MONTAGUE — Lindsey Taylor broke out of a self-proclaimed slump in a big way on Tuesday night. Taylor nearly hit for the cycle for the Franklin Tech softball team in its 10-6 win over Turners Falls under the lights at Mullins Field.
All she needed was a single to complete the batting feat, but she had to settle for going 3-for-4 with four RBIs with a double, a triple and a solo home run.
Lindsey Taylor of Franklin Tech connects on a pitch against Turners Falls, Tuesday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Ivy Lopez of Turners Falls takes off for third base against Franklin Tech, Tuesday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Autumn Thornton of Turners Falls delivers a pitch against Franklin Tech Tuesday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Brayleigh Burgh of Franklin Tech delivers a pitch against Turners Falls, Tuesday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Franklin Tech softball team celebrates after a win against Turners Falls, Tuesday in Montague. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
“I finally got out of my slump today,” Taylor said. “Coach (Joe) Gamache helped me before with my bat. They way I brought it back. It was weird, the smallest little thing helped a lot. It seemed like I was chopping down at it. It helped me bring it through a little bit better.”
With improved defense, Franklin Tech (5-11, 3-9 Franklin East) has won three out of the last four games.
“The first half we had a rough start,” Taylor said. “The team atmosphere, the effort on the field and choosing good pitches has been really good.”
The Eagles turned a 1-6-3 double play in the fourth inning and a diving catch by Charley Knight at first base helped close out the game in the seventh inning. Defense is a focal point for the team.
“It’s a good group of kids,” Franklin Tech coach Joe Gamache said. “They care about each other. They care about improving. They are working hard. Taking extra reps. Some of them are staying after practice to take extra swings. They are working on all of the things they were struggling with in the beginning of the year.”
Taylor’s three-run triple in the fifth gave the Eagles the lead, 8-6.
Turners Falls (6-10, 5-6) lost its fourth straight. This is uncharted waters for coach Gary Mullins, who is in the midst of the first losing season of his storied career.
“I wish I had some answers,” Mullins said. “I’ve never lost four games in row before. I don’t know what to do. It’s tough. We just don’t hit enough.”
The Thunder honored Madisyn Dietz and Janelle Massey on Senior Night before the game.
Brayleigh Burgh got the win in the circle for Franklin Tech. Burgh scattered seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Knight added two hits with three RBIs. Alison George added to the offense with two hits and two RBIs.
Knight opened the scoring with a single that scored two runs in the first inning. Turners Falls countered in the first with RBI hits from Massey and Abby Moffatt.
Taylor hit her homer to left field in the top of the second. Kaiya Adams had a RBI hit in the bottom of the third for the Thunder. Knight added an RBI single in the fourth.
Autumn Thornton gave up 12 hits with four walks and four strikeouts for Turners Falls.
Mohawk 10, Smith Vocational 2 — The Warriors wrapped up their regular season with an independent win over the Vikings in Buckland. Grace Stevens had 13 strikeouts for Mohawk (9-8). Steven added two hits at the plate. Emmalee Inman went 2-for-3 while Megan Gabree hit a dinger on Senior Night.
Putnam 14, Mahar 13 — The Senators (8-7, 8-3 Tri County) lost to the Raiders in Springfield in a Tri County match up.
Pioneer 14, Gateway 0 (five innings)— Cobi Tyminski started the game on Senior Night and struck out three hitters in the first inning in the Panthers’ home win over the Gators. Jaelyn Boliski and Lucianne Burnap closed out the game. The three pitchers combined for nine strikeouts. Burnap had three hits and three RBI while Evy Lewis added two hits with three RBIs.
Baseball
Frontier 5, Wahconah 1 — Jack Cusson struck out 12 hitters for the Redhawks in the independent win over the Warriors in Dalton. Cusson gave up three hits and just the one earned run. Brady Poreda had two hits and two RBIs for Frontier (14-3). Carter Miller and Henry Drinker both had doubles.
Franklin Tech 14, Turners Falls 4 (six innings) — Brody Hicks had two hits with two RBI for the Eagles in the win over the Thunder in Montague. Hunter Donahue hit a solo homer for Franklin Tech (11-5, 7-5 Suburban East). Levi Clark got the win on the mound and added a hit with two RBI. Ethan Eichorn had two hits with two RBI for the Thunder (3-12, 1-11)
Boys tennis
Turners Falls, 3, Hampden Charter 2 — The Thunder clinched at least a share of the Tri-County league championship with a home win over the Wolves. Turners Falls (9-1, 9-0) can clinch the league outright with a road win over Hampden Charter (9-4, 8-1) on Thursday. Mario Pareja stepped into the No. 1 singles role and defeated Sayvon Rivera 6-1, 6-1. Nethanel Martin and Daniel Lapinski won at No. 1 doubles, defeating Zacharia Lsmail and Kurt Gagne 7-6 (8-6) 6-1. Noah Blanchard won by forfeit at No. 3 singles for Turners Falls.
Ludlow 3, Frontier 2 — The Redhawks (5-8, 2-6) fell to the Lions in a Valley Wheel contest in South Deerfield. Xavier Fripp and Noah Nichols won at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively, for Frontier.
Palmer 3, Greenfield 1 — The Green Wave couldn’t stay with the Panthers in a Tri County match up in Palmer. Greenfield (0-9, 0-9 Tri County) got one win by forfeit at No. 2 doubles.
Girls tennis
Northampton 3, Turners Falls 2 — The Blue Devils got the road win over the Thunder in an independent matchup. The Thunder (3-5) registered two wins in singles competition. Olivia Wolbach outlasted Margaux Galvin 6-3, 6-4, 4-1 at No. 1 singles. Kenzie Flaxington defeated Emmie Vinard 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles for Turners Falls.
Volleyball
Frontier 3, Athol 2 — The Redhawks (1-15) secured their first win of the season with a five set win over the Bears (8-9) at Goodnow Gymnasium. Set scores were 25-17, 22-25, 25-15, 22-25 and 18-16. Nathan Rivera (21 kills) and Chanju Banda (22 kills) led the offensive effort for Frontier. Ethan Rivera had 42 assists for the Redhawks. Nate Rivera led the defense with 35 digs.
Late Monday results
Track & field
The Franklin Tech boys track & field team finished tied for 11th at the MVADA Small School Championship at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton on Monday. The girls track & field team placed eighth. Dustin Reade took first (140 feet) in the javelin for Franklin Tech. The throw was a personal best for Reade.
William Thomas posted a personal best for the Eagles in the 800-meter. The run was good or fourth place overall (2:08.83). Dillon Laffond took seventh (35-7.50) in the shot put. Anya Livingstone placed second (81-08) in the javelin.
Mara Gray placed third (81-01) in the javelin while Tristan Bliss was second (83-09) in the discus for Franklin Tech. Abby Lenois had a strong showing in the high jump, finishing in fourth place (4-6).
