SOUTH DEERFIELD – It was a seventh inning to remember for the Frontier softball team on Wednesday against Turners Falls. 

The Thunder took a 1-0 lead after Madi Liimatainen smashed a solo home run to center field in the third inning, and the score held into the final inning. In the circle, Liimatainen entered the final frame having struck out 11 batters, giving up no walks and scattering just one hit that came all the way back in the first inning. 

With the heart of their order coming up, the Redhawks kept their confidence at the plate – and it paid off. 

Skyler Steele singled to get the rally started and Delaney Fifield drilled a base hit to follow. Steele took third on the Fifield hit and she was able to take second on the play, putting runners on second and third with no outs. 

Olivia Machon put down a bunt on the next at bat and Turners held the ball in the infield to not allow the tying run across, though loading the bases in the process. 

Liimatainen locked in and struck out the next two batters she faced, the second giving her 1,000 strikeouts for her career. 

With two outs, Addie Ehle came to the plate but a wild pitch allowed Steele to score and tie the game. A second wild pitch brought Fifield home, which lifted the Redhawks to a 2-1 Franklin County League West victory at Zabek Field. 

“I looked at it like we have nothing to lose and that I just have to give it everything,” Steele said of her seventh-inning at bat to kickstart the rally. “There’s no better time than now. You just have to give it everything you’ve got and swing at good pitches.” 

It was Frontier’s first win over Turners Falls since 2022, and it's the first loss the Thunder have suffered in their last 10 outings dating back to last spring’s championship run. 

Getting that kind of win was something Fifield said can be a big confidence boost for the Redhawks (3-1). 

“For some of our younger girls, they’ve never faced off against a pitcher this good,” Fifield said of Liimatainen. “They’ve never had a win that feels this good. Skyler and I, we’ve done it before but it’s still sweet for us. This is something that we can look at all season long and know that if we did this, we can do anything.” 

After nearly pulling off a comeback against Hampshire Regional in their season-opening loss, the Redhawks had the confidence they could rally again on Wednesday. 

“It shows we can do it, we’re in it and we’re able to come back from anything,” Fifield said. “It’s a minor setback for a major comeback every time. We’re fully capable of doing anything we set our minds to. Knowing we can do it in that game, it helped us today.” 

Raine Wonsey pitched all seven innings for Frontier, allowing just four hits while striking out 10. Addison Talbot, Maddie Dietz and Ameliya Galbraight had the hits for Turners (2-1). 

Franklin Tech 21, Athol 2 — Brayleigh Burgh pitched four innings and went 2-for-2 with two RBIs to help the Eagles to a dominant Franklin County League East victory on Wednesday.

Hannah Gilbert hit a two-run home run in the first inning and a solo home run in the second over the left field fence. Lyla Mickiewicz closed out the final inning in the circle in relief.

Athol’s Jaylynn Chapalonis went the distance in the circle, striking out five batters, and had both of the Athol hits, including a double.

Greenfield 5, Taconic 1 — MacKenzie Paulin struck out 12 and allowed just three hits while Gloria McDonald hit an inside-the-park homer as the Wave pulled out a win at Vets Field on Wednesday. 

Paulin added a single and a double at the plate, Anna Bucala cracked two hits and drove in a pair of runs while Meghan Collins added an RBI in the winning effort. 

Pioneer 14, Mohawk Trail 10 — Jaelyn Boliski knocked three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs while adding eight strikeouts in the circle to lead the Panthers to a Franklin County League East triumph in Northfield on Wednesday. 

Jacobia Tyminski tallied two hits, Taylor Chase recorded a hit and an RBI while Kiara Gruszkowski hit safely in the win for Pioneer. 

Addie Loomis had a big day at the plate for Mohawk Trail, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run to go along with two RBIs. Emmalee Inman finished with two hits and three RBIs, Adrian Grant cracked four hits, Abby Moffatt tallied two hits and an RBI while Grace Stevens struck out nine in the loss. 

Girls tennis

PVCICS 5, Greenfield 0 — Stella Longe and Vera Jackson played the closest match for the Green Wave at No. 2 doubles, where they dropped a 6-1, 6-4 decision to the high-powered Dragons at Hampshire College. 

Boys ultimate

Four Rivers 15, Williston 4 — Cooper Whitney tallied seven assists and two points while Russell Herbert added two points in the Otters’ road win Wednesday. 

Brenenan Mahoney, Henry Schwerin, Oliver Bartus and Wes Acton each had two points in the win.