The Southwick Rams softball team celebrate the accomplishments of one of their players Monday night at Whalley Park. (Submitted photo)
SOUTHWICK – The rainy weather has wreaked havoc with the high school sports spring season. It obviously has not disrupted Southwick softball’s hot start.
Southwick senior Brittany Penland continued her assault on Western Mass., and the Rams overwhelmed the Pope Francis Cardinals, 23-0, in a mercy-shortened, five-inning contest Monday night at Whalley Park.
Penland, who reached her 100th career hit, homered. Methe went 5-for-5 with three RBIs, Jill Gentile went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Emma Cleland went 2-for-2 with one RBI.
Southwick pitcher Bri Ensign tossed a two-hit shutout. She struck out three batters and walked two.
With the victory, Southwick improved to 8-1.
“We’re making only one or two errors here or there, throwing strikes, not walking people, and hitting,” Southwick softball head coach Joe Hough said. “That’s a good recipe for success.”
Southwick has overcome the challenge of playing with just five upperclassmen (all seniors/no juniors) and a bevy of freshmen and sophomores – all but one of whom is playing a new position this season.
“We’re staying away from the mistakes, and we’re consistent,” coach Hough said. “We have stayed away from doing things that hurt yourself.”
Southwick is doing much more than that though.
Southwick lead-off hitter Devan Fox launches meteoric homers at a blistering pace. Rams’ pitcher Sarah Hough is not only racking up numerous Ks on the mound, but is flirting with an incredible batting average around .700.
Southwick next plays at Sabis Wednesday at 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Cameron boosts Bombers
Westfield 11, South Hadley 9
Will Cameron had a hand in seven of Westfield’s 11 goals, scoring four and assisting on three others. Nick Clausen (2 goals, 1 assist), Cam Theriault (1 goal, 2 assists), Matthew Bacon (2 goals), Ryan Metcalf (1 goal), Christian Nalepinski (1 goal), and Race Kiniry (1 assist) also contributed for the Bombers (7-4).
Westfield goalie Nick Mee made eight saves.
Blanchard, Saints net victory
St. Mary’s 11, Pathfinder 1
Aaron Blanchard scored seven goals and had one assist to fuel St. Mary’s road victory. Ed Towers (2 goals, 2 assists), Evan Ploof (3 assists), Joe Walz (goal), Byron Dudas (goal), and Matt Thayer (assist) also contributed.
“(Our) offense was able to play fast and execute some excellent offensive schemes,” St. Mary’s head coach Gregory Towers said.
Connor Mott, Ed Towers and Byron Dudas helped set up the attack by winning 85 percent of the faceoffs
Jermay Hoar (3 saves), Griffin Wheelock (2 saves), and Colin Ramos (5 saves) split time in net for St. Mary’s.
“All three goalies performed well,” coach Towers said.
St. Mary’s defense put forth a disciplined effort with multiple strips and blocked shots on the outside.
BASEBALL
Falcons soar past Bombers late
Minnechaug 3, Westfield 0
Spencer Cloutier (double), Paul Shibley, Baley Collier, C.J. Flores-Skribiski, and Ethan Saunders had hits for Westfield.
Westfield pitcher Jimmy Hagan recorded 10 Ks. Minnechaug scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning.
Mustangs down Saints
Monson 7, St. Mary’s 4
Jack Masciadrelli (2-for-3, 2 doubles) and Hayden Lussier (2-for-4) produced multi-hit efforts for St. Mary’s.
SOFTBALL
Garfield paces WHS
Wahconah 6, Westfield 2
Amber Garfield knocked in Westfield’s only two runs with an RBI single in the second inning. Bombers’ Carina Franco had two singles and scored a run.
Westfield outfielder Ava Cichonski made three great catches in center field.
Gators top Pioneers
Gateway 12, Pathfinder 10
Kaitlyn Quinn (3-for-5) and Nicole Hannigan (2-for-2, 2 walks) led Gateway, whose bats came alive in a 6-run third inning.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Bombers sweep Lions
Westfield def. Ludlow 25-9, 25-18, 25-22
Westfield rolled over the competition again, sweeping Ludlow on the road.
James Pavlyuk (14 kills, 2 aces), Eric Yurtuc (27 assists, 8 digs), Mike Bowen (8 digs, 2 assists), Riley Coughlin (5 kills, 3 blocks), Ethan Flaherty (9 kills), and R.J. Piper (3 kills, 8 assists) led Westfield (12-1 overall, 7-0 North Division).
GIRLS TENNIS
Bombers shut out Terriers
Westfield 5, West Springfield 0
Clara Hinck and Brianna Snvetsov won in rather convincing fashion at first and second singles, respectively, for Westfield 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-1. Bombers’ Elizabeth Regnier won a hard-fought match against Giulieta Malancea at third singles, 6-3, 6-6, 7-5.
Westfield’s Thea Glenzel and Brigid Moriarty downed West Side’s Jacqueline Paige and Anna Basa at first doubles, 6-4, 6-1. Bombers’ Allison Bower and Karina Popoli-Sarat defeated Elizabeth Okhrimenko and Nasha Kasimova 6-1, 7-5.
Saints nab ‘W’
St. Mary’s 4, Turners Falls 1
St. Mary’s Jessica Crosby toppled Turners’ Haley Green at first singles in decisive sets, 6-0, 6-0. Saints’ Amelia Murray defeated Izzy Farrick in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.
St. Mary’s first doubles pair, Maura O’Neill and Ally Rougemont downed Maria Labelle and Cecci Wood, 6-1, 6-1. At second doubles, Caroline Leahy and Catherine Seklecki won for the Saints over Mercedes Bailey and Emily Dennison, 6-3, 6-2.
St. Mary’s Erin Olearcek lost a hard-fought match to Turners’ Steph Peterson, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
BOYS TENNIS
Lu wins thriller
Chicopee 4, St. Mary’s 1
Kevin Lu won a thriller for St. Mary’s at first singles, defeating Chicopee’s Andre Gallant, 7-5, 6-6, (7-3).
JV SOFTBALL
St. Mary’s 18, Southwick 3 (5 inn.)
St. Mary’s Paige Hutkoski went 3-for-5 with a double and 5 RBIs; Amelia Willenborg went 2-for-4; and, Lauren Campbell, Emma Goodreau, and Kalie Hamel each had a single.
Anna Kosinski went four inning for St. Mary’s, allowing just one run with four Ks and two walks. Saints’ Audrie Burke tossed an inning of relief.
LATE RESULTS – Thurs., May 2
BASEBALL
Sci-Tech 3, Gateway 2
Wyatt Heeter went 4-for-4 with a run and RBI to lead Gateway. Gators’ pitcher Ryan Orr recorded five Ks in eight innings of work.
Palmer 8, St. Mary’s 3
Jack Lamirande and Aidan Burke collected two hits apiece for St. Mary’s. Burke doubled.
