SHEFFIELD – It was a mountainous climb that proved too tough a climb.
Starting pitcher Chandler Degrenier threw a perfect game, lead-off batter Gwen Carpenter bashed two home runs – both in the first inning – and No. 3 Mount Everett High School shut out 14th seeded Westfield Technical Academy 18-0 in the opening round of the West Division 3 softball tournament Friday afternoon.
Degrenier finished with 12 strikeouts.
Westfield Tech catcher Cheyenne Slack makes a defensive play. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Carpenter hit a solo shot to start Friday’s game, and soon hit a second as Mount Everett batted around in the first inning. The Eagles forged an 8-0 lead and never looked back.
“We had no illusions that this was going to be easy by any means,” said Westfield Tech coach Deb Falcetti, whose team earned a postseason berth by going 9-7 during the regular season. “I’m really proud of our seniors. I wish the season wasn’t over for them.”
It was the final high school innings for Westfield Tech seniors Stephanie Allen, Sam Crevier, Keisha DeJesus, and Samantha Melchionne (who was absent from Friday’s game).
Allen, and three other Westfield Tech players flirted with a .400 batting average all season. Tigers’ sophomore catcher Cheyenne Slack finished with a team-high .451 regular season BA.
Said coach Falcetti: “We have just an incredible group … that ran into a big brick wall. We certainly have the talent, the ability, the drive, and heart. We came and did our best.”
Falcetti thanked all of the players for their effort, and noted freshman Jaymee Hall (team equipment manager/scorekeeper) for her dedication this season.
