Softball clinches postseason with 3rd win in four games
By Jay Turner
Junior captain Sam Sullivan has won her last 2 starts. (Mike Barucci photo)
After opening the season with three consecutive losses, the CHS varsity softball team has turned things around in a hurry with three wins in its past four games, including a 9-3 road victory over nonleague Boston Latin Academy last Monday.
The girls also played North Attleboro last week, losing 14-0, but overall they have looked impressive as of late and have already locked up a spot in the Division 2 postseason tournament after needing the entire season to accomplish that feat a year ago.
The Bulldogs’ latest victory showed off their hitting depth as the team combined for 10 hits, led by Julia Murphy and Sam Sullivan, who both had multi-hit games, and senior Olivia Murphy, who had a homerun.
Sullivan also started the game on the mound and pitched well, earning her second win of the young season, and catcher Bethany Kelly played a “fabulous game” behind the plate, according to head coach Ed Amico.
BLA struck first and had a 1-0 lead going into the third inning, but Canton stayed patient at the plate and managed to string together some hits against a tough pitcher and pull out the win.
On Wednesday the Bulldogs hosted a strong North Attleboro team and struggled from start to finish, falling behind 7-0 after two innings in an eventual blowout loss.
“We were never in the game,” Amico lamented afterwards, adding that the players “came out flat” and made several costly errors.
Amico, however, was quick to point out that NA is one of the top teams in the Hockomock League. And despite what was clearly a setback, he has been generally impressed with the team’s play and is pleased that all of the players are “getting involved and contributing.”
“A perfect example,” he said, “is that two of our players, [seniors] Cady Kelly and Becky Lazaro, both have more hits in their first seven games this year than all of last year and are hitting over .350.”
Then again, Amico said the team is going to have to “get back to the basics and fundamentals” if it wants to improve its position in the standings. And it only gets harder this week with games against three tough opponents, including two-time defending state champion King Philip on Tuesday and Davenport leader Stoughton tomorrow at home at 3:30 p.m.
“It’s the little things that don’t show up in the box scores that can make a difference,” Amico said. “They need to be prepared every pitch, every inning.”
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=13252
Posted by Jay Turner
on Apr 26 2012. Filed under High School, Sports.
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