pareja came away with a 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 victory in No. 2 singles for the Thunder in a loss to the Bulldogs in Springfield on Monday. 

Boys volleyball

Springfield Central 3, Frontier 0 —  Tegan Dexter put down 11 kills and made seven digs for the Redhawks, who fell to the Golden Eagles 26-24, 28-26, 25-19 in Springfield on Monday. 

Nate Rivera tallied six kills, four aces and seven digs, Will Reading put down three kills while Tavo Vincent-Warner dished 20 assists in the loss for Frontier.