H.S. Roundup: Pioneer softball loses to Easthampton on the road

EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton softball team brought the muscle to Wilby Field on Friday afternoon, as two first-inning home runs powered the Eagles to a 9-1 win over Pioneer Valley Regional on the grounds of sunny Nonotuck Park.

Second year coach Joe Roy liked what he saw from the team. The mood of the squad is changing for the better.

“It’s a different atmosphere for us,” Roy said. “This can be done. We can play at an elite level. Our mantra is supporting positive energy and being competitive. For us to advance in tournament or anything like that we have to be competitive.”

Maddy Urban got things going with a two-run homer for the Eagles (3-3). Urban’s shot cleared the fence in centerfield. Two hitters later, Noey Ryan clobbered another two-run homer for the home team. Ryan’s blast went toward right center.

“I think it had a good impact on the team,” Ryan said. “It got the energy up a lot.”

Urban hadn’t hit a home run since her freshman season.

“I’ve been in a slump, but I am hoping to get better again,” Urban said. “It felt really good because I wanted us to progress as a team because it felt for a while like we were stuck.”

The four-run cushion was more than enough for Easthampton’s starting pitcher Summer Routhier. In a complete game, Routhier gave up five hits and had 13 strikeouts. For good measure, Routhier struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning to finish the game.

“It felt really, really good,” Routhier said. “If we are up, I know I have to get these strikeouts. Everyone just wants to get out of the game. So, I try my best usually in the last inning.

The early offense helped Routhier, especially with Easthampton in a bit of a slump. Routhier had a nice day at the plate going 4-for-4.

“It really got us hyped up,” Routhier said. “Our bats aren’t usually the best but to see that gave us a whole lot of energy to carry through into the rest of the game. I usually do well at both. Batting I usually just get on base. I am not a power hitter. I’ve been getting on base pretty well.”

The Panthers (1-3) could not get much going offensively. Maggie Tsipenyuk went 2-for-3 with a couple singles. Laylah Goulston had a bunt single and stole a couple bases.

Pioneer scored in the top of the third inning. Lucianne Burnap singled and stole a base to get to second before an RBI double by Amy VanDoren. Jaelyn Boliski took the loss in the circle but did well recovering from the first inning. The Panthers did not give up another run until the fifth inning. Boliski finished with six strikeouts.

“She (Boliski) had a couple good middle innings,” Pioneer coach Mark Fortier said. “Got her pitches under control. Made a good comeback there. They beat us. They put a few hits together consecutively. Once they got out, they compounded the hits.”

Ryan tripled in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving Easthampton a 5-1 lead. Another run scored on a wild pitch. The Eagles scored four more times in the bottom of the sixth inning. Burnap relieved Boliski and got a strikeout and a ground out to get the Panthers out of the inning.

Ryan finished 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBI for the Eagles.

Turners Falls 9, Franklin Tech 2 — The Thunder got past the Eagles on the road in a Franklin East matchup. Lindsey Taylor (RBI) had two hits with a double and a triple for the Franklin Tech (0-5). In the circle, Brayleigh Burgh gave up nine hits with seven strikeouts.

Madisyn Dietz, Autumn Thornton and Maddie Haight had multiple hits for Turners Falls. Thornton picked up the win in the circle with six walks and five strikeouts. Addison Talbot had a two-run single for Turners Falls (3-2).

Frontier 9, Greenfield 8 — Raine Wonsey knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh in a road win for the Redhawks. Wonsey then stepped into the circle and closed down Greenfield in the bottom of the seventh. Skyler Steele stayed hot, going 2-for-2 with a double and a home run for Frontier (6-0, 3-0 Franklin East). Steele walked four times and scored three runs. Wonsey finished with 10 strikeouts.

Olivia Lemay had two hits with an RBI for Greenfield (2-3, 2-3). In the circle, Lemay gave up nine hits with eight strikeouts. Kayden Viencek had a double with a run scored for the Green Wave.

Mahar 19, Hampden Charter 12 — Lexi Ares had a three-run home for the Senators in a road win over the Wolves in Tri County play. Mahar (3-2, 3-0 Tri County) scored seven runs in the darkened eighth inning to pull off the win. Lilah Paluk won in the circle for Mahar.

Renaissance 21, Athol 14 — Gracie Gauthier had a monster day at the plate, but the Bears lost to the Phoenix on the road. Gauthier went 4-for-6 with a single, a double and a homer. Ella Reed struck out 10 hitters in the circle for Athol (0-3).

Girls tennis

Frontier 3, Palmer 2 — In dramatic fashion, the Redhawks came back to win in multiple matches to pull off the road win in Pioneer play. Kayla Fagan won in No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-3. Ellie Wade and Jimin Ahn won at No. 2 doubles to help secure the Frontier (4-1) victory. Brooke Charest and Hailey Fernandez took No. 1 doubles.