Westfield Tech’s Cheyenne Slack flexes after rounding third base on her home run jog Thursday at Pathfinder Regional High School in Three Rivers. The hit was Slack’s 100th for her career. Tigers softball head coach Deb Falcetti raises her arms in jubilation. (Photo by Chris Putz)
THREE RIVERS – If no one knew that Westfield Technical Academy senior shortstop Cheyenne Slack was approaching a milestone, she sure made it loud and clear.
Slack smacked two no-doubt home runs for her 99th and 100th career hits in Westfield Tech’s 9-4 win over Pathfinder on Thursday. The senior slugger’s heroics also helped the Tigers (7-5) qualify for the Western Massachusetts tournament.
“It’s honestly something I thought I’d never reach,” Slack said. “I’m really glad I hit it.”
Her 100th hit, a two-run homer in the sixth inning provided some insurance and sent her teammates and coach Deb Falcetti into a frenzied celebration at home plate.
The game was stopped briefly as she was awarded a plaque and the game ball after the feat.
Westfield Tech softball players and their coach, Deb Falcetti, celebrate senior Cheyenne Slack’s 100th hit with a brief celebration following her accomplishment Thursday at Pathfinder. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“Cheyenne is the all-around consummate player who is always here for the team,” coach Falcetti said. “She so deserves this accolade.”
Slack’s teammate also got in on the act, hitting a homer of her own – a solo shot – with one out in the sixth.
“It’s insane,” Slack said. “I hope we go further than we did my sophomore year. Like we did today, we’ve got to play hard. We’ve got to go strong; we’ve got to bring our bats. Our bats are kind of like our weakest thing because we’re kind of scared. We need to get over that and just go up there swinging.”
…And contributing web gems like they did against Pathfinder.
Slack made a nice double play in the bottom of the fourth inning, stopping a well-hit ball at shortstop, stepping on the second base bag and firing to first base. She also robbed Pathfinder of two more hits with two amazing stops, one of which came in the third and fourth innings.
Westfield Tech left fielder Jordyn Sanders made a leaping catch to rob Pathfinder of a potential home run for the first out of the seventh. The Tigers’ defense also produced a nice backhanded flip from the second base position for the second out of the seventh, and a nice stretch from the third baseman on a throw to first sealed it.
“To make the postseason and get recognition for one of our best players that by far has been on our team for years it means a lot,” coach Falcetti said.
“We don’t play for accolades. We don’t play for all the pomp and circumstance that you get with the other divisions, but we play with just as much heart and just as much confidence and we relish every win just as much as any other team.”
DOUBLE FEATURE: Moniz Ks 400th, hits 100th
Westfield 9, Longmeadow 0
Westfield pitcher Haley Moniz tossed a one-hit shutout to help secure a postseason spot for the Bombers.
For the record, Moniz recorded her 400th strikeout, fanning 15 Longmeadow batters and landed her 100th career hit.
Erin Gour hit a two-run double; Morgan Zabielski had a single and RBI, and delivered outstanding defense from behind the plate; and, the Bombers played error-free defense as a team.
Gators seize league title
Gateway 21, Sci-Tech 8
Gateway (12-6 overall, 11-1 league) celebrated a Tri-County League title-clinching victory with a big win against Sci-Tech.
Gateway pitcher Audrey Gamble led the hit parade, going 6-for-6 at the plate with three runs and two RBIs. She also struck out 10 batters on the mound.
Allison Manos (5 hits, 2 runs, RBI), Lily Waters (5 hits, double, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Makala Gogal (5 hits, double, 3 runs, RBI), Angela Wright (3 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs, RBI), Donna Viel (3 hits, run, 4 RBIs), Katelyn Bean (3 hits), and Stephanie Paiva (2 hits, double, walk, 3 runs, RBI) all produced multi-hit performances for Gateway.
BASEBALL
Butler, Saints whack Waconah
St. Mary’s 12, Waconah 3
Jake Butler went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs, and four RBIs to lead St. Mary’s.
Saints’ Hunter Authier (double, run, 3 RBIs), Kevin Rockwal (double, 2 RBIs), Quinn Powers (3 runs), and Jack Masciadrelli (run) landed two hits apiece.
Masciadrelli scattered six hits on the mound, allowing three runs, all unearned He struck out four batters and walked five.
Butler provided an inning-plus of scoreless relief.
Tigers roar past PVCA
Westfield Technical Academy 20, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy 4 (5 inn.)
Westfield Tech qualified for the state’s small schools/vocational tournament with their latest victory. The Tigers improved to 10-7 overall, 6-1 league.
Andy Daniels (2-for-2, double, 4 RBIs, 4 runs), Chris Boyden (1-for-4, double, 2 RBIs), Mike Durkee (2-for-3, double, triple, 2 RBIs), Brody Zabielski (2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 4 runs), and Dante Bongiovanni (1-for-2, double, RBI) led Westfield Tech’s offensive onslaught.
Daniels tossed four innings of two-hit ball, striking out six. Boyden allowed two hits, two runs, and had one strikeout in relief.
BOYS TENNIS
Bombers shut out Saints
Westfield 5, St. Mary’s 0
Jimmy Knapik, Sean Mitchell, and Joey Burzynski won at Nos. 1-3 singles for Westfield.
Westfield’s Donald Change and Shane Halloway fought off St. Mary’s Joe Wilcox and Ben Richter at first doubles, 6-1, 6-4. The Bombers’ second doubles pair, Will Scott and Patrick Orszulak also won.
“(It was) another fine effort by the Saints with great sportsmanship and effort in spite of the Bombers’ excellent all-seniors talent,” St. Mary boys tennis coach George Hart said. “The young Saints – no seniors – look forward to next year and improving.”
BOYS LACROSSE
Blanchard, Saints stomp Pioneers
St. Mary’s 7, Pathfinder 1
Aaron Blanchard had a hand in all seven St. Mary’s goals. Blanchard scored four goals and assisted on three others.
Kooper St. Onge, Edward Towers, and Joe Walz also scored for St. Mary’s. Saints’ Bodhi Hall had an assist.
St. Mary’s goalie Jermay Hoar (13 saves) finished one save short of a shutout with a solid effort.
GIRLS TENNIS
Saints wage tough battle
Mohawk 5, St. Mary’s 0
St. Mary’s Erin Olearcek lost a hard-fought, three-setter to Mohawk’s Rosalie Kinsey at third singles, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
At first doubles, St. Mary’s Ally Rougemont and Deirde Smith also battled before losing to Mohawk’s Avery Dupree and Sienna Lewis, 0-6, 6-4, 6-0.
St. Mary’s Jessica Crosby and Mohawk’s Lilly Seaver played the longest match of the afternoon. The two girls hit hard fast serves and hard precise baseline shots, mixed with moderate spinning slice cuts. They lobbed and dropped shots, constantly changing the pace and tempo of the game, playing extremely long rallies.
Seaver snuck past Crosby 6-3, 7-5.
“It was a joy to watch,” St. Mary’s girls tennis coach Frank Crosby said.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Wisnauckas limelight, spotlight moment
Pope Francis 17, St. Mary’s 7
Katarzyna Wisnauckas enjoyed the limelight under the spotlights of Elms College Thursday night for a brief moment.
Wisnauckas (3 goals) gave St. Mary’s its first lead of the season, scoring 23 seconds into the contest before Pope Francis responded.
Paighton Ramos (2 goals, 1 assist), Riley Panniello (1 goal, 1 assist), and Skylar Duda (1 goal) also scored for the Saints.
St. Mary’s goalie Anna Kosinski made 15 saves. Saints’ Serena Griswold played well on defense.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Terriers sweep Rams
West Springfield def. Southwick 25-17, 25-16, 25-17
Chance Tang had 16 digs, Andy Brown collected five assists, and Nolan Winch delivered four aces for Southwick.
LATE RESULTS – Wed., June 23
BASEBALL
Westfield 2, Minnechaug 1
Westfield rallied for one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings on the road to defeat Minnechaug.
Scotty Bussell went 2-for-3 with a triple, Mitchell Longley and Jack Blake drove in the only runs of the game, and Connor Cottengim and Baley Collier each scored for Westfield.
Aidan Dunn scattered tossed a three-hitter over six innings, striking out six and walking four. Mason St. Pierre struck out three out of the four batters he faced in relief, and gave up one hit.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pioneer Valley Christian School 3, St. Mary’s 2
St. Mary’s Jessica Crosby overcame a slow first set to upend Pioneer Valley Christian’s Skylar Chapdelain at first singles, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 3 singles player Erin Olearcek also won for St. Mary’s, rallying from a first set loss to defeat Neriah Henry, 2-6, 6-5, 6-0. Henry was injured in the match and was unable to continue.
At first doubles, St. Mary’s Deirde Smith and Maura O’Neill lost a well-played three-setter 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
