H.S. Roundup: Liimatainen strikes out 12 as Turners softball defeats Greenfield

Staff Reports

Published: 04-26-2023 9:38 PM

It’s not often the Greenfield softball team’s bats are kept at bay, but that’s what Turners Falls’ Madi Liimatainen was able to do on Wednesday night. 

Liimatainen held the defending Div. 5 state champs to just three hits and no runs, with the Thunder scoring one in the first inning, two in the second and one in the sixth to walk away with a 4-0 Franklin County League West win at the Bourdeau Fields Complex in Turners Falls.

“Our kids played great,” Turners coach Gary Mullins said. “Madi pitched great and we got some timely hits. Good for our kids. Greenfield is a terrific team.”  

Liimatainen struck out 12 and walked five in the victory. MacKenzie Paulin was equally impressive in the other circle, striking out 13 and scattering seven hits for the Green Wave (6-2).

Liimatainen helped herself by driving in two runs with a double in the second. Madisyn Dietz had an RBI single in the fourth, Addison Talbot recorded two hits while Morgan Dobias, Marilyn Abarua and Mia Marigliano each had a base hit as the Thunder improved to 5-4 on the season.

Rachel Dodge smashed a double while Gloria McDonald and Ivy Rae each singled for Greenfield. 

Franklin Tech 15, Pioneer 2 (5) — The Eagles got after the Panthers early, scoring four in the first, four in the second, three in the third and four in the fifth to pull away with a Franklin County League East win in Northfield on Wednesday. 

Hannah Gilbert led the way with three hits, two of them triples, and three RBIs. Kylee Gamache singled, doubled and knocked in two runs, Shelby O’Leary had a hit and two RBIs, Lilly Ross knocked in a run with a base hit, Kait Trudeau tallied two hits while Cordelia Guerin, Skylei Lapan and Keira Stevens each had a base hit in the win. 

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Ross got the win in the circle, striking out eight. 

Brailey Burgh struck out four while Jacobia Tyminski knocked two hits and Burgh and Kelly Baird each hit safely for Pioneer. 

Mt. Greylock 17, Frontier 15 — The Redhawks scored three in the bottom of the seventh and Olivia Machon came just feet away from putting the game-tying home run over the wall, but the Mounties walked away with a Franklin County League West win in South Deerfield Wednesday. 

Frontier’s Skyler Steele was a problem at the plate, with the eighth grader crushing two doubles, and two home runs (one a grand slam) in the loss. She finished with six RBIs.

Hailey Hutkoski had a pair of hits and RBIs, Sophia Pinardi had two hits and an RBI, Delaney Fifield and Addy Wood each knocked two hits while Machon hit safely for the Redhawks. 

Ashley Taylor and Machon combined to strike out three in the defeat. 

Hopkins 8, Mohawk Trail 4 — Maddie Cosentino and Riley Giard each singled twice for the Warriors in a Franklin County League East loss to the Golden Hawks in Hadley on Wednesday. 

Kaylin Sumner and Rachel Pease each tallied a hit for Mohawk Trail. Giard struck out three in the circle. 

Smith Academy 20, Mahar 11 — Laura McGinnis struck out six and added two hits at the plate as the Senators fell to the Falcons on Wednesday.

Offensively, McGinnis had two hits to pace Mahar, while Keighley Gworek struck out eight batters for Smith Academy.

Baseball

Athol 3, Franklin Tech 2 — Tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Bears had a rally in them to pick up their first win of the season. 

Logan Cormier blasted a double to center with two outs to give Athol life. Shea Brennan then came to the plate and grounded to second. The Eagles tried holding Cormier at second, and the transfer from the glove was bobbled, allowing Brennan to beat the throw to first. 

Cormier took third, ran through the stop sign at third and dove into home just ahead of the tag to give the Bears a 3-2 victory in Athol on Wednesday. 

Cormier added a single in the fifth in the win. Mark Gauthier tallied a pair of hits while Alex Lavigne hit safely for Athol.

Sam Knight and Gavin Crossman both had two hits for Franklin Tech, with Mason Lehtomaki also singling in the loss.

Girls tennis

Frontier 3, Mohawk Trail 2 — Sam Baker took No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-1 over Hazel Foucault while the Redhawks won both doubles matches to earn a win over the Warriors in Buckland on Wednesday. 

Chloe Felton-Emrick and Hashini Ratnatunge picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win over Dakota Cusimano and Lauryn Lovett in No. 1 doubles while Cece Yayurinski and Thanushi Ratnatunge won 6-0, 6-0 against Ivan Hillenbrand and Rowan Richardson in No. 2 doubles. 

Mohawk Trail’s Palmer King walked away with a 6-0, 1-6, 7-5 win over Sydney Scanlon in No. 1 singles while Warrior Paige King picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win in No. 2 singles over Maddie Powers. 

Greenfield 4, Turners 1 — Kaitlyn Collins picked up a 6-4, 6-2 win in No. 1 singles over Steph Peterson while Rebecca Covalenco defeated Olivia Wolbach 6-1, 6-4 in No. 3 singles to help lead the Green Wave past the Thunder at the Davis Street Courts on Wednesday. 

Greenfield swept both doubles matches, with Lydia Wood and Isabella Semonelli earning a 6-1, 6-0 win over Avery Heathwaite and Holly Hicks in No. 1 doubles while Lily Duong and Jessica Mihailicenco walked away with a 6-0, 6-0 victory in No. 2 doubles over Izzy Decker and Fiona Hutchison. 

Maria Labelle had the lone win of the day for Turners, knocking off Mireb Gheorghita 6-4, 6-1 in No. 2 singles. 

Boys tennis

PV Christian 4, Frontier 1 — Jacob Han had the lone win of the day for the Redhawks, picking up a 6-1, 6-4 win in No. 3 singles as Frontier fell to the Eagles in Springfield on Wednesday. 

Girls track

Frontier 134, Mahar 11 — Lilly Novak won the discus (76 feet, nine inches) and javelin (82-6), Abigail Howard took the high jump (4-6), the 800 (two minutes, 37.92 seconds) and the mile (5:53.58) while Nicole Plasse came in first in the long jump (14-3.5), the 400 hurdles (79.14) and the 200 (29.13) as the Redhawks earned a win in South Deerfield on Wednesday. 

Other Frontier winners were Micky McCarthy in the shot (27-2), Brooke Davis in the triple jump (30-3), Ayla Starr in the pole vault (9-6), Caroline Crocker in the 100 hurdles (15.85), Eve Dougan in the 100 (14.36) and Sylvie DiBartolomeo in the 2 mile (13:01.25). The Redhawks won the 4x100 (54.92) and the 4x400 (4:41.08) relays. 

Nevaeh Scribner was the lone winner for Mahar, placing first in the 400 (64.29). 

Boys track & field

Frontier 101 Mahar 44 — Alex Schreiber won the shot put (35-5.5) and the discus (112-8) to help the Redhawks to a decisive win on Wednesday.

Frontier's Evan Hedlund won  both the mile (4:55) and 2-mile (10:20.20) in a Herculean effort.

Other double winners for the Hawks included Ben Cachiguango (200 and 110 hurdles) and Erich Brown (high jump, 400 hurdles).

Ultimate

Four Rivers 12, Putney 10 — Eve Macek dished six assists, Mabel Kingsley had an assist and a point while Sophia Slade had an assist and two points in the Otters’ win on Wednesday. 

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