EASTHAMPTON – It was a beautiful morning in Easthampton’s Nonotuck Park, site of the 12U LL softball Championship game. Westfield softball team Raven Hollow Winery (RHW) faced the always formidable town of Hadley for the top spot. It was a long season, and both teams fought hard to make it to the end.
Hadley jumped out to an early lead in the top of the 1st inning against RHW starting pitcher Erin Gour (4IP, 2R, 2H, 5BB and 12K). The early lead held until the bottom of the second when RHW’s Amy Pilecki led off with a line drive single and quickly got to 3rd on stolen bases, scoring on a passed ball. Megan St. Onge followed by working a walk off from the tough Hadley starter. With stolen bases and a passed ball, St. Onge scored to knot the game at 2-2 after 2.
RAVEN HOLLOW WINERY 12U SOFTBALL CHAMPS
The score remained tied until the bottom of the 4th when Emma LaPoint led off with a well-hit single, moving to 2nd with a stolen base. Megan Fitzgibbons delivered a shot with one out driving home LaPoint and RHW entered the 5th leading 3-2.
Closer Anna Kosinski (WP) took the mound at the top of the 5th inning. Kosinski held Hadley to one run, catching a Hadley runner trying to score on a passed ball. In the bottom half of the inning, Kelsey Gagnon hustled to 1st after a dropped third strike and quickly stole 2nd. Sophia Franco drove in the run with a hard hit single to take back the lead, 4-3 after 5.
Laser focused Kosinski faced only four batters in the 6th inning, allowing just one run to the heart of the Hadley lineup. With the score tied at 4, RHW turned it on at the plate for the win. Erin Gour lead the charge with a line drive triple down the third base. The table was set for Emma LaPoint’s clutch walk off double over the center fielder to win the game, 5-4.
