Southwick starting pitcher Emily Lachtara delivers to a Sabis batter during the first inning of Friday’s game in Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – “Freshman 15” is typically used in reference to the amount of weight a college student puts on during his or her first year of dorm life.
On Friday, it was more like “Freshmen 17” as the Southwick-Tolland Regional softball team packed on 17 runs for freshman hurler Emily Lachtara in a 17-0 rout of visiting Sabis Friday.
Lachtara also dominated on the mound, pitching more like a veteran with a one-hitter. The freshman pitcher struck out 12 batters, and walked none.
“Emily pitched awesome, and we hit the ball well,” said first-year head coach Todd Downie, who has been a fixture in the Lady Rams sports’ program for several years. “It was good for the first game.”
Southwick proved to be an offensive juggernaut against Sabis.
While Sydney Rogers paved the way for Southwick, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs scored, there were several others who fared just as well.
Southwick’s Morgan Harriman (triple, 2 runs, RBI) and Sam Brozinski (run, RBI) each went 3-for-4. Steph Devine (double, walk, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Jen Yelin (2 runs, RBI), and Katelyn Sylvia (walk, hit by pitch) collected two hits apiece. Alyssa Kelleher (run scored) and Lachtara also had a hit, and Tara Dowd walked once and scored two runs.
“I didn’t know what to expect from them,” Downie said of his Rams. “We have a decent amount of girls back but Emily is a freshman. We’ll see how she does it comes to tighter games, and see how the team fares. I’m very optimistic. Our defense is solid. And our offense is pretty good.”
Smith Academy 8, Gateway 2
Gateway fell in its season opener as the host team, Smith Academy, rallied for eight unanswered runs Friday.
Eighth-grader Audrey Gamble delivered a decent effort in her first time on the mound for Gateway, allowing just three earned runs on two hits and six walks. The Gators made some defensive miscues.
“For our first time out, it’s not what we wanted,” first-year Gateway coach Matt Bonenfant said, “but we’re going to get it turned around.”
Gateway came out strong, putting together an early 2-0 lead. A junior varsity call-up (due to injury), Kayla Priest singled to lead off the inning. Arielle Baillargeon knocked her home with a run-scoring triple. Baillargeon scored on Gamble’s sac-RBI.
Smith Academy scored the next eight runs.
Jessie Walton, Casey McKittrick, Gamble, and Alyssa Moreau managed to belt out one hit apiece for Gateway.
“We finally got a game under our belts,” coach Bonenfant said. “We’re going to shake off the nerves and come out fighting strong in our next game.”
