For the fifth year in a row, Wachusett Regional High School proved to be a thorn in the Powertown’s collective sides.
The visiting Mountaineers rode the pitching of hard-throwing Courtney Lanpher, and scratched out the game’s lone run thanks to a well-placed cue shot in the top of the fifth inning en route to a 1-0 victory over Turners Falls High School in an independent softball game played Thursday night at the Bourdeau Fields Complex.
The loss ended the Thunder’s pursuit of an undefeated season, with the squad falling to 17-1 overall. Wachusett stayed perfect, improving to 19-0 as perhaps the best Division 1 program in central Massachusetts.
“I guess they’re very good at beating us every year,” offered Turners coach Gary Mullins of Wachusett, which won last year’s meeting in a 10-8 affair. “They usually hit a big home run to beat us. This year, it was something different. They have all kinds of talent. But I thought our kids battled. We have to score a few runs to give (pitcher) Jade (Tyler) a chance.”
Lanpher, who hit 63 miles per hour on the gun at times, struck out five and walked two in a complete-game shutout. She danced around trouble in several innings, limiting Turners to four hits.
The Thunder threatened in the bottom of the second inning. Juliana Rode singled and eventually moved to third base after an error. Lexi Lacey followed with a grounder to third base, and after she was thrown out at first, Rode was cut down at the plate trying to score the game’s first run.
In the fourth inning, Turners again put runners in scoring position. Tyler walked, Olivia Whittier singled and Hailey Bogusz followed with another walk to load the bases with two outs. Lanpher managed to escape again, getting Lacey to pop up right back to her in the circle for the final out that kept the game scoreless.
Wachusett finally broke through in the top of the fifth. Lanpher doubled with one out, and after a pair of walks (one intentional) loaded the bases, Abbygail Simes sent a dribbler just past the pitcher’s circle in front of second base. The no-man’s land infield single allowed Lanpher to scamper home with the go-ahead run and the 1-0 advantage.
That was all Tyler allowed. The sophomore struck out 10 and walked three (two intentional) in seven innings of action.
“She pitched very well in defeat, we just couldn’t get her any runs,” Mullins said of Tyler. “We didn’t make any errors, made some nice plays in the field … they’re a high-quality team.”
Tyler, Whittier, Rode and Taylor Murphy had the four hits for Turners.
Franklin County League champion Turners has two more difficult independent games remaining before the postseason kicks off. The Thunder head to Minnechaug on Tuesday before closing with a home game Thursday against Hampshire.
Pioneer 2, Athol 0 — Steph Scoville spun another gem, and Pioneer continued its late-season surge on Thursday.
The visiting Panthers received another double-digit strikeout performance from their junior star, as she racked up 11 to lift her team to a 2-0 victory over Athol in a Franklin County League contest.
Scoville walked four and allowed five hits, all singles, in the complete-game shutout.
“If you look at her stats all season, she’s been doing it,” Pioneer coach Tina Riddell said of Scoville. “We just haven’t been able to field the ball behind her, unfortunately.”
Pioneer (5-11 overall, 2-9 FCL) scored both of its runs in the top of the fourth inning. Kensey Gibson doubled home Scoville (walk) and Abby Briggs (single) for the 2-0 cushion.
The Panthers were limited to three hits on the day — singles from Briggs and Johnson and the double from Gibson — by Athol freshman Lindsey LeBlanc. She struck out eight and walked four in seven strong innings for the Red Raiders, which received a pair of hits from Jenna St. Cyr to lead the offense.
Athol (9-8, 3-8) still needs one win in its final three games to punch its postseason ticket. The Raiders hope to get to win No. 10 on Saturday when they tangle with Chicopee.
West Springfield 3, Athol 0 — Host West Springfield spoiled Athol’s season finale on Thursday night, as the Terriers earned a 25-19, 25-21, 25-14 sweep in an independent volleyball match.
Athol finished its season with an 8-12 overall mark.
The Red Raiders were paced by Zach Aldrich’s seven kills, while Matt Willhite was right behind with six kills.
Colby Soltysik registered 16 assists. Matt Stevens and Aldrich paced the serving attack with two aces apiece. The defense received six digs each from Aldrich and Owen Willhite.
Pioneer 2, Athol 0
Pioneer ………………. 000 200 0 — 2 3 0
Athol ………………….. 000 000 0 — 0 5 0
Hits: (P) Briggs, Gibson, Johnson. (A) St. Cyr 2, Lehtomaki, Nelson, Wrigley.
2B: (P) Gibson.
RBI: (P) Gibson 2.
WP: Scoville (7ip, 11k, 4bb).
LP: LeBlanc (7ip, 8k, 4bb).
Wachusett 1, Turners 0
Wachusett …………… 000 010 0 — 1 5 1
Turners ………………. 000 000 0 — 0 4 0
Hits: (W) Lanpher 2, Simes 2, Hancock. (TF) T. Murphy, Tyler, Whittier, Rode.
2B: (W) Lanpher.
RBI: (W) Simes.
WP: Lanpher (7ip, 5k, 2bb).
LP: Tyler (7ip, 10k, 3bb).