SOUTHWICK – While the early season cool temps and damp weather managed to add gloom to a once sputtering offense, the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School softball team is now emitting rays of brilliance.
The Southwick Rams reached double-digit run production for the third straight game, routing Ware 13-1 Wednesday to earn their 10th win and a trip to the postseason.
“Our hitting is starting to match our defense and pitching,” said Southwick softball first-year head coach Joe Hough, whose team has averaged 13 runs scored over the last three games.
Brittany Penland (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) got the hit parade started with a booming in-the-park home run to lead off the game Wednesday. Penland’s homer jump started a four-run, first inning.
Ware shortstop Aidyn Welsh attempts to field this ball – she dropped it – as Southwick’s Brittany Penland (7) slides in safely at second base. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Southwick went on to add another four runs in the second inning and five more in the third to pull away.
Tori DellaGuistina (2 RBIs) and Molly Petit each went 3-for-4 for Southwick. Rams’ Grace Ingldue also landed three hits, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Kowalski homers twice; Schieppe belts one
Northampton 8, Westfield 4
Westfield’s Brit Kowalski (3 RBIs) belted two home runs, and Sam Schieppe (RBI) homered once. Haley Moniz also had two hits for the Bombers.
Wright, Wolfe lead Gators
Palmer 18, Gateway 5 (5 inn.)
Angela Wright (3 RBIs) and Erika Wolfe each went 2-for-3 for Gateway.
BASEBALL
Saints silence Mustangs
St. Mary 10, Monson 0
St. Mary raced out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, exploded for six more runs in the third, and pitchers Nate Bonini and Quinn Powers tossed a combined three-hitter in a convincing shutout of Monson at Westfield Middle School North.
Bonini allowed two hits, struck out two batters and walked none over five innings. Powers yielded just one hit and one walk.
Shaun Gezotis (double, 2 RBIs), Powers (double, 2 runs), and Hunter Authier (2 runs, RBI) collected two hits apiece for St. Mary. Saints’ Jake Butler, Matt Masciadrelli, and Drew Collins each had a hit, run, and RBI. Paul Shibley finished with a hit, two runs, and a RBI.
Bombers topple Spartans
Westfield 10, East Longmeadow 4
Matt Hastings went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs and J.D. Huntley had a double and three RBIs to lead Westfield at the plate. Bombers’ Ryan Towle tossed a complete game three-hitter. He struck out eight.
Kavrakis, Rams prevail
Southwick 5, Sabis 3
Nick Kavrakis tossed a five-inning, three-hitter in earning a victory on the mound for Southwick. He recorded seven strikeouts. Sam Parker (K) tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
Miguel Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a run and three stolen bases. Eddie Martinez tripled, drove in two runs, and scored another. Kavrakis (run, RBI), Bart Shea (double), Johnny Cessan (RBI), and Josh Lis each had a hit.
Panthers chase Gators
Palmer 17, Gateway 2
Jake McKittrick and Brett Bonenfant collected two hits apiece for Gateway. Gators’ Wyatt Heeter (walk, run), Garrett Bean (2 walks, run), and Josh Webster each had a hit; Henry Nakaya and Logan Symmons each had an RBI.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Happy day
Mohawk 4, St. Mary 1
It was a happy, happy day for a pair of Saints!
Mary Turbolski earned her first tennis win in her first match for St. Mary, and Gina Muvenna won on her birthday.
Turbolski and Muvenna teamed up to down Mohawk’s Sienna Lewis and Hayley Sharidan in straight sets of a doubles match, 6-4, 6-3.
“The Saints’ team was very excited for their teammates,” St. Mary coach Frank Crosby said.
Lions ground Bombers
Ludlow 4, Westfield 1
Westfield suffered a home loss Wednesday. The Bombers return to action Monday at Agawam at 4 p.m.
GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD UPDATE
The Westfield High School girl’s track team had a good outing at the Central and Pope Francis League meet on Monday, with several athletes setting season bests in a wide array of events. Moira McDonald set a program record in both the 100 meter and 200 meter dash, clocking in at 12.9 in the 100m and 26.8 in the 200m. McDonald also set a season best in the high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 8 inches.
McKenzie Chaban and Bianca Hiltz both finished the 100m hurdles in 17 seconds, Emily Ciccolo cleared the 400m hurdles in 1:14.4, and Mary Philpott finished the 400m in 1:03.5, all season bests for Westfield.
Also setting season bests were Mia McDonald in the 800m at 2:32.8 and Philpott Margaret in the mile at 5:55.6.
Westfield finished first out of the three teams at the meet.
Last Saturday, April 29, the team had another good day at the Dr. George Steele Relays. Katherine Knapik (javelin) and Amanda Hall (shot put) both qualified for the Central/West Track Division I state meet with Knapik tossing the javelin 95 feet, 9 inches and Hall hurling 32 feet, 1 inch in shot put.
Two relay teams also qualified for the state meet for Westfield. The 4×400 meter relay team of Emily Bone, Moira McDonald, Megan Heath and Mary Philpott crossed the line at 4:18.23, while the 4×800 team of Margaret Philpott, Moira McDonald, Mary Philpott and Mia McDonald finished with a time of 10:16.3. The team finished 5th out of 16 teams at the meet. – Intern Kevin Bates contributed to this report
LATE RESULTS
Tues., May 2
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Chicopee Comp 14, St. Mary 2
St. Mary’s Aisling Butler recorded a hat trick, Casey Rutledge had one goal and one assist, and goalie Anna Kosinski finished with 14 saves.
Ware shortstop Aidyn Welsh attempts to field this ball – she dropped it – as Southwick’s Brittany Penland (7) slides in safely at second base. (Photo by Chris Putz)
