Westfield softball pitcher Ava Cichonski fires a pitch Thursday against visiting East Longmeadow. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield softball team’s bats were on fire Thursday.
Westfield collected a total of 14 hits and received a solid effort from pitcher Ava Cichonski, who surrendered four runs in a mercy-shortened, five-inning 16-4 win over visiting East Longmeadow.
Erin Gour finished the day with three hits for Westfield, including two triples, four RBIs and three runs. Bombers’ Carly James (4 RBIs, 3 runs) and Mya Sanders (3 stolen bases, 4 runs) had two hits apiece.
Cichonski scattered seven hits and three walks across five innings.
Westfield outfielder Diana Daly showed off the leather in center field, making three plays, one of which was a sensational diving grab of a well-hit ball.
BASEBALL
Saints batter PVCA
St. Mary’s 10, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy 6
St. Mary’s bats were out in full force, racking up 10 runs to back a strong performance on the mound from Jack Masciadrelli.
Masciadrelli scattered four hits, two walks, and two earned runs over seven innings while striking out seven batters.
Brady Collins (3-for-4), Hayden Lussier (2-4, double), Aidan Burke (2-4), Jack Lamirande (1-3), and Masciadrelli (1-3) led the offense.
Rams win on Mizanoglu walk-off hit
Southwick 4, Monson 3
Sam Mizanoglu (2-for-4) hit a walk-off, two-run hit to cap a comeback for Southwick (7-4, 6-2 Bi County), who rallied for three runs in the final inning, to win at home.
Dom Vercellone got things started for Southwick in the seventh with a walk. Jacob Garrety (2-3) singled. Frank Wynglarz beat out a sac-bunt. Bart Shea (1-3) followed with a bases-loaded walk to pull Southwick within one run of a tie, 3-2, setting the stage for Mizanoglu’s heroics.
Josh Lis struck out seven batters for Southwick over 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He also doubled at the plate and scored a run.
Shea earned the victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out one batter, and allowed just one hit.
Southwick’s Dan Burnett also had a hit in the game.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Bombers rally for good cause
West Springfield 11, Westfield 10
Westfield mounted a furious rally, scoring two goals in the final minute of the game but fell just short of a comeback victory Thursday night at Clarke Field in West Springfield.
“We came flying back,” Westfield girls lacrosse head coach Paul Fenwick said. “We needed one more but we just couldn’t get a shot off.”
It was a drastic turnaround from earlier in the season when the two teams met, a 17-8 loss for Westfield.
“We learned a lot about ourselves today,” coach Fenwick said. “Hopefully this is another stepping stone.”
Mackenzie Liptak (3 goals), Emma Metcalf (2 goals, 1 assist), and Kylie Buchanan (2 goals) led the Westfield attack. Bombers’ goalie Liz Clark made six saves.
Westfield, which improved to 6-5 overall, was recognized for its successful fundraising efforts for a West Springfield student stricken with brain cancer.
O’s top Saints
Belchertown 17, St. Mary’s 4
Katarzyna Wisnauckas and Skyler Duda scored two goals apiece for St. Mary’s. Saints’ goalies Paighton Ramos (6 saves) and April Warner (8) combined for 14 saves.
GIRLS TENNIS
Panthers down STM
Palmer 4, St. Mary’s 1
Caroline Leahy and Catherine Seklecki won in straight sets for St. Mary’s, 6-3, 6-3.
BOYS TENNIS
Kielbasa nets ‘W’
PVCA 4, St. Mary’s 1
Aaron Kielbasa won at third singles for St. Mary’s, defeating Pioneer Valley Christian Academy’s Nathanael Brosseau, 6-3, 6-4. Saints’
