AMHERST – Dark storm clouds which stretched over nearby hilltops threatened to delay the West Division 2 softball semifinal Tuesday at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Something much more ominous lurked inside the stadium.
Hampshire Regional senior pitcher Alexis Ferris (11 Ks) tossed a two-hitter, and the top-seeded Red Raiders used some timely hitting to storm past the No. 4 Southwick Rams 7-0 in Tuesday’s softball semifinal.
Southwick pitcher Emily Lachtara fools the Hampshire batter on this pitcher in a Division 2 semifinal Tuesday at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. (Photo by Bill Deren)
“You’re not going to find a team better than Turners Falls or Hampshire,” Southwick coach Todd Downie said. “To beat a team like this you have to play a perfect game.”
It was a bizarre start from the outset as Hampshire (19-2) jumped out to an early lead thanks to some wildness, while avoiding some of its own.
Ferris fell behind each of the first two Southwick batters to begin the top of the inning, but recovered both times to force a pop out and swinging strike.
With two outs in the first inning, Southwick junior ace Emily Lachtara struck Taylor Bout with a pitch. Bout stole second, advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and scored on a dropped third strike.
Hampshire manufactured a second run in the third inning when lightning-quick lead-off batter Chelsea Moussette hit a bunt single, stole second, and wheeled home on a Katie O’Connor hit that curled into left field for a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Southwick’s Steph Devine broke up Ferris’s early no-hit bid with a single out along the right field line. Devine was left stranded though as Ferris forced the Rams into two pop flies and a strikeout.
Hampshire padded its lead with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Ferris singled, and was replaced by courtesy runner Kiley Bissell. Bissell moved up two bases on an infield error, and scored on a fielder’s choice. Danielle McGan belted a two-out RBI triple to right-center field. Taylor Boutwell followed with a run-scoring single. Boutwell moved to third base on a Katie O’Connor single. Then, a double steal injected with some error-laden throws resulted in a 7-0 advantage.
As the wind began to create a dust storm in the infield, and the skies threatened to open up, Southwick (16-6) created a few rays of hope as Hampshire inched closer to yet another finals berth.
Kate Sylvia led off the seventh with a liner through the right side. Nikki Willey reached on a one-out error. Faced with her toughest task of the outing, Ferris reached back into her reserve tank and forced a strikeout and ground out to end the game.
“(Ferris) did a fantastic job – she kept us off balance,” coach Downie said. (Hampshire) is well-coached. One through nine can hit the ball, and they field well.”
PLAYOFF NOTES: The softball semifinals will continue Wednesday when No. 5 Westfield (14-7) takes on top-seeded Minnechaug in Division 1 at UMass. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. … In baseball, the third-seeded Bombers take on No. 2 Taconic at Wahconah Park, beginning at 4.
