Leading Smith Academy 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Greenfield softball team’s bats came to life to put the game away.
Rachel Dodge and Ainslee Flynn got things started with a singles before Amber Bergeron cracked a single that scored Dodge. Anna Bucala then drilled a double that scored both Flynn and Bergeron.
Kaitlin Lavoine later hit a double that scored Bucala and Carly Blanchard followed it up with a double that brought Lavoine home, putting the Green Wave up 8-1. With the way Ellis Benitez was pitching that lead held to the end, with Greenfield picking up an independent victory at Vets Field.
“We got a rally going,” Benitez said. “We were cheering, there was a lot of energy.”
Benitez finished the game with 16 strikeouts, keeping the Falcon lineup at bay and not allowing a base hit after the third inning.
“I felt good out there,” Benitez said. “I was throwing a lot of strikes.”
The Green Wave (9-3) took a 1-0 lead in he bottom of the second after Bergeron tripled and was brought home by a Brielle Widelo single. Smith Academy got one back in the third but the Greenfield scored twice in the bottom of the fourth after Kelsey Richardson singled and was brought home off a Bergeron double. Widelo then singled to bring Bergeron home, putting the Green Wave up, 3-1.
Mohawk Trail 25, Mahar 5 — Sophie Guy knocked a pair of doubles while Lindsey Taylor drilled a home run and a single in the Warriors Franklin County League East win over the Senators in Orange on Friday.
Addie Loomis had a triple, Aileen Moffatt and Rachel Pease doubled, Riley Giard had a hit and Alex Lily had a single and a triple for Mohawk Trail (4-6, 3-4).
Saylor Kegans had a pair of hits while Mackinley Drew, Hayden Comeau and Shelby Senn hit safely for Mahar (0-10, 0-8).
Pioneer 8, Mt. Everett 5 — The Panthers got their revenge after the Eagles knocked them out of the Western Mass. tournament last year, with Hugh Cyhowski striking out nine in six innings to lead Pioneer to an 8-5 independent win in Sheffield.
Sean Allen smashed a pair of hits and brought in four runs while Braeden Tsipenyuk had a pair of hits and RBIs for the Panthers (11-1). Cyhowski had three hits, Ian Simpson had two hits, Jared Hubbard had an RBI single and Brayden Thayer, Jason Quinn and Alex McClelland each hit safely in the win.
McCann Tech 10, Franklin Tech 9 — Jake Whitney went 3-for-4 with a double in the Eagles independent loss to the Hornets in North Adams on Friday.
Cayden Lehtomaki knocked a single and a double and Ryan Demers had a double for Franklin Tech (7-6). Mason Lehtomaki struck out three in the loss.
Lenox 8, Mahar 3 — Liam O’Donnell knocked a two-RBI double in the Senators independent loss to the Millionaires in Lenox on Friday.
Jeremy Vezina had a pair of hits and an RBI, Cole Johnson had a double while Nate Danielson, Austin Matthews and Domanic Cacciolfi hit safely for Mahar (2-8).
Easthampton 15, Athol 3 (5) — The Eagles put up five runs in the third and tacked on five more in the fifth to earn a Suburban League West win in Easthampton on Friday.
Dilan Fountain and Shea Brennan each knocked a pair of hits for Athol (2-11, 0-7), with Logan Cormier, Gabriel Hume and Connor Mahony adding base hits in the loss.
Greenfield 124, Pioneer 19 — The Green Wave won each event on Friday, with Liviu Mihailicenco taking the 110 hurdles (15.8 seconds), 400 (52.8) and high jump (five feet, eight inches) while Theo Popusoi won the 400 hurdles (58.9), long jump (19-7.25), pole vault (13-6) and triple jump (38-4) to lead Greenfield to victory.
Other Green Wave winners were Deion Brewington in the 100 (11.6), 200 (24.4) and shot put (36-1), Andy Bostrom in the 800 (2:22.4) and 2 mile (12:11.8), Jackson Caron in the mile (5:23.4) and Ryan Pulizari in the discus (88-5) and javelin (103-4).
Pioneer 93, Greenfield 47 — Nina St. Clair won the 100 (12.9) and 400 (71.4), Sahana Heilman took the 100 hurdles (18.3) and 400 hurdles (80.5), Hailey Ring took the triple jump (31-9) and 200 (28.1) and Bryanna May took the pole vault (7-6) and the mile (6:33) as the Panthers picked up a win in Greenfield on Friday.
Caroline Ring won the javelin (73-0) and Laila Heilman won the long jump (14-9) for Pioneer. The Panthers won the 4×400 relay (5:09).
Tess Rancourt broke her own Greenfield school record in the shot put with a toss of 37-1 for the Green Wave. Makayla Valente won the high jump (4-6), Lillia Kachelmeyer took the discus (103-5), Ava Fortin won the 800 (2:51.3) and Candice Lu came in first in the 2 mile (14:35) for Greenfield. The Green Wave won the 4×100 relay (56.4).
Frontier 4, Turners 1 — Oliver Brown won 6-2, 6-3 in No. 2 singles and Matt Sibley and Donovan Vichi won 6-2, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles to lead the Redhawks past the Thunder on Friday in Turners.
Mike Boyle earned a 6-3, 6-3 win in No. 1 singles for Turners. The Thunder forfeited No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles.
Greenfield 4, St. Mary’s 1 — The Green Wave won two singles matches and took both doubles matches to earn a win over the Saints at the Davis Street Courts on Friday.
Jenna Keith won 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles and Estera Covalenco earned a 6-4, 6-4 win in No. 2 singles. Kaitlyn Phillips and Rory Cronen-Townsend won No. 1 doubles 6-3, 7-5 and Rebecca Covalenco and Virginia Marin took No. 2 doubles 6-3, 6-3 for Greenfield.