HS Roundup: Brayleigh Burgh powers Franklin Tech softball past Mahar, 18-0 (PHOTOS)

Franklin Tech's Alison George cracks a base hit against Mahar on Wednesday in Turners.

Franklin Tech's Alison George cracks a base hit against Mahar on Wednesday in Turners. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Mahar's Cordelia Rhodes makes the throw from third to first against Franklin Tech on Wednesday in Turners.

Mahar's Cordelia Rhodes makes the throw from third to first against Franklin Tech on Wednesday in Turners. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Mahar's Carly Paluk makes the throw from short to first against Franklin Tech on Wednesday in Turners.

Mahar's Carly Paluk makes the throw from short to first against Franklin Tech on Wednesday in Turners. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Franklin Tech's Breanna Kempf knocks a base hit against Mahar on Wednesday in Turners.

Franklin Tech's Breanna Kempf knocks a base hit against Mahar on Wednesday in Turners. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Mahar's Bella Burnett pitches against Franklin Tech on Wedneday in Turners.

Mahar's Bella Burnett pitches against Franklin Tech on Wedneday in Turners. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Franklin Tech's Brayleigh Burgh pitches against Mahar on Wednesday in Turners Falls.

Franklin Tech's Brayleigh Burgh pitches against Mahar on Wednesday in Turners Falls. STAFF PHOTO/THOMAS JOHNSTON

Staff Reports

Published: 04-23-2025 9:46 PM

The Franklin Tech softball team is hitting its groove. 

The Eagles entered Wednesday’s game against Mahar winners of six of their last seven — including a big win over Div. 3 Blackstone Valley Tech on Tuesday — and added another tally to the win column, as Brayleigh Burgh pitched a complete game shutout, surrendering one hit, one walk and striking out seven batters. She added a two-run home run in the first – the first of her career – to lift Tech to an 18-0 Franklin County League East victory in five innings. 

Shelby O’Leary knocked four hits, Gianna DiSciullo tallied three hits including a triple and drove in three, Samantha Duncan and Lindsey Taylor both recorded two hits, Kendra Steiner doubled and knocked in two while Chloe Kendrick-Redner, Bre Kempf, Ali George and Skylei Lapan each had a hit in the victory. 

Pioneer 23, Athol 8 (5) — The Panthers scored eight in the first and eight in the third to pull away with a Franklin County League East victory in Athol on Wednesday. 

Jacobia Tyminski singled, doubled and drove in three, Laylah Goulston doubled and knocked in two, Allison Clary singled and added two RBIs while Maggie Tsipenyuk and Greta Lewis each hit safely for Pioneer. Luci Burnap and Lewis combined for five strikeouts in the win. 

Madi Hermes was a home run away from the cycle while driving in two runs, Ella Reed finished with a pair of hits and RBIs, Ally Robertson doubled and drove in two, Jaylynn Chapalonis singled and added an RBI while Kaya Stinehart added a hit and an RBI for Athol. 

Turners 3, Frontier 2 — For the second time this season, the game between the Thunder and Redhawks came down to the final inning. 

It was scoreless going into the sixth when the Redhawks put two on the board, as Delaney Fifield and Olivia Machon drew walks and Raine Wonsey scored both with a double to right field to give Frontier a 2-0 lead. 

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Athol man to serve five to seven years on child abuse charges
Orange faces $1.7M deficit as officials seek to balance municipal, education needs in FY26
Athol awaits word on cannabis lawsuits
Healey walks fine line on working with Trump
Moultonborough, Laconia saw largest population increases in last decade, number of homes available not keeping up
Andy Sujdak resigns from Athol Selectboard

Neither team scored in their next at bats, but in the bottom of the seventh — just as the Redhawks did to the Thunder earlier in the season — Turners rallied. 

Mia Marigliano led off with a base hit and Madi Liimatainen smoked a two-run home run to tie the game. Janelle Massey drew a walk and Marilyn Abarua followed with a drive up the middle. 

McKenzie Stafford, running for Massey, took the turn to third but the throw to get her sailed high, allowing her to score and give Turners a 3-2 walk-off victory at Gary Mullins Field on Wednesday. 

“We hit the ball very hard the last inning,” Thunder coach Gary Mullins said. “We’ve been hitting well. Tonight was one of those nights it just wasn’t working but we found it right in time to snag the victory.” 

Liimatainen went the distance in the circle for Turners, striking out 12 and scattering three hits. Abarua finished with two hits while Maddie Dietz doubled in the victory. 

Wonsey also went the distance for Frontier, striking out seven and allowing five hits. Ashley Taylor and Abby Schreiber hit safely for Frontier. 

Northampton 5, Mohawk Trail 2 — The Blue Devils built a 5-1 lead after four to knock off the Warriors in Buckland on Wednesday in a Franklin County League East contest. 

Megan Gabaree hit a triple, Abby Moffatt homered and singled, Emmalee Inman doubled twice while Aurora Moynihan and Elissa Delisle hit safely for Mohawk Trail. Grace Stevens added seven strikeouts in the circle for the Warriors. 

Baseball

Pioneer 12, Hampshire 2 (5) — The Panthers scored four in the third and eight in the fifth to move to 8-0 with a five-inning Suburban League West victory on Wednesday in Westhampton. 

Ben Werner got the win on the mound, pitching all five innings and striking out five while walking just one. 

Ethan Quinn drilled three hits, one a double, and drove in two, Alex McClelland knocked a pair of hits and drove in four, Jackson Glazier singled, doubled and drove in two, Ethan Mauthe tallied a hit and two RBIs, Jackson Campbell had a hit and an RBI while Evan Tsipneyuk and Brody Welcome hit safely for Pioneer. 

Girls tennis

Greenfield 3, SICS 2 — Izzy Semonelli picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win in No. 2 singles while Karinna Kostov earned a 6-0, 6-0 win in No. 3 singles to propel the Green Wave to a victory in Springfield Wednesday. 

Lizzy Derivockova and Adele Bross won 1-6, 7-6, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles to seal the victory for Greenfield.