Softball team finds new life after two big wins

Senior captain Olivia Kenyon dominated first-place Sharon last week.

After four weeks without a win, the Canton High varsity softball team bounced back in a big way with two decisive victories last week: 3-0 against Sharon and 3-2 over Foxboro.

When the Bulldogs played Sharon at the beginning of the season, the team fell 6-2. But head coach Ed Amico said Canton is a completely different team now 14 games into the season.

“The improvement over the last month has been remarkable,” he said.

Senior captain Olivia Kenyon pitched a perfect game going into the seventh inning before giving up a single to the Eagles, the first-place team in the Davenport Division of the Hockomock League.

“She pitched her best game of the season,” Amico said of Kenyon, who finished the game with nine strikeouts.

On offense, Olivia Murphy scored in the first off a base hit from Kenyon. Then, in the sixth, Kenyon scored off a sacrifice fly by Cady Kelly, and Erin Russell scored off a hit by Becky Lazaro.

The Bulldogs had similar early success in the game against Foxboro, jumping to a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Olivia Murphy scored on a triple by sister Julia. But Foxboro bounced back and tied up the game in the fourth and then pushed ahead with a second run in the seventh.

Canton wasn’t finished, however, as the girls came back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. Lazaro scored off an infield hit by Colleen Myers and then Myers managed to beat the throw home after a groundout by Olivia Murphy.

The late season success has invigorated the team, which could now secure a playoff berth with a win against Boston Latin Academy this week.

“They are coming every day, working hard, and their improvement over the last few weeks is quite apparent and impressive,” Amico said. “The girls are playing their best ball of the year.”

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